Holden SANDMAN 1977 HX Panelvan

[SKI_Pilot]

If you were going to order a radio it wouldn’t have been the basic GMH option, like most I removed mine for an top of he range pioneer radio cassette. The roof aerial looked the best and in 1977 and the expectations on a sandman was that it had a 308, a 4 speed and limo diff and sports/GTS package or you done up your own van. Sadly 36 years have past and what was delivered on a Sandman in 1977 is the same as when people look back on historical records or events you have to be there at the time or accurately recording the event for it not to be open to an individual’s interpretation.

[wbute]

That's why I can't see the point of going to all the trouble of restoring a dash facia to fit a piece of crap GMH AM radio. No one used them then or now. They pulled them out to fit a better one.
Roof aerial will always look better.
My brother had the standard Ford radio in his new XD ute. But he had the ultra flash mono pioneer tape player that he fitted. It was a seperate unit, just a tape player on its own lol.
How times have changed. Radio, 8 track, tape, CD players, CD stackers, and now iPod or phone for music. In my hilux I have CD, iPod, iPhone and radio all hooked to the one head unit. In 1990 I was driving our tractor for weeks on end listening to an AM radio because there were no FM stations west of the Blue Mountains!

[Absinth]

Roof mount ariel was not a factory option. If a new Sandman had one then it was dealer fitted....

jeez, they are asking top dollar for that HX!!!! Not worth anywhere near the asking price... Currently fitted with a 253 so probably has a M20 box as well so you are up for finding a 308 in the correct number range and probably a M21 gearbox... Chassis requiring welding is a worry!!! How much welding? How badly is it cracked? Can it be repaired successfully or does it need a replacement chassis?

It's a HX..... I reckon the $5000 offers he's had are on the money but I'd be checking that chassis out before laying down the cash.....

[SKI_Pilot]

The factory radio was only in AM so probably will not work now and If they were not standard in the sandman why bother.
From a wireless to a radio to head unit what are they going to call it next.

[Innuendo]

It's a HX..... I reckon the $5000 offers he's had are on the money but I'd be checking that chassis out before laying down the cash.....

Yep, that sounds about right. $5000.00 starter for somebody. It just doesn't have that much going for it and just because it's a Sandman doesn't magically add multiple thousands to it.

[SKI_Pilot]

It would be wonderfull to see another sandman back on the road. But times are tough and it would take at least another $5000 to get it looking ok.

[Absinth]

It would be wonderfull to see another sandman back on the road. But times are tough and it would take at least another $5000 to get it looking ok.

take a lot more than that.... $5000 would get the interior looking ok.... $10g minimum for panelwork and a half decent paint job.... Chassis repairs $$$... Source and reco a 308 engine and M21 gearbox.... Brakes, bearings, suspension, new tyres etc etc etc..... Lucky to have change out of $30,000 and that's after buying it unless you can do most yourself.....

and you end up with a car realistically worth around $25,000!!!!!!

[SKI_Pilot]

Haven't seen the door lock protectors for a long time. that must make it rare.

[Taily]

take a lot more than that.... $5000 would get the interior looking ok.... $10g minimum for panelwork and a half decent paint job.... Chassis repairs $$$... Source and reco a 308 engine and M21 gearbox.... Brakes, bearings, suspension, new tyres etc etc etc..... Lucky to have change out of $30,000 and that's after buying it unless you can do most yourself.....

and you end up with a car realistically worth around $25,000!!!!!!

As Absinth pointed out it needs another serious dollar birthday. If you look closely enough someone has already spent quite some effort on it at one stage or another, but obviously it was quite some time ago now. Painted footwell is a bit of a tell. Though the bent pedal box looks to need attention, it could be just a bent pedal though....

No 70's or 80's car, ute or van ever left the factory with a roof aerial. They were only ever dealer or aftermarket fitted. AM, or by at least the mid 70's, FM radios were available to be ordered with your new vehicle - latter being dealer or aftermarket fit up until the later 70's.

$5-6K pulls it up, maybe a couple more with the right engine/box (funny how people call it a matching number vehicle even without the original engine). Maybe even what he is asking if it was original survivor, still had remnants of the stripes and the original engine/box fitted to it. Chassis crack would need a good look and would be a show stopper if had been "working", but if the add is right about the sills and internal driprails inside the gutters (behind the roof lining), then it would be a good thing to buy if you're looking for a project.

[Dago]

Without huge cost, you could have a reasonable Van which is a Sandman, to just drive. I really want a van as a daily. Not everything needs to be immaculate in a daily. Rust repairs, Colour match and a patch up. Second hand seats in good nick that aren't 'correct'. Grab the black motor in the shed, paint it red and you've got yourself a ridgy didge Sandman that you don't have to strip and rebuild each time you take it out for a drive.
Admittedly, the chassis would be a worry, but for those of us (I'm certainly one) that can't duck out and do a $30K rebuild in 4 months it would be your very own dream in casual clothing.