Following is an email I received from Ben at HHS. I think the Vin should read 80170GL150143. I have included any known info in the email in(Brackets). After Ben's email I have added more.
It has a rear seat fitted as the floor pans are shared between station wagon, ute and van. Some of the cargo floor had been removed to fit the seat. The seats will be removed and the cargo floor replaced during restoration. The rear crossmember has been gas axed out as the spare wheel door was screwed shut and a station wagon floor piece above the spare was used. I think I will have access to a crossmember soon.....
Also included is my 48 215 Poem.
Hi Ron,
Thank you for visiting HHS and for your enquiry.
Thank you also for your fabulous poem about the Holden car. I can
vaguely recall seeing this at the Lang Lang event way back in 1998 as I
caught up with Don Loffler and we commented about quite a few 48-215s
present. There were so many awesome cars to look at over the weekend
that I can't recall your car off the top of my head I'm afraid. Your
permission to distribute your poem is much appreciated, and when/where
appropriate I will do so.
This HG panel van you have is a very significant Holden on numerous
levels. First up, it is one of the HG Holden Restricted volume run
produced in May 1970. All these initial HG Holdens were built at the
Elizabeth plant as had been the case previously with many other model
series. The normal process was to run two dozen or so vehicles that
comprised at least one of every variant in the line-up. Several others
are known to survive from this run including the top-of-the-line Monaro
GTS 350 model. These vehicles are actually the ones to feature in all
the HG Holden sales brochures and other advertising material. In some
instances, there are minor deviations in vehicle specifications present
due to the build time period.
I assume that you have checked the chassis number appearing on the ADR
Safety Compliance plate matches exactly with the stamping in the
firewall. (It Does) The date identified should read 5-70, but it is possible it
may be 6-70 (It reads 5/70) depending on exactly when this vehicle was completed to the
point where the plate was fitted. A seating capacity of '2' indicates
R.P.O. A50 (bucket seats) exercised. (No Options are listed) The GVW figure identified will be
either the full capacity of 4450 lbs. if standard tyres were fitted, or
a de-rated capacity of 3870 lbs. if optional PP9 or P53 passenger car
tyres were fitted. (4370LBS is stamped on the plate)
The Body ID plate identifies this bodyshell as HG80170 number one
manufactured at Elizabeth. Each Model in the HG range started at '1-A'
at the Elizabeth plant. Therefore, there are in fact 24 vehicles that
will all have the Body Number of '1-A' on the Body ID plate. The Vehicle
Serial Number (aka chassis number) of 'HG00013A' indicates that this
bodyshell was #13 in the HG Restricted volume sequence. The first
production (as opposed to prototype) HG Holden was 'HG000001A'. Out of
interest, the first GTS 350 was 'HG00010A'.
The Body ID plate will also reveal the original colour 868-18206) and trim
combination featured. Panel vans were only available in a base range of
solid (non-metallic) colours unless a special order was raised and a
fleet colour was applied. A standard bench seat example will feature an
interior trim ending in 'A' whilst a bucket seat example will end in
'B'. (1801-11A Bench Seat)
In the production process, the bodyshell is manufactured first and then
the painted and hard-trimmed shell is put on the assembly line where it
becomes a complete car. Just because a particular bodyshell may be the
first one manufactured doesn't always mean it will be the first
finished, first painted, etc., and ultimately the first to be assembled
with all the mechanicals and so on, and then the first off the line.
Many factors influence the order of production.
The VIN for your van should be in the region of 80170GL149??? if it was
on schedule. (80170GL150143)
If you have an HG Holden Commercial brochure, you may identify your van
in it, as I do know the GTS 350 I mentioned above is the actual car
featured in the HG Monaro range brochure.
I hope this is of some use to you. Please feel free to ask any questions
regarding your Holden.
Kind regards,
Ben.
ADR PLATE:
4 5A 7
HOLDEN
HG PANEL VAN
5/70 HG00013A (FIREWALL STAMPING IS THE SAME HG00013A)
4370lbs SEATING CAP 2
BODY PLATE:
MODEL: HG80170
BODY: 1-A
TRIM: 1801-11A
PAINT: 868-1820(?)
VIN: 80170GL150143
The paint number in brackets looks as though it has been stamped twice so the last digit could been stamped 0, 6, 8 or 9? The firewall area has been painted at some time in its life and the Tags were painted over with the same black as the firewall. The exterior colour was beige when I purchased it and I believe it was the original colour.
The van is windowless.
1948 48 2 1 5
Way back in 1948,
a car rolled off the line.
The day Australia waited for,
November 29.
Ben Chifley was Prime Minister,
the Leader of the day.
He ushered in what soon became
an icon here to stay.
It gained a reputation
being rugged on the land.
But Holden couldn’t build enough
to satisfy demand.
People bought them 'Sight Unseen',
from any Dealer who.
Would let them be the leader of,
that quickly growing queue.
And then in 1951,
a coupe ute was released.
It soon became the 'Tradesman’s Choice',
the others were 'Deceased'.
1953 was when
the 'Air-ride' came along.
Though still a '48 2 1 5'
it sang an 'FJ' song.
It came with telescopic shocks
and wider rear springs too.
For as the name implies my friend,
'They Rode the Air with You'.
Now some say: "FX Holden"
and some say: "Saints Alive”.
But a 'Rose will always be a Rose'
like '48 2 1 5'!!
C Ron Williams 29th November 1998
[email protected]