Blank Chassis (No number)

**xxx-sandman-xxx** · 26-12-2012, 03:52 AM

Hello All,

I have heard numerous times now that if you had smashed or damaged your Sandman and the chassis was no longer repairable you could acquire a replacement chassis from GMH & certain dealerships in the late 70s early 80s. If this is true did the new replacement chassis have a different No. or did they leave it blank or restamp your original No. back on.

Question: if someone was to acquire a new chassis with no number and that person owned a genuine Sandman with a different chassis under it, does the RTA or relevant authority restamp the original number back on or do they put an alternative Number on it.

**wbute** · 26-12-2012, 07:18 AM

They were available. As for the re-stamping the number, not sure on the legalities of doing it these days. Best to ask someone with an actual legal background.

**HK1837** · 26-12-2012, 08:58 AM

As above, chassis came blank. I've had a WB tonner with one, and a friend actually bought a brand new one in 1988-9. He bought it with a receipt from the GMH dealer as a HQ chassis (it was a WB one) to put under a HQ tonner cab. When you went to register them you had to go via the Police who'd check it out and issue you with a number to get stamped onto the rail by an accredited place (usually the blue-slip issuer). Number too the form (using NSW as an example):

NyyxxxxP. N is NSW, yy is the year, xxxx is a sequential number for engine or chassis numbers issued in the State for that year, and P means Police.

**wbute** · 26-12-2012, 09:07 AM

Re-reading your post, the identity of the sandman is now the number of the current chassis. You can't re-use the old number as there is no way of knowing where the old chassis is. It may be under another car somewhere. That is re-birthing by another name.

**wbute** · 26-12-2012, 09:09 AM

Best bet is to not buy a sandman with the wrong chassis and then try to make it matching numbers by re-stamping a chassis. Especially a white ute that had been on eBay 15 times and the subject of about 5 seperate threads on this forum.

**xxx-sandman-xxx** · 26-12-2012, 12:03 PM

I'm not trying to cover the fact that the ute I bought has not got the original chassis under it, I am just trying to find out what is the best way to bring it back to its most origanal form and by not breaking the law?

**Blocker** · 26-12-2012, 12:10 PM

The best thing to do (in my opinion) is to leave it as is and rebuild the car as you want it.

If you have bought the car for an investment for the future hoping that the value of a Sandman will bring you a windfall in the future, it will not happen (I don't believe you have).

Build to your budget and enjoy that car for its history and pleasure it brings you and others. As for authenticity, try and track down some original owner history, people love to hear stories of how the classic came to be where it is now.

**HK1837** · 26-12-2012, 12:56 PM

If it was me I'd just find the best ute or van chassis you can find and use it. If you want to run a Chev in it use a HQ or HJ chassis.

**xxx-sandman-xxx** · 26-12-2012, 01:06 PM

Thanks Blocker for your advice, I was thinking of restoring it with the same paint & trim on the tag, the only difference will be the chassis and drive line, everything else will be original. No one would know the difference while drive it on the road. The only thing I will have problems with its originality is if I went to sell it. But after putting all the hard work in restoring it I would hesitate in selling it anyway.