HZ Sandman Van turned into a ute for sale

**Taily** · 07-05-2014, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by wbute

They mostly cut vans down as they were cheap as chips. That looks dodgy where the tonneau clips are bellow the rear window. Doesn't look to match up correctly.

If anything there is one missing on the most right hand side of them. They are in the right spots, I've been spending that much time with my ute over the past few months trying to get it finished that something like that would stick out like dogs plums to me. It doesn't/they aren't from what I can see. I'm more leaning towards thinking it has had a body swap than a turret change, but of course one would need to have a really close inspection of it to be able to see for sure. If it was a case of just lopping the roof off then why would there be no visible front console mount and is that a bench seat shifter?

If that is the case then they have made a good thing perfect!

(standing by for incoming!)

**wbute** · 07-05-2014, 10:27 AM

If you look where the boxed out bit joins the b pillar they are not the same height.

Hard to tell from a photo though. Might all be good.

You need to look at the body. It has no tonneau clips down the side. Do vans have the drain holes in the floor front corners?

It does have a ute tailgate though, so might be a ute body. I know the HJ XX7 shell I had was swapped for a ute body.

**Taily** · 07-05-2014, 12:08 PM

Yeah, looked at that too as the back edge of mine sits flat/flush with the lip that returns in behind that area so as to form the drain channel across the back of the rear screen. May have had a replacement box section but the rest of it (below) looks pretty original, or at least in the right place. If the original (if it was a complete ute body they used) was like that then it would be obvious why it rusted out as the water couldn't escape out of the sides (above the drain holes, should be a 2-5mm gap in the bottom of the box where it attaches) like it is supposed to. Just can't see where the drain holes should be in the front of the bed either. Would need to see it but for five grand it would still be a great buy I'd reckon, just don't have the moolah at the moment as it has just gone/going into my HJ resto.

**Dick61** · 07-05-2014, 12:23 PM

I'm leaning to it being a reshell with a ute body, as Taily says the panel behind the rear window looks incorrect but it looks as if someone has screwed a right angle piece over the original panel. The rear wall of the cab looks factory as does the way the B pillars flow into the sides. You would need to get inside the panels and cavities to know for sure.

**sjc315** · 07-05-2014, 04:52 PM

The ute turret had been grafted on, was definitely the original body not a ute body and now has a new owner.

**Taily** · 07-05-2014, 05:28 PM

Well there we go, congrats on the purchase!

More pics, love ute porn!

**Vombil** · 07-05-2014, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Dick61

I'm leaning to it being a reshell with a ute body, as Taily says the panel behind the rear window looks incorrect but it looks as if someone has screwed a right angle piece over the original panel. The rear wall of the cab looks factory as does the way the B pillars flow into the sides. You would need to get inside the panels and cavities to know for sure.

this was a shitty rust repair done on the cheap according to prev owner. i had noticed that

- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by sjc315

The ute turret had been grafted on, was definitely the original body not a ute body and now has a new owner.

as i said... someone with a spare windowless body laying around! well done old chap

**sjc315** · 07-05-2014, 06:48 PM

Not sure about the rear window panel, I never had a look under it as I always thought I would replace it with a complete van body. Not sure about the new owners intentions either but hopefully it gets brought back to life something like the way it started.