54 replies to this topic

[LC69GTR]

Got to love these 80's Vans

[Toranavista]

Nice set!

[yel327]

Holden started it all off in March 1972 with the Ewet, which was a Dandenong built HQ Kingswood ute fitted with 350, TH400, Air and Steer. In May 1972 they built a sister to it that had steer and LSD. Both ordered and sold by the same dealer. Unfortunately by the time the Sandman came around in 1974 the 350 was replaced by a 173, although you could order a different model and option a 308.

[mitchg]

http://au.geocities....0s/history.html

Got them all in that link

[Pop's-SS]

Notice the hatch hutch type camper tent on the back of the Holden van in that link by mitchg

This photo and story on the Chrysler Drifter was in the Modern Motor April 1978 issue



Bit more room in the back of that one compared to our Hatchbacks with the Hatch Hutch but I know which one I prefer


Regards ............ Barry

[GTR-1]

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[wot179]

 primary_sampler_feb_09__26_.JPG   93.68K   17 downloads  primary_sampler_feb_09__27_.JPG   99.56K   12 downloadsG]  primary_sampler_feb_09__28_.JPG   89.13K   14 downloads  primary_sampler_feb_09__29_.JPG   93.2K   12 downloadsPG]  primary_sampler_feb_09__30_.JPG   101.51K   11 downloadsYeah yeah I know its a Ford but it was around before the sandman,even if they only made three.The cover of the magazine this feature appeared in is also shown.

[LC69GTR]

I printed this one out on A3 and it looked fine
How big are you going?

[2600s]

Vans were the in thing in a big way in the 70s here in Adelaide, I remember seeing them at many car shows even into the early to mid eighties. One van in particular used to win many awards in this state which to my suprise is in the Birwood Mill, the van was named "Midnight Express".

It's a HT Holden and features a train air brushed on each side and had all the crushed velvet goodies of the era!

Here you go!

"Cheers"

Alf

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[Toranavista]

Very popular at the drive inn's as well.

[Pop's-SS]

I've had 5 panelvans, 2 HRs, 1 HK and 2 HQ V8s but this was my first set of wheels and as you can see I fell asleep at the wheel and not long after this photo was taken I totalled it



I had the foot brake on hard but it wasn't enough to stop me

Although this was only a 253 V8, it was better looking than my 308 V8.
Photo taken 1980 at Black Mountain ACT



Haven't got that van anymore but I'm still with the same girl

Regards ................... Barry

PS .... When over at the Adelaide Hills this January we visited the Birdwood car museum and took squillions of photos including some of those 2 vans.
Mmmmmmmm brought back some great memories of my vans and my old surfing days

[wot179]

Vans were the in thing in a big way in the 70s here in Adelaide, I remember seeing them at many car shows even into the early to mid eighties. One van in particular used to win many awards in this state which to my suprise is in the Birwood Mill, the van was named "Midnight Express".

It's a HT Holden and features a train air brushed on each side and had all the crushed velvet goodies of the era!

Here you go!

"Cheers"

Alf

Thanks for those shots.Loved that van as a teenager,the paint was a mile deep.So good to see it still exists.I heard a rumor some years ago that the paint eventually shrunk up and cracked like a turtles shell due to the thickness of the acrylic laquer it was painted with.Apparently a coat of clear between each colour layed down on the murals.Or so they said....DEFINITELY got to get to Birdwood now.All other murals fade into insignifigance beside these beautys.

[Mort]

Midnight Express is the van used in the movie Running From the Guns, been looking for a copy of the movie for a long time, am hoping to find one on DVD.


Mort

[2600s]

Yep, it's well worth the trip to Birdwood as they have some real gems in there such as these!

The A9X is Leo P's old car company car.
The HK Brougham is on loan from the wife of the former Prime Minister who took over when Harold went for a swim.
The Charger is an ex Chrysler works team car which raced at Bathurst.
The WB Statesman is the last one which rolled off the line at Elizabeth and is brand new.
The WB Kingswood was put together by the design fellas trying to talk Holden into building a large car along side of the Commodore and the VC Brock was the actual car driven by PB in the series he used his cars in.


Hope this goes a small way to getting some of you in making the trip to our lovley state!

"Cheers"
Alf

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[yel327]

Notice the hatch hutch type camper tent on the back of the Holden van in that link by mitchg

This photo and story on the Chrysler Drifter was in the Modern Motor April 1978 issue



Bit more room in the back of that one compared to our Hatchbacks with the Hatch Hutch but I know which one I prefer


Regards ............ Barry

GMH copied the Torana hatch-hutch off the van-tent they made optional for the HQ van. I have a photo here somewhere of one.

[A9X]

i had a couple of Vans, a HX Sandman in Valencia 308 4sp, and a WB Sandman 308 T bar, ex display car that was a special build from Sydney Atkinsons in Perth.

It was Atlantis Blue and had a caprice interior .
Was the Accountants car and i was the second owner. Came with a folder with all the documentation including a series of letters back and forth from GMH to Sydneys arguing they couldn't do this, couldn't do that

lovely car to drive

pics are around here somewhere.

on another note, i have a years worth of wheels magazines all bound into a book, they have a number of articles on the sandman, drifter and sundowner, even a comparison write up. Also articles on the little escort van and the bigger transit vs Bedford vans.

Love all the old ads.

[enderwigginau]

You'll be able to buy Van Tents new very soon - or so the rumour goes