Introduction from a newbie

[TwoTees]

Hi all,
Been looking at this great forum for a while and decided I better sign up and say G,day.

It all started for me in the Chrissy holidays of 1978 when I was bundled off down the south coast to my nans beach house for the holidays. I made friends with the local supermarket owners 18yo son who just received from his Dad, an XB or XC sundowner van with the camping option including a pop top. (Yep a wind up top with canvas type sides) Never seen one since!
Anyway as I was only 14, I though it was the coolest thing ever to be a side kick in this cool van until one day we went into town and then I spotted it................... A Jasmine yellow HZ Sandman van in full trim and glory. From that moment I always wanted one.
Anyway, over the years I have owned a few HZ vans, HQ 1 tonner, HG broughm, FC ute and a few others not worth mentioning here but never a real sandman.
About 10 years ago I found one. A HZ that I started to restore but got fairly side tracked once my kids got older. I recently put it on Ebay to sell it but ended up pulling the auction and decided to keep going on it. I was also shocked at how popular they are now. I have posted a few pictures in the gallery section labled "XX7 L31 M21 windowless" if you are keen for a look.

So here I am. I'm looking forward to hanging out here with all the Sandman mined people. I am sure I will have a ton of questions for the Sandman Gurus. Hopefully I will be able to post up some progress pictures in the near future.

Cheers for now,
Chris

[hj308]

Great van Chris, welcome to the Forum and I am sure lots of guys on here would be envious of you having a XX7 with a 308 factory M21 and windowless to cap it off. Do you live on the south coast I am in Wollongong would love to come and have a look if your not too far away. Whats the history of the van?? I am certain you would have regretted selling it if you had gone throught with in, well done in keeping it.

[ozbox]

gday chris and welcome...i remember the ford vans with the pop top,i am pretty sure they were xb gs vans and they had all the fibreglass cupboards down each side...they were fairly impressive..

[TwoTees]

Do you live on the south coast I am in Wollongong would love to come and have a look if your not too far away. Whats the history of the van?? I am certain you would have regretted selling it if you had gone throught with in, well done in keeping it.

Im in Canberra. I dont know much about its history. I bought it from a guy who only owned for a short while but he said it came from out west. It was full of red dust but I'd rather that than rust. It looks like it had a rear 1/4 change at some point and that is what started the small amount that it has. The chassis must have been damaged at the same time as it had a HQ one fitted. I found a good 6cyl WB one and fitted that.
This was all around 10 years ago and they werent that sought after then so dead original was not my priority hence also the Jasmin yellow paint. (It was atlantis blue.)

I have decided I will go back to Atlantis blue but there is not much I can do with the chasis.
Chris

[stickthis]

looks the goods mate. Welcome to the forums

[playwme]

I remember seeing that one on ebay. Noticed it cause it was good and close to home Glad you decided to keep it. That meant I didn't have to bust my arse trying to find the funds to save yet another Canberran unfinished project.

Welcome to the forum.

[Epic_Dragon]

hello and welcome