Just Another Sandman Question.

[Robbo]

I was reading an "original" article recently about the HQ SS. It mentioned the car was built on the Belmont model, and as such did not have armrest's or interior light's amongst other thing's. My question is, why are these item's fitted to Sandman's if they are mostly based on Belmonts?

Cheer's.

[HK1837]

Only some HQ Sandman is based upon Belmont, and trim is the same as whatever the base Belmont or Kingswood had. HJ works the same (except no Belmont of course). It wasn't until HX (after GMH had killed off the Kingswood Sandman) that Sandman got Kingswood spec trim as standard. So whatever seat material, door trims etc that came with a Kingswood for the trim colour selected, a HX or HZ Sandman got (unless it was over-ruled by the XX7/XU3 package eg horn button or dash facia). This is why black trim in a HX Sandman is 18V not 19V, as not only is Kingswood colours different, the vinyl is different. So is the name of the trim eg Black v Slate black, Beige vs Chamois etc.
So I suppose another way to view it is in HQ, ticking box XX7 got you either a standard 173 Belmont van/ute or 202 Kingswood ute with:

M11 (console)
M20 (4spd)
N66 (rally rims)
U21 (dash)
XS6 (buckets)
Some black paintouts.
Plus a set of stripes in a box, and on Kingswood deletion of the side and tailgate strips.

Essentially just a base vehicle with a few options. This is why Sandmans are impossible to pick in some circumstances (although there is one surefire way to pick a HQ or HJ).

You also got a choice of tyres, but if none selected you'd get whatever was standard for the base vehicle. The choice was also governed by the engine you optioned. Plus certain items selected added others eg selecting L32 got you a 3.05:1 1st gear 4spd, L31 got you a 2.54:1 1st gear 4spd.

Hope this helps.

[adam perth]

GOOD Question!
most of the HQ sandman interior brochures in my "30 years of holden book" have armrests..

was the 1972 HQ ss door trim the same as 1974 Sandman belmont door trim?

[Absinth]

GOOD Question!
most of the HQ sandman interior brochures in my "30 years of holden book" have armrests..

was the 1972 HQ ss door trim the same as 1974 Sandman belmont door trim?

Armrests were about the only optional extra you could get on the HQ SS which didn't come standard with them.

All the HQ Sandman brochures I have seen show the Kingswood version (Kingswood trim).... Belmont versions came with Belmont door trims but I believe armrests were standard on all Sandman... (Belmont and Kingswood).

I would like to see a HQ brochure pic showing a Sandman with Belmont trim if anyone has one they can post up.....

[HK1837]

If HQ XX7 got armrests standard it is not a direct Sandman component. Unless it was standard with XS6 (buckets), which gave B code trim. Then it makes sense. To be honest i've never really taken all that much interest, but it is an interesting point. Not a Sandman identifier as such, any more than B code trim is anyway. I'll look further later. Brochures will always show the higher level interior, and be careful of trusting them too much as a reference.

[ozbox]

my hq sandman van had the belmont door trims and no armrests..