Sandmans - Muscled Cars or Something Else.

**wbute** · 25-04-2010, 06:35 PM

To me a muscle car is something that was built to race. I reckon they would be Bathurst Monaros, L34 Toranas, maybe A9X(but they came standard with L31 motor), E49 and E38 Charger, Phase 1 2 and 3 Falcons, Bathurst XU1's. Probably a few others too, but this is just my opinion and may be wrong.

**Absinth** · 25-04-2010, 09:53 PM

Gas on, if they are saying the 318 Fireball engine in the Chargers is a Hemi..... I wouldn't believe a thing they say...

wbute, the Bathurst A9X race cars had the L34 engine in them not the L31 sold to the general public and are definately a muscle car.

Gas On · 25-04-2010, 10:32 PM

[QUOTE=Absinth;2177]Gas on, if they are saying the 318 Fireball engine in the Chargers is a Hemi..... I wouldn't believe a thing they say...

Gday

So.. the internet's lieing! ... Nah, Never.

Well spotted absinth, maybe you should inform them.

Cheers

**wbute** · 25-04-2010, 11:37 PM

Hi Absinth, the race A9X was certainly a muscle car but most of them were GMP&A but the road car was a bit tamer. Every thing but the donk. I reckon the A9X is the nicest looking car built in Australia and its race history will never be denied. In my opinion I have always wondered why the phase 3 is held in higher regard really. I think if all of them had been released to the public with the L34 they would have been the number one muscle car in Australia now.

**freestyler1** · 26-04-2010, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by ozbox

in the world terms there is really only a couple of australian cars that can truly claim to be a muscle car...
to me a sandman or any van with a decent motor is a fun car and part of my youth and now part of my oncoming dementia..................

Does that mean too quote you ozbox that there a "funny car"???
Are'nt they more designed for the 1/4 mile???? :surprised: :surprised: :surprised:

Al

**Blocker** · 26-04-2010, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by freestyler1

Does that mean too quote you ozbox that there a "funny car"???
Are'nt they more designed for the 1/4 mile???? :surprised: :surprised: :surprised:

Al

There is a huge difference between a 'Funny car' class and a car that is fun to drive.

**Jeza** · 26-04-2010, 10:42 AM

I would class the Sandman (vans and utes) as muscle cars. I guess that it's up to everybodies independant opinion. To me, an aussie muscle car is a factory V8 or factory worked 6 that looks and sounds tough. Thats a Sandman, I would say 'Sandmans - Muscle Cars and Something Else'.
Jez

**HZSandman** · 26-04-2010, 11:07 AM

Very hard to define.

Is a HT Monaro a muscle car? Most would say yes. But what if it only had a 186s engine. If that makes the answer no then is it the engine that makes it a muscle car?

If this is true then an 308 Sandman is as much a muscle car as any of the 308 Monaros.

If it is just based on the body then an LJ Torana 2 door no matter what description is a muscle car.

Does it have to race around Bathurst? That discounts a whole bunch of 1970s Holden 4 doors.

Does it have to be the body shape and the motor combined. Therefore a HZ Monaro 308 sound like it meets the criteria but what about an HZ Premier with a 308.

Very hard to clearly identify.

As time goes on and the divisions become more blurred I think a Sandman could fit the bill to be called a muscle car. It has the motor, the sportiness factor, just missing the race history.

Gas On · 26-04-2010, 11:53 AM

Gday...

Well it's great to hear so many varied opinions!

The van's sure are a very unique vehicle! Weve had lifestyle & image car, cruiser, fun car, evil car, muscle car... I've always concidered mine to be a cross between a sports car and limosine

I think they fit the bill for everybodys description and that makes me a damn proud owner of one of Australia finest vehicles ever produced.

Cheers

**jennie285** · 26-04-2010, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by HZSandman

Very hard to define.

Is a HT Monaro a muscle car? Most would say yes. But what if it only had a 186s engine. If that makes the answer no then is it the engine that makes it a muscle car?

If this is true then an 308 Sandman is as much a muscle car as any of the 308 Monaros.

If it is just based on the body then an LJ Torana 2 door no matter what description is a muscle car.

Does it have to race around Bathurst? That discounts a whole bunch of 1970s Holden 4 doors.

Does it have to be the body shape and the motor combined. Therefore a HZ Monaro 308 sound like it meets the criteria but what about an HZ Premier with a 308.

Very hard to clearly identify.

As time goes on and the divisions become more blurred I think a Sandman could fit the bill to be called a muscle car. It has the motor, the sportiness factor, just missing the race history.

When Rodney was friends with my then boyfriend we all went to Bathurst for the weekend, to see INXS the year was 1982....we went up the Mountain in Rodney's Sandman and he took us for a lap (no cops around much in those days) anyway we went around the zigzag bends, just before Conrod, and about 3 of us girls were sitting up in the back and he had it going so fast one of the back wheels lifted of the ground...and yes I was scarred and no my parents didn't know I involved in that....and yes I would kill my kids if they did that....for some reason we didn't end up going to see INXS which was one of the things I do regret not doing....
my point being does doing that in a Sandman entitle it to be a race van