HZ Ute, is it a Sandman?

[blair]

Does anyone have any idea if this ute is a sandman? Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Model: HZ8WM80
Body: 428654-A
Trim: 1935-63V
Paint: 567-30526

Eng: L32
Trans: M20
Frame: GV4

Holden HZ Utility
10-78
BHZ: 33914A
GVW: 1950
Seating Cap: 2

VIN: 8M80RJL428654Z

[wbute]

Good chance. Check with Holden Historical Services to be sure

[blair]

Good chance. Check with Holden Historical Services to be sure

Thanks for the response mate. I contacted them and this is what they said....

"Unfortunately, in this instance this HZ Holden utility - L428654 - is not included in the HZ Holden Vehicle Master Listings we currently have. The reason for this is due to the implementation of the new One Line Reporting system from mid-June 1978. GM-H outsourced all warranty reporting activity from this time. It was cheaper and easier to do it this way, apparently. There was a big song and dance about it at the time. Sadly, all connection was lost many years ago and we are in the process of currently trying to establish if the data still exists in a usable form. We have our fingers crossed on that front!

Having said that, we can decode the vehicle for you. There is no charge for this service. The fact that the ADR Safety Compliance and VIN plates still retain the factory-fitted rivets is a bonus on a vehicle like this today. L428654 was built (as in completed) during the second week of October 1978 at the Elizabeth, Adelaide plant. The original colour was Caribbean Turquoise metallic ('1935' on the TRIM line of the Body ID plate) and a Buckskin vinyl interior ('63V') featured. The driveline was 4.2 V8, 4-speed manual transmission and 3.36:1 rear axle - the base for a Sandman.

The chassis number - BHZ33914A - reveals this was HZ Holden #33,914 produced at the Adelaide plant. The build time is good for a Sandman utility, and the '1950 kg' rating together with the seating capacity of two is a very good indicator that the vehicle is in fact a Sandman. However, as you can appreciate, we are not able to confirm this. A check by a knowledgeable person who specialises in the se vehicles may be able to assist."

If anyone else on here has any knowledge that can help that would be great.

Is it worth my time and money to restore this vehicle knowing i can't confirm the authenticity?

Cheers

[wbute]

It’s one of the hard ones to determine. Put some photos up.
You can look for things like remains of stickers inside door jambs etc.
As for restoring it, I can’t say really. It depends on what condition it’s in and how much of it you can do your self. You will struggle to get Sandman value if that’s the main motivation, without any definitive provenance. Plus it’s a ute so the value is less anyway(at this stage, but who knows what the future holds).

[pj350]

Sounding better than average that you have a keeper..
There's still so many telltale signs of it being a sandman..
Depending on how much it's been modified over the year's

[wbute]

Sounding better than average that you have a keeper..
There's still so many telltale signs of it being a sandman..
Depending on how much it's been modified over the year's

About the only thing on a ute is the non-chromed door handles and black stainless trim around the windscreen. Everything else could have a B06 ute, like the twin headlight front.
It’s a real shame that HHS don’t have all the records.

[pj350]

About the only thing on a ute is the non-chromed door handles and black stainless trim around the windscreen. Everything else could have a B06 ute, like the twin headlight front.
It’s a real shame that HHS don’t have all the records.

Yes that's a shame..
If it's lucky enough to still have the front nose cone with the cut outs black plastic grill ..I guess with the the gvm at 1950 the placard would be sandman .. I'm guessing it has the gts dash /steering wheel ..
Courtesy lights in the doors jams ..
More than likely it's a sandman

[Dr Terry]

About the only thing on a ute is the non-chromed door handles and black stainless trim around the windscreen. Everything else could have a B06 ute, like the twin headlight front.

The B06 Ambulance package was only available on Panel Vans & One-Tonners. No B06 Ute.

Dr Terry

[wbute]

The B06 Ambulance package was only available on Panel Vans & One-Tonners. No B06 Ute.

Dr Terry

There you go. So you would reckon that if the original wiring was there for the twin light front that would be another good indication.
You can see some black under the green paint on the door handles still. Obviously it’s had some paint put on it at some stage. It’s a shame you can’t get some better history on it.
You need to check to see if both door handles have black paint on them, no chrome. A dealer or someone else may have put the twin headlights on it but unlikely to have bothered changing the door handles as well.

[Spike]

Would the spare wheel retainer on the winch also be another possible indicator ? But hey unless it is really toasted get her back on the road, its got great options