Holden Sandman

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Holden Sandman

The Holden Sandman was originally released in 1977 and quickly became a staple of Australian youth culture in the late 70s to early 80s. Many people would paint their Holden Sandman with detailed murals, and this aspect of Holden Sandman culture would be carried over into the concept design.

The Holden Sandman concept came from a young designer at Holden named Andrew Smith, who made a doodle of it, and a streetwear company, Mambo, wanted to make it a reality. A Holden Executive In Charge of Design, Michael Simcoe, described the project as a 'lighthearted look at the past and at the company itself' and 'an opportunity for two Australian legends to come together and have fun, resulting in a truly amazing design'. Mambo's Creative Director, Dare Jennings, said that the team at Mambo had a sentimental attachment to the original Sandman, with some having owned one, and that it is an important moment in Australian motoring history.

The Sandman concept was made from a VU Holden Ute and powered by a 5.7L V8. It was unveiled at the November 2000 Sydney International Motor Show to show a more modern version of the iconic Sandman from the 70s. It was painted in a unique 'bushfire' paint job which featured a vibrant combination of red, orange, and tangerine. Mambo painted a 'beach and bush goddess' on the sides with native Australian wildlife on a coastline. The interior featured a chill-out zone with the colors of the exterior, plush cushions, and a surround sound mobile theater. There were figures released for anything from horsepower to a 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) time because it is not meant to be a performance car, but to show what they can do.

The Holden, Mambo collaboration was considered a great success by all accounts, with both design teams saying they had a lot of fun. Both companies have brilliant design teams with two different approaches and strategies that came together in a project that was dear to both sides of the collaboration.

It is currently kept at the National Motor Museum in South Australia