V series 'Sandman'

[sandman77hx]

there was a mambo ute and a matching mambo ski boat

Indeed there was a ski boat which was build in Corowa for the express reason to compliment the Sandman concept van. I had the pleasure of seeing it in the flesh about 10 years ago and looked awesome at the time......mind you I thought the interior colours of the concept van was pretty neat but looking at the photos here, I'm not so sure anymore.

--- Updated ---

Call me old fashioned, but if Holden call it a Sandman......it's a Sandman. Whether you like it or not is a personal choice.....it's still a Sandman because that's what Holden have said it is.

[b-rock-05]

Where are they now ??

[SMQQTH]

What does everyone make of this Brochure, that does not think they are Sandmans?

[wbute]

it was a piss poor marketing effort by Holden. It failed as no one wanted a ute with a canopy on it. So if future judge type people want to call a V series ute with a canopy a Sandman then they will also have to call H series utes with canopies panel vans.
However, who cares what a judge reckons anyway? Cars are restored to be enjoyed by all, if a judge likes it then thats a bonus.

[agr071]

Hi Jon
My 2c worth:
I have difficulty calling it a van. To me it is a ute with a canopy BUT having said that, if it is able to have adequate access from the front into the rear (ie like the H series vans) i would have no problem calling it a van.

Whether i could call it a Sandman, this could be difficult if they just had the one option or not.
Options could be:
6cyl van = 3.6l
8cyl van = Gen 3 with standard interior
Sandman = Gen 3 with full Clubsport/Senator interior & HSV tags

[SMQQTH]

Settle down fellas... Never asked if it was a panel van!

I was more trying to point out that these are Sandmans so embrace them for what they are!

Accept that the tagged up Holden By Design converted and plated utes are in fact Sandman just like your tarted up belmonts utes and vans.


This tread has yet again proven to me that people are narrow minded and can't accept a change of thought in the heads.

Regards Jon.

[samin8r]

Jon has point. As "HOLDEN" state it is a "Sandman Conversion kit". Holden varify this in their release. Holden is Sandman.
It is clearly not the same as Q-Z but this isn't 1979. Times change and I guess so must our understanding?

[Taily]

Settle down fellas... Never asked if it was a panel van!

Yes you did. In your very first post at the end of your third sentence.

I was more trying to point out that these are Sandmans so embrace them for what they are!

Fair enough, right with you there on that one.... However my personal belief is that the farce is perpetuated by manufacturers trying to cash-in on a now defunct marketting project. Ford have/are doing the same thing with the GT/Cobra etc...

Accept that the tagged up Holden By Design converted and plated utes are in fact Sandman just like your tarted up belmonts utes and vans.

Um, no. Mine was a Kingswood base and a ute at that, but thanks for asking....

This tread has yet again proven to me that people are narrow minded and can't accept a change of thought in the heads.

You asked the question on a BB devoted to an Aussie classic and the result surprises you (and written sooooo well too - try these two next time - "thought process")? Why? Or is it that it was your intention all along to get a rise out of some, which is the more than likely reason you decided to play sciolist in the first place and now have placed a flouncy post having a go at everyone who seems to have a contrary opinion to yours....

Regards Jon.

Smell the roses mate and be aware that there is the odd person here who could see what you were really trying to do. In the mean time.... Grow-up.

Regards,

Dave.

[SMQQTH]

Yes you did. In your very first post at the end of your third sentence.

No I never asked! I know its a panel van! Look at the things. Hard pressed to say it looks like anything else!

And before you say its a ute with a canopy have a look at any panel van holden have ever released... all based off the utility format.

Um, no. Mine was a Kingswood base and a ute at that, but thanks for asking....

Sorry didn't ask that either... yes yes yes they were based off what ever the dealer fitted the Sandman pack to in MOST cases. Before you start saying something along the lines of mine a Brisbane build xu3 xx7 I don't care!

With that comment I was merely making the point that, hey 'Sandmans' where not the top of the line product to start with. They started life as an ordinary ute or van which than coped the holden option at the time called 'Sandman Pack'. With Exceptions...

You asked the question on a BB devoted to an Aussie classic and the result surprises you (and written sooooo well too - try these two next time - "thought process")? Why? Or is it that it was your intention all along to get a rise out of some, which is the more than likely reason you decided to play sciolist in the first place and now have placed a flouncy post having a go at everyone who seems to have a contrary opinion to yours....

Smell the roses mate and be aware that there is the odd person here who could see what you were really trying to do. In the mean time.... Grow-up.

Maybe I was trying to promote the fact Holden have dubbed these as Sandmans and hey maybe a web site called my sandman should recognize these as Sandmans. Maybe give the people that own these modern Sandmans some where to come hang out and contribute to the forums.

Clearly not everyone one likes this idea.

As for growing up... mate think I'm there.

The problem with forums or anything bashed into text on a public place is that things can be taken the wrong way. Clearly you have taken what I have started negatively. When in fact I was trying to make the point that yes they are Sandmans and maybe there is a lot of people out there that have never been shown the proof behind why they are regarded as Sandmans.

It failed as no one wanted a ute with a canopy on it.

Some people did mate and lots more still do or they would not be producing the panel van roof any more.

So if future judge type people want to call a V series ute with a canopy a Sandman then they will also have to call H series utes with canopies panel vans.

No not a panel van unless It one looks like a panel van.

However, who cares what a judge reckons anyway? Cars are restored to be enjoyed by all, if a judge likes it then thats a bonus.

100% agree with you there!


Regards Jon

[HK1837]

Since the original question was what do we feel about the Sandman canopied utes i'll stick with my original comments, and below stay with observations and facts.

No I never asked! I know its a panel van! Look at the things. Hard pressed to say it looks like anything else!

And before you say its a ute with a canopy have a look at any panel van holden have ever released... all based off the utility format.

Looks like a panel van. But isn't built by GMH as a panel van. It is a ute with a canopy. The brochure says so. The brochure calls the canopy a Sandman (conversion), not the vehicle it is fitted to. I see this as the same as cutting the roof off a 6cyl 3spd HZ van, and putting a van turret on it and calling it a Sandman!

Sorry didn't ask that either... yes yes yes they were based off what ever the dealer fitted the Sandman pack to in MOST cases. Before you start saying something along the lines of mine a Brisbane build xu3 xx7 I don't care!

Dealers had little to do with Sandmans, they were GMH built in the 4 x assembly plants of the day. The only dealer involvement was to fit the optional stripes on HQ-HJ, or to fit Nasco/GMP&A accessories of the day, which co-incidentally is what HBD is for these and the canopy is a dealer fitted accessory just like HQ-HZ mudflaps or other such accessories. I'm not sure why people still hang their hat on Brisbane built Sandmans being special in some way. HQ GTS or SS owners certainly don't feel that way about their cars built in plants outside of Brisbane!

With that comment I was merely making the point that, hey 'Sandmans' where not the top of the line product to start with. They started life as an ordinary ute or van which than coped the holden option at the time called 'Sandman Pack'. With Exceptions...

True, a Sandman wasn't a top of the line product, but was never intended to be. Just like an SSV ute in modern times isn't - that goes to a Calais as the top of the line Holden or the top of the line Holden Motor Company vehicle the Statesman Caprice.
No Sandman ever started life as a normal ute or van though, except maybe the very first concept vehicle(s) done in styling. They were all started from details on a production broadcast sheet with inventory parts allocated off the rolling schedule intended for each particular vehicle. Some of those parts (called feature changes or component options depending upon what they are) are unique to Sandman that could not be optioned on other utes and vans, and this made the Sandmans unique and distinguishable from early on in production. Examples: console brackets on HQ and HJ, lack of side strip weld-tabs on HJ Kingswood and full length headlining attachment equipment on HX-HZ Holden vans. Yes they started from the same basic body pressings as other cars of the day, but so did A9X, L34, XU1, XV2, XV4, XW8, GTS350 etc. Remember that XX7 (and later XU3) were codes for a special vehicle package, which was an option on a base vehicle. This was how all "sports" GMH product (and other stuff too) of the day was made except for HK-HQ 1837 (GTS327 and GTS350), and the seriesII Brabham HB which were unique models. All of the rest were special vehicle packages on a base vehicle:
Special vehicle package code - base vehicle
XS5 (HB Brabham) - HB S and SL
XV2 (HQ SS) - HQ Belmont
XV4 (HQ GTS sedan) - HQ Kingswood
XW8 (HQ GTS350 sedan) - HQ Kingswood
XU1 - LC and LJ GTR
XU2 - (SLR5000) - LH and LX SL/R
L34 - LH SLR5000
A9X - LX XU2 or SS+L31

There are many others too like B06 (HJ-HZ Ambulance - HJ-HZ tonner and van), XW4 and XY8 (Vacationer) plus many more.

Maybe I was trying to promote the fact Holden have dubbed these as Sandmans and hey maybe a web site called my sandman should recognize these as Sandmans. Maybe give the people that own these modern Sandmans some where to come hang out and contribute to the forums.

Clearly not everyone one likes this idea.

As for growing up... mate think I'm there.

The problem with forums or anything bashed into text on a public place is that things can be taken the wrong way. Clearly you have taken what I have started negatively. When in fact I was trying to make the point that yes they are Sandmans and maybe there is a lot of people out there that have never been shown the proof behind why they are regarded as Sandmans.

Again, Holden never called the vehicle a Sandman, the accessory is called a Sandman and it isn't built by Holden.
Personally I don't have a problem with them, and they look pretty good, but I like the look of the original ute better (but i'm the same for HQ-WB!).
Also more than happy to see people modify, customise etc and bring them to GMH/Holden events. They'll never be classed as (or in shows judged as) a Sandman though. They will always be a ute with an accessory. No different to a ute with a HBD hard tonneau.

Some people did mate and lots more still do or they would not be producing the panel van roof any more.

Good, they look heaps better and have more room than a butt ugly traditional canopy. Whilstever there is a market they'll keep the moulds and make some each year!