Have I bought a Sandman?

[Dick61]

I have just bought a "Sandman Ute" on e-bay, the numbers seem to be matching, but I'm no expert.
The details are as follows

Vin Tag: 8M80RGL384220X

ADR Tag: HOLDEN HX UTILITY

06/77 AHX 34575A

GVW 1860kg SEATING CAP 2


Body Tag: MODEL; HX8W M 80

BODY No; 237375-A

TRIM; 1898-18V

PAINT; 567-15944

ENG; L32 TRANS; M20 RRAXLE; G7.

My interpretation of these tags are: 1977 Deauville Blue Sandman Ute, with Slate/Black interior. 253 V8, 4spd, 3.36:1 Diff which the seller informs me is an LSD

Like I said I'm not an expert so have I got a Sandman or added a fourth Belmont to my collection?

The car is very rusty and will need full restoration, the original engine is long gone but a 253 came with the car although I haven't checked it's casting date as yet .

My questions are, do the tags match? is it a genuine Sandman? and if everything is correct, how many Deauville Blue HX Sandman Utes were built?

[HK1837]

All plates belong around the same timeframe so would appear to belong together. 18V says Sandman on a HX Holden ute, and ADR tag indicates it was an XX7. Diff is a GV7 not GV4 so it is a 3.55. No records exist on how many Sandmans were built let alone colour records!
It'd never be a Belmont even if it wasn't a Sandman, it is a HX and there are no HX Belmont commercials.

I had this one previously recorded too, with an engine number and the fact it has LSD. Build configuration was 253, 4spd and 3.55 LSD. No air or steer, so basically a standard HX Sandman ute optioned with 253 and LSD.

I have 45 x 1998 coloured HJ or HX commercials recorded. Of those 45, 39 are Sandmans. Of the 39 x Sandman, 7 are utes. One of the utes is a Kingswood, the other 6 are Holdens. They are all manuals, engines are: 1 x 202, 2 x 253 and 4 x 308. 2 x Acacia Ridge, 1 x Pagewood and 4 x Elizabeth assembly. As you can see, although I only have much less than 1000 Sandmans recorded, a lot are 1898 so it was a popular colour.

[wbute]

Probably should check the chassis number is correct.

[Dick61]

The Chassis number matches the ADR Tag.
The engine that is with the car has a March 73 casting date, so I'll be looking for a May 77 dated engine to have a year correct engine in the car even though it won't be the original.

[HK1837]

I wouldn't concern yourself trying to find a year correct engine, means nothing. It'll be worththe same if it has the 1973 engine in it. You will be better off putting a 308 in it, it will cost the same to rebuild and will lift the value of the car as compared to not having the original 253.