Ian had dreamed of restoring an old Holden for years, with his passion for cars starting when he was quite young. “I remember sliding around the rear floor of my parent’s Escort panel van with my sister” says Ian with a smile. Learning to drive in his folks’ 1970 HT Monaro triggered his love affair with Holden vehicles, his first car was a V8 HQ soon followed by a yellow SLRTorana.
“I loved this car like it was my firstborn child” recalls Ian “and was devastated when it was shunted after I’d owned it for just six days!” After repair, he drove it for several years before it was written off when a drunk driver ran into it.
By 2006 Ian had owned several Holdens and was married to Jo with a career in consulting. Approaching 40, he decided it was “now or never” and the hunt began. But in the booming economy classic cars were highly desirable with prices to match. His dream of reliving his youth in a Monaro or Torana was dashed by their sky-high prices, but he did happen across a Sandman panel van on a car sales website. “It wasn’t my first choice, but I had wanted one when I was younger, so I started seriously searching for one” remembers Ian.
Ian spent around 18 months watching various car sales websites before finding a potential candidate. He flew toPerthto check it out, bought it on the spot and stuck it on a truck back toMelbourneto begin the restoration.
Ian remembers the drive home from the Melbourne transport depot. “The driver’s window fell out. The car kept running out of power so it was continually stopping. It was only running on four cylinders! When we took it to our mechanic he found all sorts of hidden problems. The chassis was cracked, the suspension was two inches lower on one side than the other and the wiring looked like it had been done in the middle ages.”
The driver’s window fell out. The car kept running out of power so it was continually stopping. It was only running on four cylinders!
Removing and filling in the side windows proved to be the greatest challenge and Ian spent a considerable amount of time investigating the options. “By now most of the interior was completed but the windows were not growing on me at all. Throughout the restoration I was researching the best way to get them plated over. I spent a lot of time talking to panel beaters, restorers and other experts before I found a bloke who could do the job and knew what he was talking about. Ivan at Old School Restorations lived up to his business name with a brilliant old school welding job.”
Somewhat ambitiously, Ian and Jo had arranged to attend the Easter Van Nationals inGeelongin 2009 and time was now pressing. With one week to go the rear interior was still a bare shell.
Ian explains “Mickz Motor Trimming had the carpet and a two-part double mattress ready for the back and was on standby to complete the rear by adding side panels and side carpet. The two-part mattress was my idea, inspired by the Holden Mambo Sandman concept car. It allows two people to sleep in comfort, but also gives the option to store one mattress on top of the other, freeing up space to transport heavy or large items.”
“In the lead-up to the event, Mick was ringing every day asking where the van was. We finally gave it to him four days before Easter.” After an anxious wait, Ian and Jo were thrilled with the completed interior. “I originally wanted the side panels to replicate the external side stripes in colour, but time didn’t allow this and Mick went for a stitched design instead. We’re glad now because it looks better anyway. More subtle.” The van was completed in time and made it to theGeelongevent.
But the journey isn’t over for Ian and Jo and their Valencia Orange Holden Sandman panel van.
“There are still bits and pieces to be done and the next big job is detailing the engine bay. I have another set ofGTSrims that need blasting and painting too. We’ll be putting 8 inch rims on the rear and 7 inch on the front to replace the standard 6 inch rims currently fitted. I doubt we’ll ever be really finished.”
“Ours is usually the only Sandman at car shows but interest is growing really fast and we’re starting to hear about more being restored. I love it when we see women nudging their blokes and giggling as they walk past. We can tell that they’re reliving the good times they had in the back of a Sandman many years ago. We’ve also started going to drive-in movies again. There’s still one out inCoburgand it’s really cool to watch a film while we’re snuggled under the doona in the back. It has to be the most comfortable car in the place!”
“I just love the whole Sandman panel van culture. The stripes and the GTS bits and the memories of the surfie scene back in the 70’s. It’s definitely not the quickest car out there but you just can’t beat the rumble of the V8 when you’re cruising along the coast.”
