Holden re-enters Sandman with ute and wagon but no van – brilliant or blasphemy?
IS IT a Sandman if there is no van? Can an evocative name and orange stickers capture the spirit of a true Aussie classic from a bygone era?
If Holden is attempting to sustain interest in the VF Commodore Sportwagon and ute by dipping into its back catalogue for inspiration, surely Vacationer or Sandpiper would have been a bit more appropriate for the more limited body styles on offer today?
That might be seen as a bit cynical, especially as the VF Commodore only has a little over two years left to go before local production ceases forever, but there is a certain logic to maintaining a nameplate’s heritage – particularly one as steeped in Australian folklore as the Sandman.
Let us take a deeper look at what the 2015 versions entail first.
In dealerships from June after being unveiled at the Bells Beach Ripcurl Pro surf competition at Torquay, Victoria, on April 4, the Sandman will be available at a $2950 option on two existing VF variants – the SV6 (210kW/350Nm 3.6-litre V6) and SSV (260kW/517Nm 6.0-litre V8). Both versions have their rear wheels driven via a six-speed automatic transmission.
The most obvious addition is the orange Sandman decals, but other giveaways to the surf and sand seeking Sportwagon include black 20-inch gloss alloy wheels, black mudguard vents, a black grille, black roof racks, unique dashboard stitching, floor mats and sunshades.
The same applies to the Sandman ute, except that a black sports bar is included in place of the racks. With the prevalence of black, we’re surprised Holden didn’t consider hiring AC/DC to help launch the special edition to the tune of their many ‘70s hits.
The stripes aren’t the only orange bits on the Sportwagon, with a proper shagpile cargo rug and sheep skin seat inserts available in that hue at extra cost. To help offset that colour, there are three paint options – Heron White, Nitrate Silver and, of course, Phantom Black.
“The Holden Sandman has been synonymous with the great Australian surf safari for decades and perfectly reflects our country’s laid back, yet adventurous attitude to life,” Holden’s executive director of sales Peter Keley said. “When the opportunity came to revive Sandman, we jumped at it.
“The reborn Sandman is a statement and reflection of the Australian way of life. Most importantly, it’s about having fun.”
Clearly, Holden hopes that nostalgia filled Baby Boomers or their Generation X kids that remember the era that taste forgot will fall for the marketing puff and buy one of these.
The rose-tinted past-gazing does have merit, however, since this will be one of the last times we will ever be able to buy an Australian-made ute or wagon – indeed, any ute of this configuration, since the coupe-utility that was a uniquely local invention back in the early 1930s dies with manufacturing in 2017. And that’s a massive pity.
The Sandman name dates back 41 years, and only ran for five years as a panel van-only proposition from the time that the HQ Belmont, Kingswood and Premier – the 14th full-sized Holden series since the 1948 48-215 original – was nearing the end of its time in March 1974, in the run up to the HJ launch seven months later.
Reflecting the times, two V8s were available for what was essentially the ‘70s version of today’s Toyota HiLux tool of trade – in 4.2-litre and 5.0-litre guises. Front disc brakes weren’t even standard until the HX facelift from mid-1976, while dual headlights only came with the HZ makeover in October 1977. That was when the big Holdens also gained Radial Tuned Suspension, starting what was known as the Handling War with the two other locally made biggies – Ford’s XC Falcon and CL Chrysler Valiant.
The Sandman captured the sex, surf and sand zeitgeist of the era perfectly, fanning a panel van customisation fad that lasted for a little while, and prompted Ford and Chrysler to release their own competitors – the now-forgotten Sundowner and Drifter.
Released during the XC’s tenure in August 1977, the former also lasted five years, to the end of the rebodied XD in early 1982 (outliving the Holden), while the far less successful latter was in dealerships from May 1977 to the demise of the CL at the end of the following year.
In fact, that was the only time the Pentastar brand offered a Valiant van period. Ford, meanwhile, also put out an Escort Sundowner (small-car based van from 1978 to 1982) and Transit Sundowner van (1978 to 1981). Both were based on UK designs.
Ironically, as arch rival Ford has shown, the Sandman concept does not have to be limited to just the traditional full-sized panel van.
According to Holden product communications manager Mark Flintoff it would have been uneconomical to produce a special-run van body on the existing VF ute structure anyway.
“We don’t have a panel van in our range,” he said. “The cost to make a panel van as a separate model would have made the vehicle’s final price too prohibitive for most buyers.”
Holden toyed with the idea back when the VT Commodore-based VU ute range was released at the 2000 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. Designed by Australian designers Mambo, just one van and wagon concept were shown, before the company elected not to take it into production.
Speaking of which, production of the latter-day Sandman commences in May, with the SV6 Sportwagon kicking off from $43,940 plus on-road costs, while the ute starts from $36,440.
Are these the proper Sandman or should Holden have not sullied its proud ‘70s van heritage?
Byron Mathioudakis goauto.com.au
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