HJ Identification

The HJ Sandman started production in September 1974 and continued through to June 1976. There was an update in the HJ series during September 1975 where GM Holden introduced the XU3 variant and started to display a reduced Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) on the Body Identification Plate (Body ID Plate) for both the XX7 and XU3 Sandman. This means the GVW would now display as 2200kg or below for the XU3, or 1950kg or below for XX7. Also during the HJ production run the Sandman ute changed from a Kingswood based vehicle to a Holden ute, so no more Kingswood Sandman vehicles from this time onward.

  • Built between 9/74 and 6/76.
  • Bucket Seats. 2 Seat Capacity on Safety Compliance Plate.
  • Headlining Trim - full length.
  • Console Floorshift.
  • Front Door Armrests.
  • Manual Transmission - 4 speed.
  • GTS Cluster Instruments.
  • GTS Rally Wheels.
  • GTS Headlamp Bezels.
  • GTS Steering Wheel - 5mm thick spokes.
  • GTS Fluted Guards.
  • Decal Package - 'Sandman' Black or White supplied for dealer to apply inc. Body side and lower tailgate stripes & B pillar 'Sandman' Name.

Paint Blackouts;

        • Rocker Panels (Lower sills).
        • Front Guards.
        • Front End Panel.
        • Rear Valance (Beaver panel).
        • Radiator Grille

HJ Identification Plates Explained

Before detailing the HJ plates I'd like to point out an interesting or trivial fact regarding the HJ plates and the Adelaide assembly plant

At some stage during HJ production the Adelaide plant seemed to be the last assembly plant to have updated their Body Identification Plate stamping tool, the early plates were reverse stamped and the later models were embossed.

As an example two Body Identification plates are included as a guide to the difference between an early and later HJ Adelaide built vans.

hj plates

The first plate is a plate from a 2/75 plate - you will notice the reverse stamp unique to the Adelaide plant at the time, while other plants used embossed stamping, this is nothing more than trivial information rather than practical data.

The second Adelaide plate from 5/76 shows the common and standardized layout for the HJ series plates and is negative stamped giving a clearer picture of the details and not subject to weathering and fading as much as the earlier version. Once again there is no technical difference for the stamping style, it has been suggested that Holden at Elizabeth were the last to update their stamp tools compared to other plants.

hj plates

Body Identification Plate Breakdown

The Body Identification Plate has five significant lines relevant to the Holden Sandman which we will explain from the above plate as an example line by line.

Model

  • HJ - is the series of the vehicle.
  • 8W - signifies Holden Australia.
  • M - defines this as a commercial vehicle or N for Kingswood.
  • 70 - is the Body style in this case a panel van or 80 for ute.

Body No

  • This is the unique number of the body assigned from the body assembly plant.

Trim

  • 1898 - Is the paint combination code and varies on the exterior paint.
  • 19V - Indicates the trim code, in this case it is Black.

Paint

  • 15944 - See the paint colour chart for a detailed reference.

Last Line

  • Eng - Engine type
    • L20 - 6cyl 202
    • L32 - V8 253
    • L31 - V8 308
  • Trans - Transmission type
    • M20 - 4 speed wide ratio (6cyl & V8 253)
    • M21 - 4 speed close ratio (V8 308 only)
    • M40 - Trimatic (not V8 308)
    • M41 - TH400 (V8 308 only)

 

hj plates

Compliance Plate Breakdown

The Compliance Plate (ADR Plate) has four sections and two important descriptors relevant to the Holden Sandman.

GVW

  • Gross Vehicle Weight - This is significant in determining a genuine Sandman and for the HJ will be below
    • 1950kg - V8 Panel van
    • 1860kg - V8 or 6cyl for Ute
    • 2200kg - if built between before middle 1975 because Holden did not introduce the derated GVW until later in the HJ series.

Seat Cap

  • To even be in contention as a possible genuine Sandman it must have 2 seat capacity - not 3. We have come across one plate that had a 2 stamped over a 3 but the Body ID Plate was marked with XX7 so doubt was removed.  This plate was known as the Monday shift Sandman and is obviously a mistake and a rare one at that!

Date

  • Indicates the build completion date, very simple.

Chassis Number

  • These numbers will identify that the body matches the chassis number. The chassis number is located on the top of the front chassis rail next to the steering box if the chassis has a 'P' preceding the numbers. This would be a Police stamp to indicate the chassis has been damaged, stolen or mismatched at some stage. Each State in Australia has a different method in police stamping so check with your local authorities.

 

hj plates

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

The VIN is the unique identification number for the car and is recorded Nationally as the Identification of the car. There is nothing on this plate that will identify it as a genuine Sandman or not, however the details are here on how to decode the letters and numbers.

Example 8M70RFL345401J

  • 8 - GM Holden Australia
  • M - Commercial vehicle or N for Kingswood
  • 70 - Panelvan (80 for Ute)
  • R - Engine Type
    • L - 3.3lt (202 6cyl)
    • R - 4.2lt (V8 253)
    • T - 5.0lt (V8 308)
  • F - Model Year
    • D - 1974
    • E - 1975
    • F - 1976
    • G - 1977
    • H - 1978
  • L3 - Assembly Plant
    • H1-H4 - Acacia Ridge (Brisbane)
    • H5-H9 - Pagewood (Sydney)
    • J1-J9 - Dandenong (Melbourne)
    • L1-L5 - Elizabeth (Adelaide)
  • 45401 - PSN which is the unique serial number.
  • J - Series Code
    • Q - HQ
    • J - HJ
    • X - HX
    • Z - HZ

ID Plate Location

id plates

Contact Us

XX7 & XU3

XX7 Special Vehicle Package was the name designated by GM Holden to the Sandman while the XU3 Special Vehicle Package was released later in mid 1975 during the HJ series, giving GM Holden an additional Sandman model on the market.

  • XX7 used standard passenger vehicle tyres (10cwt).

  • XU3 used the standard commercial tyres, rated for load carrying (14.5cwt).

  • HQ and early HJ did not carry derated tyres.

  • The GVM of a HJ-HZ will help you establish if it could be a genuine Sandman.

More Information