HK/T/G panos

[Vombil]

yeah ive seen the express at birdwood. very cool 80's number! massive detail on the airbrushing

[thatotherguy]

love HK/T/Gs i have owned my HT for 34 years and have never wanted to sell it ,i have also had a HK brougham , HT ute, HG panelvan, HG wagon, and a factory V8 HG premier but i have never had a HK/T/G monaro

[Innuendo]

why did they want to make a holden look like a ford... crazy kids

Lets remember "why" the Sandman exists.
Individuals were customizing Panel Vans and to a much lesser extend Utes in the early '70s. You customised to personalise your ride, so you didn't look like all the other sheep out on the road.
There were those who could, and those who needed to purchase off the shelf. The Sandman, Drifter, Sundowner etc were for those who needed off the shelf. These models came about from manufacturers cashing in on the Vanning craze.

In the day the Sandman was looked down upon from those who could. Many purchased a Sandman and quickly went about modifying it so it wasn't obvious you had purchased an off the peg tart up.
Because of this, the rarity of the unmolested Sandman exists. That and the fact that Panel Vans in general were hated like most things '70's during the late '80's and '90's (think fashion, music, orange furniture and curtains etc) This was also the reason why so many show vans were stripped and sold in pieces (nobody wanted to pay for a Van) or the Van was cut down or rebodied into a Ute to be sold.

Individualising your Van was the rage of the '70's and early '80's and set the standard of Street Machines and Hot Rods as we know them today. Sure looking back there were some horrid examples. In fact you didn't even need hindsight, in their day you knew what did and didn't work.

People can laugh at some of these custom builds of the Van craze days today, but let me assure you they were laughing just as hard at those who purchased Sandman's at that time.

As much as I appreciate an unmolested Sandman. I'm of an older breed of those who could/and can.

[Vombil]

although still relatively young im of the opinion that you should leave well enough alone. I like factory but each to their own i suppose. I especially dislike modern cars that are customised.. they will become old butchered specials one day too

[Innuendo]

although still relatively young im of the opinion that you should leave well enough alone. I like factory but each to their own i suppose. I especially dislike modern cars that are customised.. they will become old butchered specials one day too

Yep, old butchered Specials, Belmonts, Kingswoods, Sandmans etc. Luckily it is each to their own, so the world is not a boring clone of one another. Like I said, I like '70's Sandmans but it can be a case of seen one seen them all. It's the rarity factor and how it came to be is what I was explaining. It was derived from what came before it like the HK-T-G and older, the individuals who put their stamp on the Vanning scene. That included fitting Ford headlights and crappy 12 slotters in the day. Because it was the way to individualise and break away from the flock.

I'm heavily into restored FB-EK Holden's but the very same rings true. Factory guise without NASCO accessories to individualise makes for a very boring flock.
Once had a '74 HQ Sandman that I modified in the late '80 early '90's when everybody was against them. 454, TH400, 9". No stripes, full bumper added and fluted guards removed.

I've owned the same black windowless HT Panel Van since 1983. But for my modern drive car I chose the VY SS Panel Van and I continue to individualise it. Butchery? well, it just might be - but at least it's not the same as the next one and it's butchered to my taste. That and the fact I enjoy it.

So I play, bog stock restored, heavily modded and street customised. I appreciate them all, even the showroom Sandman.

[agr071]

bring back the 80's

hell yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but not the mullet haircuts ha ha

doh!!!!!!

--- Updated ---

As much as I appreciate an unmolested Sandman. I'm of an older breed of those who could/and can.

Totally agree 100%.
Give me a custom van anyday.

[SandmanMuscle]

Love em'

And can't forget the even older girls.

[wbute]

Hr vans look good too. Was a nice one in street machine years ago. Flip front, mica red, jag rear end etc. Think they had grafted a gts dash into it as well.

[HK1837]

Before Sandman's were around, there were other Kingswoods that were able to hold their heads high.
They are the mighty HK/T/G panos

If i didn't like the tuff stance of a HQ - WB i'd own one of these for sure.
Here are 2 that i've found on the internet that draw some attention.

They aren't a Kingswood Agro! You should know better than that! The only Kingswood vans are in the HX and HZ series.

[Innuendo]

They aren't a Kingswood Agro! You should know better than that! The only Kingswood vans are in the HX and HZ series.

Not sure Agro was saying "all" Sandmans are Kingswoods. (It's all the way you read it!) Simply that before Sandmans other Kingswood Vans existed. Maybe it could have been phrased better stating "Holden Vans" or Belmont and Kingswood Vans. But I very much doubt Agro was alluding to all Sandmans being Kingswoods as he was referring to those that came before....