Please help ID my panel van

[Mansand]

Hello all I have a 1977 HZ panel van that I believe was made as Sandman and would like to confirm that if possible. It was made Windsor Blue hi compression 253 4 speed seat capacity 2 GVM 2000.
Good bits sports dash twin headlight vent holes for air dam under the front bumper.
Bad bits van has been resprayed imperial burgundy and converted to a utility. (Does it get any badder than that?)
Body tags
Model HZ8WM70 Body 402084-A Trim 1939-18V Paint 567-30530 L32 M20 GV7
HZ Panel Van 12-77 AHZ08481A GVM 2000 kg Seating Cap 2
8M70RHL402084Z
Please be gentle this is my first time.

[wbute]

18B trim is a good sign. Shame it was cut into a Ute.

[Sandaro]

Yep, those tags are sandman van.

[Robbo]

Hard to understand the Ute conversion, sadly a few were sacrificed.

[hdt134]

What's the 2000 weight? My vans also 12/77 and is 1950...
It was common practice to turn vans into Utes back in the day...

[Innuendo]

What's the 2000 weight? My vans also 12/77 and is 1950...
It was common practice to turn vans into Utes back in the day...

12/77 is right on the change from 1950 to 2000kg GVM
In the 1990 it was common to convert rusty roof Vans into Ute form. Sometimes even non rusty versions were converted because they were a lot easier to sell.
Fashion had changed and the Panel Van was on the nose for the people sheep!

[pj350]

Yes my van is made adelaide then shipped to Melbourne for assembly ..
Everything is saying sandman yes damn shame people cut vans to ute way back then ...but now it is what it is ...does the number on the chassis ..match the vin number ?

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry the number that is on the year 2000 kgs plate

[Mansand]

Hello members and big thankyou for your replies and your help with my van. It is near original apart for missing its roof. The chassis and engine numbers are correct I have driven it for 20 years and have kept it stock standard except for install prepollution inlet manifold and quadrajet Rochester. Is it too soon to ask the hard question? Could I should I replace the turret? I have a good HJ commercial van body in the shed that I have kept with intention to fit to the HZ and unemasculate my van. The original turret conversion was carefully done the A Pillar and door frame intact, I can see the factory Windsor Blue paint showing under the burgundy respray. My thinking is the unpick the turret from the HJ prepare it ready to go back on the HZ before I lay a tool on my HZ. I am old fella with basic tools but plenty of time now the girls have grown up. Is this feasible a feasible idea has it been done successfully? Since I'm real new is it OK to post a few pics of my prude and joy done here in the southern land. Bloody freezing today snow came down the mountain.

[Mansand]

Hello all I have copied a few photos to the thread to fill out my profile a bit.
My second question for the day.
What is worse than to find out your sandman is a fake? To find out your sandman is genuine and ------ (you know the word I can't say here)

[maxsandman]

Ute looks great, a pity about the tags.
I wouldn't use a windowed turret for the reroof, but that's only my opinion