New Ve Sandman

[Robbo]

Does look ok, but as per the "Myth's", once again they are only doing the "Van" replica's. I haven't seen any ute's as a Sandman yet.

[sanman]

There was a small decal on the tailgate from memory. I was impressed with the canopy. I think they are made by the same people who make the canopies for the police utes in Victoria,

Geoff

[HK1837]

Remember guys, the proper name for a Sandman was "Sports Option". This is what an SS ute is ie the modern equivalent of a Sandman. There was no SS or GTS ute in HQ-HZ like there is today. The SS is the sports version of the S ute, a "Kingswood Sandman ute" if you like. So Today:

VE HOLDEN utility = HJ-WB HOLDEN utility.
VE S utility = HQ-WB Kingswood utility.
VE SS utility = HQ-HZ Sandman utility.

There is no need for a Sandman ute as they already have one, just by a different name. If things went the way they should have in 1973 the 4 door GTS would have been called the SS, and the sports utilty and van would have also been SS. Sandman was just a name. Remove the gawky stripes and you have effectively (in HQ anyway) an SS ute and an SS van.

[HZSandman]

I think it is the gawky stripes we all want.

[HK1837]

Yeah, I get that. But not all of us! That is one of the major reasons I like HQ and HJ much better than HX and HZ. Not just in Sandman either, in GTS also.

[Epic_Dragon]

i actually dont really like that :( doesnt do sandmans or panelvans any justice.they should develop and actual updated sandman that isnt a commodore. like the new monaros, they dont havet he the same class/character as old monaros. is this just the way the world is going? lol!

[HK1837]

To be fair, it isn't actually a Commodore. Commodores are only some sedans and some wagons. Utes are Holden, just like in HJ-WB and in which you could get a Holden Kinsgwood (today's equivalent is Holden S utility).
Calais isn't a Commodore either, nor is Statesman! Neither were Monaro, Cross8, Adventra etc. From memory the last non sedan or wagon to be badged as a Commodore was the VSIII S ute, whereas the base model was (again from memory) a Holden ute.

On the V2 and VZ Monaros, they actually have a LOT less in common with the sedan equivalents than any HK-HX Monaro, LS, GTS or HZ GTS ever did. Like maybe 5 x less or more. Only really basic stuff is common like door handles, driveline etc. I don't think any of the panels are even the same except for maybe the bonnet with V2I and VXII. Note that apart from the abortion V6 Monaro the CV8 was effectively a Calais level vehicle so the vehicle it has most in common with is a Calais (which isn't a Commodore!). Compare this to say HQ where heaps is the same between say an LS and a Premier. I'll think you'll also find that a HK-HZ Holden or Kingswood utility has as much in common with its sedan equivalent as a VE SS ute has with an SS sedan or wagon, especially in HK-HG where all models had leaf springs.

I didn't write this to have a go at you. What you've said just touches on one of those commonly thrown around things that the V2 and VZ Monaros are just 2 door Commodores, when it is a blatantly incorrect statement. I do understand the character thing though, but understand that the original top dog Monaro was a race car, whereas the CV8 was only ever meant to be a luxury 2 door. Similarly in 1974 the "sports option" utilty and panel van were pretty basic things with the only standard creature comfort being buckets, console and GTS style dash. The Kingswood version gave you a few more things like front discs and armrests. Compare it to today when the base model Holden ute gets cloth trim, buckets, aircon, power windows, CD player etc, and the sports option (SS) is more like a luxury sports car - the closest in Holden history probably being the HX LE Monaro!

[HZSandman]

We have got one of the new monaros and love it. We reckon it has heaps of character and style. So much so that even though it is time to swap it for another car now we do not want to get rid of it. Can't think of another car on the market that is big, powerful, not a ford that has the same style as the Monaro.

We are seriously considering getting a lower km Monaro even though it would be 7 years old.

[wbute]

I agree, they have heaps of style and I would love one in the shed one day. A sleeper I think. Should be well worth hanging on to HZSandman.

[stickthis]

We have got one of the new monaros and love it. We reckon it has heaps of character and style. So much so that even though it is time to swap it for another car now we do not want to get rid of it. Can't think of another car on the market that is big, powerful, not a ford that has the same style as the Monaro.

We are seriously considering getting a lower km Monaro even though it would be 7 years old.

What model?

Im looking at trying to find a manual HSV GTS coupe. Or maybe an early GTO. Dont like the later ones with the tank in the boot. Uses too much space.