HZ Windsor Blue Van

[Valencia]

One ordered without stripes. It appears that this wasn't possible in HX. In HQ and HJ you could just ask the dealer not to fit them, but HX came with stripes regardless. People must have complained as no stripes appears to have been a very popular option (this may also explain why there were so many optioned up HX Kingswood utes and vans produced, as a HX Sandman is essentially a Kingswood ute or van minus side strips and with decals and blackouts). With the release of HZ the DL7 stripe option (delete stripes) appeared, probably from customer feedback. This is how I would have ordered a HZ Sandman ute or van if I bought one in 1977-79.

The one I know of is in original paint and trim around 160,000 original kM, although it has been buggered in a few areas as he put a sunroof in it, fitted vacationer roof racks, XB coupe side scoops, Caprice bonnet emblem and tailgate mural. It would be a shame to destroy original paint, but if I bought it I'd have to repaint the roof to remove the sunroof and roof racks, and replace the lower tailgate (hanging the muralled one in the shed!). The bonnet could be fixed by welding up the Caprice emblem holes as I know it has had the nose panel resprayed 20 odd years ago to remove stone chips, and I think the bonnet may have been partly done too. The XB side scoops could be rectified by some black vinyl trim bungs in the screw holes (better than respraying the whole sides). It also needs a replacement headlining to fix the sunroof hole. It has had power steering added in the early days, and now has an Edelbrock Performer as the original manifold rotted out a few years ago. Plus I think it has a Holley on it, but knowing the owner the carb will be around in the Holley box and the aircleaner kept too. If it ever gets offered to me i'll be in a quandry as i've known the car since new, and it is a great one to have. But it is only a van, and I really want a ute. But finding a HQ or HJ ute in the condition this one is will be a real challenge!

By the times you fix all the things you have listed it sounds like it will need a full respray

[SKI_Pilot]

As already mentioned, at the time, 1977 many people thought that the stripes and large sandman on the rear were a bit over the top. My HX sandman had the stripes and sandman decals on from factory, I had the dealer remove the stripes and rear Sandman only leaving small sandman decal on the guards,

[HK1837]

By the times you fix all the things you have listed it sounds like it will need a full respray

Pretty much in theory. The goal though would be to keep the sides, sills, beaver etc with the factory blackouts intact. Just the turret, lower tailgate and front part of the bonnet would get paint. This would also allow the car to retain Survivor status as at least 50% of the factory paint remained.

--- Updated ---

So your saying the dealers fitted the stripes and not Holden?

Yes, for HQ and HJ the stripes were dealer fitment and only if the customer wanted them.
Although the Company was called General Motors Holdens back then, not Holden. Holden was the name of the W sized vehicles (HQ-WB).

[Innuendo]

Yes, for HQ and HJ the stripes were dealer fitment and only if the customer wanted them.

OK, good to know!
So your saying it's a lot like HBD fitting official Sandman Canopies to the V series?

Although the Company was called General Motors Holdens back then, not Holden. Holden was the name of the W sized vehicles (HQ-WB).

I used "Holden" as the coequal term for the company. Same as other might say GMH.
If somebody asked what type of car an EH is and who built it. Holden is a term just about everybody would accept as an answer.

The fact the company has had many name changes such as General Motors-Holden's Ltd, General Motors-Holden's Pty Ltd, Holden Limited and now GM Holden Limited.
Using the term Holden to represent the company as a whole or in fact the car brand is totally acceptable in my mind.

[HK1837]

OK, good to know!
So your saying it's a lot like HBD fitting official Sandman Canopies to the V series?


I used "Holden" as the coequal term for the company. Same as other might say GMH.
If somebody asked what type of car an EH is and who built it. Holden is a term just about everybody would accept as an answer.

The fact the company has had many name changes such as General Motors-Holden's Ltd, General Motors-Holden's Pty Ltd, Holden Limited and now GM Holden Limited.
Using the term Holden to represent the company as a whole or in fact the car brand is totally acceptable in my mind.

Not quite in the HBD sense as I don't think this stuff was dealer fitment, that is why they got the HBD plate. Dealers fitted accessories like towbars,mudflaps etc. I guess they could fit other accessories like the canopies to existing stock vehicles but then the cars didn't get the HBD plate afaik. I'm pretty most of the HBD stuff was fitted after production but before the dealer took delivery of the car. Not sure of the logistics of it, and it may have differed depending upon the item being fitted eg I suppose it is possible a 3rd part like HSV may have fitted some stuff eg the 180/185/195kW HBD upgrades to VN-VSIII.

I understand what you mean with the Holden bit. But it is still not quite right terminology! What type of car is an EH? A Holden is 100% correct. Who made it? GMH! Ask the same question of what kind of car a Statesman, or for that matter a TC Gemini is

[robp]

One ordered without stripes. It appears that this wasn't possible in HX. In HQ and HJ you could just ask the dealer not to fit them, but HX came with stripes regardless. People must have complained as no stripes appears to have been a very popular option (this may also explain why there were so many optioned up HX Kingswood utes and vans produced, as a HX Sandman is essentially a Kingswood ute or van minus side strips and with decals and blackouts). With the release of HZ the DL7 stripe option (delete stripes) appeared, probably from customer feedback. This is how I would have ordered a HZ Sandman ute or van if I bought one in 1977-79.

The one I know of is in original paint and trim around 160,000 original kM, although it has been buggered in a few areas as he put a sunroof in it, fitted vacationer roof racks, XB coupe side scoops, Caprice bonnet emblem and tailgate mural. It would be a shame to destroy original paint, but if I bought it I'd have to repaint the roof to remove the sunroof and roof racks, and replace the lower tailgate (hanging the muralled one in the shed!). The bonnet could be fixed by welding up the Caprice emblem holes as I know it has had the nose panel resprayed 20 odd years ago to remove stone chips, and I think the bonnet may have been partly done too. The XB side scoops could be rectified by some black vinyl trim bungs in the screw holes (better than respraying the whole sides). It also needs a replacement headlining to fix the sunroof hole. It has had power steering added in the early days, and now has an Edelbrock Performer as the original manifold rotted out a few years ago. Plus I think it has a Holley on it, but knowing the owner the carb will be around in the Holley box and the aircleaner kept too. If it ever gets offered to me i'll be in a quandry as i've known the car since new, and it is a great one to have. But it is only a van, and I really want a ute. But finding a HQ or HJ ute in the condition this one is will be a real challenge!

Sound like way to much work to me!

[HK1837]

It does, but still heaps less than a resto!