HX Panelvan - is it a Sandman?

[blackvan]

Hi All

This is my first post on your forum. I've had my HX van for about 20 years. I've scoured the identification details on this site and most things are a match for a Sandman but I'm not 100% sure.

Body ID Plate:
MODEL HX8W M 70 (NB: Adelaide build, so no XX7 on plate)
TRIM 1918-60A
PAINT 567-17774
L32 M40 GU4

VIN Plate:
8M70RGL2#####X

ADR Plate:
GVW 1950 kg
SEATING CAP 2

Glovebox tyre placard number : 9942992

Motor: 253 red
Trans: Trimatic, T-bar shift
GTS dash, GTS Steering wheel.

In 2000 a flat bed truck turned in front of me and WHAM! As you can imagine the front end was a mess.

Two things changed because of that:

• The original chassis (its number matched the ADR plate) was replaced with an HZ chassis.
  
• The single headlight front end was replaced with a twin headlight setup.

Other things that didn't match when I bought it:

• The original wheels were gone and replaced by third party mags.
  
• The original paint had been sprayed over with BLACK (it was a purple colour - you can still see it in obscure places).

Checking Blocker's HX Sandman Details:

External

Headlight surrounds are black, not silver. MATCH (until the flat bed truck)
Single headlight, not twin. MATCH (until the flat bed truck)
Front grille has Holden Lion badge not GTS badge. MATCH (until the flat bed truck)
Front panels do not have fluted guards. MATCH
Side mirrors are Black, pointed mount type. Not sure - the mirrors are black 'GTS' style
Windscreen surrounds are black body colour. Not verifiable due to re-spray
Tail light surrounds are chrome. MATCH
Door window frames are black outs. Not verifiable due to re-spray
Lower sills, guards, nose panel, rear quarters and beaver panel blacked out. Not verifiable due to re-spray

Internal

Vinyl bucket seats Kingswood type, not cloth. MATCH, but I replaced these with Commodore (VC era) cloth seats
Silver GTS dash, not black. MATCH
HX Sandman has a seven digit speedo. MATCH
Door handles painted black. MATCH, but who knows who painted them
Door sill scuff plates Chromed. MATCH
Recess section around tailgate window blacked out. Not verifiable due to re-spray
Front grill painted black. Can't remember - written off by the flat bed truck
Change windscreen surrounds to "windscreen stainless trim mouldings." Don't know what this means
Mirrors are listed as "aerodynamic type" in parts catalogue. See 'External' above
HJ style console with lift up front lid was optional in auto Sandmans. MATCH
Kingswood style door trims with padded arm rest. The arm rests are a MATCH, but don't know about the 'Kingswood style door trims'

HX Trim Codes

18V Slate Black vinyl
60A Chamois and black vinyl MATCH
65A Sienna vinyl
67V Tan vinyl


Elsewhere on this site 'Courtesy Lights' (aka footwell lights) are mentioned. I've never been aware of any internal light(s) apart from the roof light. That's not to say there weren't any - I don't know how many previous owners there were before me but the wiring under the dash is a mess, a real jungle. I wouldn't be surprised if those 'Courtesy Lights' were long gone.

Thanks for a great site and any info would be greatly appreciated.

[HQGTSbrad]

60A is a HX sandman trim code
8WM70 i think means sandman
thats about as much as i can say more people on here will know.

[wbute]

If it was a Sandman it isnt anymore as the chassis number wont match.

[HQGTSbrad]

17774 is royal plum metallic

--- Updated ---

If it was a Sandman it isnt anymore as the chassis number wont match.

it still would be a sandman with out the original chassis just makes it unoriginal

[wbute]

Hmmm. Sadly its a HZ with HX tags now.

[HQGTSbrad]

well i guess so

[HQGTSbrad]

So mate it narrows down to this.
you do have a HX Sandman but with out it's original chassis it's not completely a sandman because its has a HZ chassis

[HK1837]

It is a very hard one to pick. I'd say it most likely is, but it still could be an XU4 Holden van. Metallic was available only on Sandman on HX Holden vans and utes, however the only exceptions to this have been Elizabeth builds which is what yours is. Something is wrong with the PSN though as you have it starting with L2 which it cannot for HX. The last L2 PSN's were 2/75 HJ's. Can you PM me the rest of the vehicle's details? I have 1 x other 1918 painted Elizabeth van, it is an 11/76 L31 M21 example. It has 60A trim too.

[Rico]

Sounds like a bit of a mixed bag. If you really love it, then its value is priceless. Glad to hear that you were able to stop it from going to the graveyard. Shame bout the chassis though.

[HK1837]

I wouldn't worry too much about the rails. If it was a Sandman it was a 253 auto HX and thus will never set the world on fire value wise. I'd just build it up to look original externally but do what you want underneath. Being HX you do not suffer from any additional pollution equipment going to HZ rego (which it will be by the rails), and you gain much improved ride and handling with the HZ suspension. It would look fantastic painted in its original colour and trim combo. I'd stick an EFI 304 and 4L60 into it, run 15x7 GTS rims and standard ride height. Will make for a very impressive vehicle with or without stripes. Dont hesitate to fit integrated A/C and power steer either.