Holden announces Sandman special editions

The Sandman is back! Well, sort of...

Holden has today announced the return of the Sandman name, which will adorn the flanks of its SV6 and V8-engined SS V Ute and Sportwagon models from June.

Adding $2950 premium, the Sandman special edition vehicles will be launched at a special beach party on April 4, 2015, in Torquay, near the Bells Beach Ripcurl Pro surf competition.

The Sandman special editions feature a number of neat additions, including 20-inch alloy wheels, Sandman-inspired decals, sunshades, floor mats and dashboard stitching, and there's also optional extras such as orange sheep skin seat inserts.

Wagon versions are even offered with an optional orange shag pile rug for the boot.

"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," said Holden's executive director of sales, Peter Keley.

"When the opportunity came to revive Sandman, we jumped at it," he said.

Holden says that although the Sandman won't go on sale until June, "people are advised to contact dealers early to avoid disappointment".

In the year 2000, Holden revealed a special VU Commodore ute-based Sandman concept car, and more recently, Triple Eight Race Engineering V8Supercar team created a wild 525kW racing version of the Sandman in 2014.

The original Holden Sandman was launched in 1974 based on the HQ Holden. It was sold as a panel van and ute and was pitched at recreational buyers and promoted as a vehicle for surfers. According to motoring.com.au's resident baby boomer surfer however, any self-respecting surfer in the '70s wouldn't be seen dead in a Sandman, which were seen as bogan cars driven by knuckleheads who liked doing burnouts.

The coolest surf cars in Australia during the '70s were Volkswagen Combis and the like.

Available in three colours, white, black and silver, the Sandman extras as follows:

Check out Rodney and Jen's sweet Sandman restoration