Nice HQ Sandman - Car Sales 15 March 2018 - Monterey Green White Stripes

[Absinth]

Would be interesting to know how many HQ SS are recorded as existing today, at least we know build numbers for them.

[Innuendo]

Would be interesting to know how many HQ SS are recorded as existing today, at least we know build numbers for them.

That would be a good pointer for sure and very interesting. I would suggest more SS sedans would have survived though. Commercials normally hard a much harder life.

[Absinth]

The first production run of SS's began around the 3rd week of August 1972, and ran until the end of September, totalling 1600 units. The second run, or series, began around the 3rd week in November 1972 and continued until just before Christmas, with a further 1200 cars leaving the line. This total of 2800 cars was an instant sales success, thus paving the way for the GTS 4-door, a model which continued through the years to end in 1978 with the HZ.
Of the 2800 cars built, it is estimated (with the help of this register) that there is possibly less than 500 examples surviving today. Being based on a Belmont, and not a 'true' Monaro, they were often disregarded or sacrificed for their GTS options to furnish a ute project, or upgrade a base model Monaro coupe.

Above from HQ Restoration supplies SS register.

In approx. 10 weeks Holden built 2800 SS sedans. There would have to be at least that many HQ Sandmans built over a 10 month period. HQ SS is easy to identify from the ID plates where HQ Sandman unless Brisbane built is very difficult to Identify and even Brisbane built are hard if the XX7 got forgotten to be stamped.

Add to that Sandman stripes were dealer fitted so a lot of HQ Sandmans would have gone stripeless so not easily recognised as a Sandman unlike HQ SS. A lot more HQ Sandman panelvans would also have been butchered for parts.

[maxsandman]

Above from HQ Restoration supplies SS register.

. HQ SS is easy to identify from the ID plates .

Can someone tell me the easiest way to identify a SS from tags please

[Absinth]

Can someone tell me the easiest way to identify a SS from tags please

Trim and paint code. SS came in three unique paint colours, Lettuce alone green, Ultra Violet and Infra red.

[maxsandman]

So these colours weren't used on any other Holdens? Didn't know that

I stripped out a HQ body (No front sheet or motor & box) years ago that we thought was a SS, but wasn't sure. It was a Belmont & had black interior & Sports dash. I have dug out the body tag, paint is 568 15413

If you would like to see it for interest, I could SMS it to someone to post up here, as Im still not smart enough to post pics.

cheers
Max

[Sandaro]

Yep, you're feeling was right Max.

[wbute]

107 recorded seals the deal really. It has to be at least a thousand.
Saying that you didn’t see them in the 70’s means nothing really. You can’t identity them now and you had less chance then without te info you have now.

[Valencia]

107 recorded seals the deal really. It has to be at least a thousand.
Saying that you didn’t see them in the 70’s means nothing really. You can’t identity them now and you had less chance then without te info you have now.

Doesn't prove jack without the offical GMH numbers we will never know

[Innuendo]

I stripped out a HQ body (No front sheet or motor & box) years ago that we thought was a SS, but wasn't sure. It was a Belmont & had black interior & Sports dash. I have dug out the body tag, paint is 568 15413

The paint code 568 15413 is Infra Red.
Sounds like it was a SS you finished off!

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Doesn't prove jack without the official GMH numbers we will never know

it's just a pointer and hardly seals the deal.