One of the coolest things about the modern day muscle car movement is the reimagination of legendary performance models. We’ve seen many fine examples at the SEMA Show during the course of the week, but nothing quite like this Holden Sandman ‘Tribute Edition’ built in Australia.
Manufactured on the GM Holden’s second generation Kingswood platform with sports appointments carried over from the Monaro model, the original Sandman is best remembered as a high-roof panel van sold Down Under from 1974. Like its name suggests, the Sandman was aimed at beach dwellers – surfers specifically – but with no windows in the rear and plenty of room for a mattress, well… it quickly garnered a reputation for a different reason. Today, the Sandman is regarded as an Aussie automotive icon, and if you find one for sale in original condition you’ll pay a lot of money to own it.
For the Sandman’s 40th anniversary this year, Red Bull Racing Australia (aka Triple Eight Race Engineering) decided to commemorate the model in a very special way. It got the GM Holden Design Department involved, and together they created Project Sandman – a modern take on the classic, with a twist: namely 705hp and V8 Supercar derived underpinnings…
The result is pretty damn cool, and as this behind-the-scenes short film from Red Bull shows, there’s a lot more to this machine than first meets the eye.
Brad Lord
brad@speedhunters.com
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I would love to see this become an actual race series, watching V8 wagons racing would be awesome
Australian cars always fascinated me because they seem to be halfway between American and European cars in size, equipment and character - big V8 power combined with good fit and finish.
Unfortunately, we don't get any sedan deliveries like this one here in the US.
isn't sandman the mythical dude that brings your dreams...i.e. sleep? therefore the name actually just means sleeper car? nothing to do with aiming it at surfers specifically. wish they had done the high roof. cool though.
We already have a series like that it's v8 utes
I thought v8 utes are pickups? Not wagons instead..
So I watched the video, and then an hour later I'm realizing it was a trap! I've been watching V8 Supercar clips ever since! Thanks Brad, there goes my productive Saturday! LOL
coolest grocery getter i can think of...wish we had some racing like that in canada
you think they would've put the boards on the right way
They should have kept the Sandmand lettering in the back
How is this a throw back to the original sandman? All I see is a v8 supercar spec ute with an all-the-time canopy on the back with some fake surfboards stuck on the roof. They could've at least put some extra effort into it and give it a proper tail gate.
How is this a throw back to the original sandman? All I see is a v8 supercar spec ute with an all-the-time canopy on the back with some fake surfboards stuck on the roof. They could've at least put some extra effort into it and give it a proper tail gate.
Finally some aussie content
Interesting...
You guys get the Chevrolet SS which is the holden V8 sedan
The true question remains... Are the surf boards functional?
Lachys114 True, but a "sedan delivery' is a two-door wagon. Think '55 Chevy Nomad.
@benyy I am aware of the V8 utes, not quite as cool as a V8 supercar based wagon though
all these Sema one-of-a-kind show cars that are "built to be driven"
riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight
I fell into the similar trap this morning. I was looking into v8 routing cars then looking how to convert a Chevrolet SS into a Holden
Ohh, we only get the ute (utility) and then we have to install a canopy.
Duddley Its not even a ute. Its Whincups winning chassis from last year, with a wagon fibreglass bodywork thrown over.
Duddley Its not even a ute. Its Whincups winning chassis from last year, with a wagon fibreglass bodywork thrown over.
spencermaranda79 That is the right way. If you flip them over the other way, then the wind can get under them and try to lift them off.
d_rav fwik, Chevy SS is Holden Commodore.
I'm sure Rake loves this.
muhammadilham d_rav yep. i'd like to rebadge the entire car and trim... i've seen some forums where there are other enthusiasts that have already done the conversion in the us to make their car look as aussie awesome as possible.
they get all the cool v8's http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/201305/2014-hsv-gen-f-clubsport--12_600x0w.jpg
d_rav muhammadilham Haha, guys here in NZ and Aussie are converting their holdens into Chevs. Although all they're doing is replacing the holden badge with the Chev ones. Grass is always greener on the other side etc.
Duddley d_rav muhammadilham Yeah Vauxhall boys here swap to Opel badges on the Astras and Corsas or Holden badges on the big V8 VXR stuff.
It seems like just a badass concept / good excuse to receive parts and funding from Holden test bed for them. I can dig it, they made that side splitter look weird though, took away all the flow imo. That LS1 madness with ITBs got me like teary eyed lol
BT180 they're backwards
Very cool indeed!
spencermaranda79 BT180 I have no idea what you're looking at but the nose of the boards are pointing to the front of the car, which is correct.
Merc Lol. Holden is broke and closing down local production.
D1RGE EXE This thing got driven around an official V8Supercar track. That's more than 99.9% other cars can say they did. This might not get driven regularly, but when it does, you bet it's driven hard.
Much fun! Need to get myself to more races next season!
GregFentonHNHS you are kidding right, have had Aussie content for a while dude
Built by the biggest pack of arrogant fuckwits in the V8 supercars. Lost interest when i saw it was Redbull. Any team other than those cock-smokers would have made this, somewhat pointless concept awesome.
b_vonroth mate exactly my opinion, i mean wher the f... do they find these f.....g designers
Ur a fuckwit urself. Wats so bad bout redbull. Go whincup n lowdes. Go stick ur head up ur ass n fuck a ford