The 1970s were a wild time in Australia—surfboards on roofs, bell-bottoms on hips, and the Holden Sandman cruising down the coast. Part panel van (or ute), part party machine, the Sandman was more than just a car; it was a cultural phenomenon.
Launched in 1974 with the HQ series, Holden took a humble workhorse and gave it a makeover worthy of a rock star. Bright paint jobs, bold decals, and "shaggin' wagon" interiors made it a hit with the young and carefree. Whether you were chasing waves or just a good time, the Sandman was your ticket to freedom.
Today, the Sandman is a sought-after classic, a nostalgic reminder of an era when life was simple, the beach was always calling, and your car was more than transport—it was a lifestyle.
Immortalised in 1:18 scale by Biante via AUTOart, the Sandman collection totals 18 models comprising 14 panel vans and 4 utilities across 15 different colours. All but four of the panel van releases included surfboards. Those that missed out were:
- HQ Barbados Green
- HJ Mandarin Red
- HX Royal Plum
- HZ Windsor Blue
Here, on the 50th anniversary of this cultural icon, we take a look at all the Sandman models across the HQ, HJ, HX and HZ series of Holdens. If you wish to read about the modern reimagining of the Sandman, you can do so by reading the Project Sandman article here.
The Panel Vans
| Product Code | Image | Model | Colour | No. Made |
| 72451 |  |
HQ Sandman Panel Van | Chrome Yellow | 1410 |
| 72452 |  |
HQ Sandman Panel Van | Orchid Metallic | 1200 |
| 73384 |  |
HQ Sandman Panel Van | Barbados Green | 804 |
| 73366 |  |
HJ Sandman Panel Van | Deauville Blue | 702 |
| 73367 |  |
HJ Sandman Panel Van | Contessa Gold | 1044 |
| 73368 |  |
HJ Sandman Panel Van | Mandarin Red | 2802 |
| 73335 |  |
HX Sandman Panel Van | Royal Plum Metallic | 750 |
| 73336 |  |
HX Sandman Panel Van | Mint Julep Green | 1500 |
| 73337 |  |
HX Sandman Panel Van | Mandarin Red | 2802 |
| 73338 |  |
HX Sandman Panel Van | Cotillion White | 1008 |
| 73346 |  |
HZ Sandman Panel Van | Valencia Orange | 2500 |
| 73347 |  |
HZ Sandman Panel Van | "Seawitch" | 2500 |
| 73348 |  |
HZ Sandman Panel Van | Tuxedo Black | 1404 |
| 73349 |  |
HZ Sandman Panel Van | Windsor Blue | 948 |
The Utes
| Product Code | Image | Model | Colour | No. Made |
| 73361 |  |
HJ Sandman Utility | Cotillion White | 1600 |
| 73333 |  |
HX Sandman Utility | Aquarius | 1800 |
| 73334 |  |
HX Sandman Utility | Mandarin Red | 1800 |
| 73341 |  |
HZ Sandman Utility | Jasmine Yellow | 2304 |
The 'Other' Sandmans (by Classic Carlectables)
| Product Code | Image | Model | Colour | No. Made |
| 18051 |  |
VU Sandman Concept | Mambo | 3000 |
| 18560 |  |
VU Custom Panel Van | Barbados Green | 1100 |
| 18522 |  |
VY SS Custom Sandman Panel Van |
Devil Yellow | 1000 |
| 18523 |  |
VY SS Cutom Sandman Panel Van (DME Pursuit Model) |
Satin Black | 60 |