10-72 metallic Belmont V8 4 speed GTS dash factory HQ van

**mauser** · 05-06-2012, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by HK1837

You couldn't get a seat separator with floor shift, and you couldn't get a console in Belmont either outside of XX7 or XV2. So it'd just be buckets with rubber in between. You'd be surprised how many V8 4spd HQ vans there were before XX7 became available. The only thing rare about this one is the metallic paint.

haha Well I guess if they could convince the dealer that the only way they would buy the van off him is if he ordered it with a colour not usually available for Belmont commercials then anything could be swindled. It would be interesting if we obtained the full history of a van like this. This might verify that they could be ordered like this but wernt produced to be shipped to dealers to sell off the lots.

Mauser

**buickzz** · 05-06-2012, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by mauser

haha Well I guess if they could convince the dealer that the only way they would buy the van off him is if he ordered it with a colour not usually available for Belmont commercials then anything could be swindled. It would be interesting if we obtained the full history of a van like this. This might verify that they could be ordered like this but wernt produced to be shipped to dealers to sell off the lots.

Mauser

Nearly anything could be swindled I agree .. but not a console from the factory (at least not from Acacia Ridge). I tried and failed but ended up in a Sandman so a good outcome in the end.

**HK1837** · 05-06-2012, 04:50 PM

^^^Correct. Some dealers would do some special stuff for you, some of it plant based like metallics. Other stuff would be done by them. There is surviving evidence of a handful of dealers doing major specials, example: parking a HQ GTS350 side by side iwth a 253 auto ute and doing a driveline swap. All because a customer wanted a 350 ute. They later sold the GTS350 with a 253 and trimatic as a new car.

**mauser** · 06-06-2012, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by buickzz

Nearly anything could be swindled I agree .. but not a console from the factory (at least not from Acacia Ridge). I tried and failed but ended up in a Sandman so a good outcome in the end.

That is how I imagined it would of work. Prior to 1/74 you would of required a dealer to order a factory 2 seat metallic paint panelvan. Post Sandman they would of just ticked the XX7 box. Why would you order something outside the ordering procedures when there was a special vehicle package. I wouldnt imagine there would be any examples like this after 1/74.... not unless the new owner violently objected to the GTS dash and guards.

Mauser

**HK1837** · 06-06-2012, 07:46 PM

They are around, not sure why though as you state, but Sandmans were not easy to get.

**mauser** · 06-06-2012, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by HK1837

They are around, not sure why though as you state, but Sandmans were not easy to get.

Have you recorded a metallic paint one post 1/74? I have seen plates for them but only prior to this date. I could see how you could get one in Willow with bucket seats as that would of been a standard order but one specifically where they have gone outside the procedures and produced one as a one off special order. The buyer would of had to wait and get that built for them as it shouldn't of been produced as a standard offering to be sent to the dealers lots.

Mauser

These are the latest dated ones I have recorded.
cyanblue.jpg cyanblue2 - Copy.jpg

**buickzz** · 07-06-2012, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by HK1837

They are around, not sure why though as you state, but Sandmans were not easy to get.

An example would have been produced when I ordered a metallic 308 van with all the goodies in late 1973 but it wasn't delivered until May 1974 (seven months to build - which is why I gave up and took a Sandman when it came into the dealers as a stock order). HK1837 is correct - HQ Sandman vehicles were not easy to get. Everyone I knew of in 1974 bought them off the floor. Those who ordered a 308 Sandman usually didn't get them until the HJ was released up here in Brisbane.

**HK1837** · 07-06-2012, 09:02 AM

I have a fair few metallic non Sandman Belmonts post 1/74. All Acacia Ridge so far I think.

**Robbo** · 07-06-2012, 09:55 AM

Was there any particular reason why it took so long to build an HQ Sandman? Would the delay have been caused by a large number of order's for the new model?

**HK1837** · 07-06-2012, 02:35 PM

I don't think it took a long time, just the normal 3 months or so. The problem probably was you couldn't really buy them until Feb/Mar 1974 and then only existing stock, or not yet allocated vehicles off the rolling schedule . To get one before production ceased in September you'd have to order one by say June-July which meant you really had to be quick. So if you first saw one in March or April, mulled it over for a months or so, went to a dealer to buy one in June and find there was only Green 6cyl ones left unallocated so you had to order one, but the new series was out in October what would you do?