History
Purchased off original 72 year old owner 6 Months ago to finish restore.
Van was purchased from prominent Brisbane Holden dealer in 1975 as a top of the line demonstrator model (meaning it was put in the yard as an example of what the dealer could do for you as a buyer of a Sandman from his yard) options, including factory side windows (customer ordered bubble windows and special hand painted hood lining to be fitted when sold), (refer photo of oil painting), this is still in pretty good condition considering its age and will come with the car.
Subsequently the customer cancelled order so van sat in dealership in original Cyclamen Metallic until dealer wanted it gone (apparently this colour was not popular back in the day so very few were ordered). To move to car on the dealer had it fully resprayed in Absinth Yellow (hero colour of the day) and subsequently sold to the old guy I purchased it off.
My vision is to paint the van back to the rare Cyclamen Metallic (try and find one, I dare you) as per the paint code on the plate. Car made it to panel beaters for spray painting but panel beater sold the business and returned van to me untouched.
The van is currently as shown in pictures dismantled for painting. Panels are very straight with some areas needing attention e.g., roof gutters, plenum ends, sills etc, usual places.
Features;
- Original 308 motor stroked to 383 (youtube video of engine being run in ( https://youtu.be/-bG4S5PvgQ0 ), Engine is still on stand and never been run in the car (was temporarily placed in the car to get it home) so it is brand new fully worked 383ci. The cam has been run in for 20 mins. Will update with engine specs soon (based on calculation of specs to have between 500-600 hp)
- turbo 700 rekitted with heavy duty corvette internals and shift kit plus 3500 stall converter
- 4 speed B&M shifter to suit (hard to find)
- GTS Dash and steering wheel will need tidy up (Dash pad has also been replaced with a brown pad and painted black at some point).
- Original gts wheels as fitted from factory, semi reconditioned
- 9 inch diff 3.55 ratio (original 10 bolt also available but a bit weathered)
- all compliance tags are there and match chassis number. Can obtain holden historical report for verification (will not send photos of tags unless I have spoken to you on the phone)
- tuned length port matched pacemaker extractors plus new 2 1/2 full length twin system with 3 inch tail pipes from mufflers plus another set of genie extractors
- new side bubble windows still in plastic
- all original interior from dealer however at some stage the seats and door cards were retrimmed in blue velour inserts
- all rubbers are there and chrome trims. Some rubber will need replacing
- original gts guards not weld Ins.
- original bumpers are there and are straight. Would come up ok with a soapy scourer but was going to get rechromed.
Everything is there for the car except fold down sun visors.
Car will need turbo 350 cross member to fit the turbo 700 and a shortened tail shaft. I have the tail shaft just needs shortening.
Yes I know everyone wishes it didn't have sunroof and side windows but its a bit late to tell the dealer he is a knob head, however this was the look of the day.
Modifications
Features;
- Original 308 motor stroked to 383 (youtube video of engine being run in ( https://youtu.be/-bG4S5PvgQ0 ), Engine is still on stand and never been run in the car (was temporarily placed in the car to get it home) so it is brand new fully worked 383ci. The cam has been run in for 20 mins. Will update with engine specs soon (based on calculation of specs to have between 500-600 hp)
- turbo 700 rekitted with heavy duty corvette internals and shift kit plus 3500 stall converter
- 4 speed B&M shifter to suit (hard to find)
- 9 inch diff 3.55 ratio (original 10 bolt also available but a bit weathered)
- Tuned length port matched pacemaker extractors plus new 2 1/2 full length twin system with 3 inch tail pipes from mufflers plus another set of genie extractors
- new side bubble windows still in plastic
- all original interior from dealer however at some stage the seats and door cards were retrimmed in blue velour inserts
