new Sandmans

**Blocker** · 08-06-2010, 05:30 PM

Hi Tex. This will be a short forum thread ;)

Holden stopped the Sandman at the HZ series.

There was a VY(?) ute produced that was modified outside of Holden with a nice paint job, canopy and pretty interior - yes it had Sandman painted on the back as well. But it was not designed, released or sold as a Sandman.

It's funny isn't it, that some people will argue that Holden never made a Sandman ute and the next bloke will argue that any panelvan by Holden is a Sandman. Hopefully this site will help educate people

**wbute** · 08-06-2010, 07:42 PM

The art work for that ute with a canopy was done by Reg Mombasa, ex Mental as Anything and was then doing the Mambo artwork. Correct me if I am wrong?

**ozbox** · 08-06-2010, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by wbute

The art work for that ute with a canopy was done by Reg Mombasa, ex Mental as Anything and was then doing the Mambo artwork. Correct me if I am wrong?

your right....

**Shadowmax** · 09-06-2010, 08:54 AM

From the brochure ... "the Holden canopy conversion transforms your utility into a 'Sandman" ...

If Holden are happy to call them a Sandman then so am I.

**stickthis** · 09-06-2010, 09:12 AM

I have had a few phonecalls about these modified utes. People wanting custom stripes done. Same style as the HX/HZ one just different lengths. Wonder what they would look like......

**Blocker** · 09-06-2010, 09:29 AM

Shadowmax nice brochure.

I have a couple questions;

1. If I bought a VY ute and put a canopy on the back would it be a Sandman?

2. If I bought a HX ute off the showroom floor, put in bucket seats and changed the dash to a GTS dash - would it be a Sandman?

Are we too precious about being purists?

**HZSandman** · 09-06-2010, 09:47 AM

I notice the brochure keeps putting the word "sandman" in quotes and fefers to the ute as a "sandman style wagon". Not a Sandman as such but a Sandman style.

It also referes to the "sandman canopy". So the van is not a Sandman but te canopy is?:confused:

Basically it is a ute with a canopy. Not a Sandman but a ute with a canopy in the Sandman style.

I reckon they should have gone the whole hog. Holden should have got rid of the rear window behind the seats, called it a Sandman and stuck some decals or badging on it. I reckon it would have sold better and been more desirable if they had of done that.

Instead they have done a half arsed job of creating a "Sandman" style ute.

**Shadowmax** · 09-06-2010, 10:47 AM

I've heard the HBD vehicles had a HBD plate fitted, which would designate the cars delivered new with the canopy which are the cars referred to in the brochure, I'd suggest these as the brochure says were 'Sandmans' at the time of delivery ... maybe these cars with the HBD build plate will represent the 'genuine' cars and be more valueable down the track. I'm surprised Holden didn't offer a Sandman sticker kit for them, that was a real shame.

Its good to see some of them getting around the van scene and even though they are utes I welcome them. With the prices of old Sandmans I think I would rather one of these than an old one if I was buying now ... but I am not and besides I don't know whether I could actually bring myself to buy a Commodore ...

Originally Posted by Blocker

I have a couple questions;

1. If I bought a VY ute and put a canopy on the back would it be a Sandman?

2. If I bought a HX ute off the showroom floor, put in bucket seats and changed the dash to a GTS dash - would it be a Sandman?

Are we too precious about being purists?

1. Only if its got the HBD build plate ... lol
2. No, but if it was bucket seats & floor shift from the factory as long as it can't be proved to not be a sandman is enough.

The purists may not agree but I call them 'new Sandmans' ...

**wbute** · 09-06-2010, 12:57 PM

No Sandman in my books. A ute with a canopy that some lazy marketing people called the "sandman" canopy.
Would a HZ kingswood ute with a canopy be a sandman van? That is all the SS is the equivalent of in my opinion.
The sandman was top of the line option wise and you can certainly rock up to Holden and buy a higher spec ute than the SS.

**Absinth** · 09-06-2010, 07:05 PM

HQ to HZ Sandman was a factory built car..... Commodore ute with an aftermarket canopy is not a factory built car.

HBD was an aftermarket canopy builder and their canopies were Holden "approved and warranted" but not built by Holden. Rare Spares parts are now Holden "approved" but are not built by Holden.

HBD badged cars...... woopty doo... I could design a spoiler kit in conjunction with Holden for Commodore utes and get them "Holden approved" ..... whack a "Absinth by design" badge on and a Sandman decal on the tailgate ...... does that make it a "Sandman"?????

You could by any Commodore ute and have the canopy fitted... Nova radio station up here in Brissy has two V6 Commodore utes with the canopies fitted and painted up in Nova colours..... They are not SS utes and they are not "Sandmans".

They look trick and I wouldn't mind one but even in SS guise I would never presume to call it a genuine Sandman even with a Sandman decal on it.

The Mambo Sandman could possibly be considered a genuine Sandman as it was a Joint design and build between Holden and Mambo but was a one off promotional vehicle.