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115These six- and eight-cylinder chariots, with their bucket seats (not bench seats), became forever known as %u2018Shaggin%u2019 Wagons%u2019.Back in the day, nothing struck fear into a father like seeing a young bloke turn up in a panel van to take his daughter out. For about a decade, these freedom machines quite literally had their moment in the sun, and the king of them all was the Holden Sandman.Traditionally, Holden and Ford made one vehicle model %u2013 like a Falcon or a Kingswood %u2013 then o%u00a0ered derivatives such as a coup%u00e9, station wagon, ute and panel van. Panel vans became attractive to young people because they were classified as work vehicles, making them cheaper, especially if bought second-hand. These (mostly) young blokes quickly figured out that if you put a mattress in the back, the van became a handy vehicle for surfing, camping or even sleeping in a nightclub car park after one too many. The next step was to customise their vans. Suddenly carpets were being stuck to the walls, bubble windows installed and murals painted down the sides. Naturally, the car companies took notice.Holden sensed both a moment in pop culture and a commercial opportunity, releasing the first Sandman in 1974 as part of the new Kingswood HQ range. It had debuted successfully at the 1972 Motor Show as a concept Sandman ute. An instant hit, later versions featured the now-iconic large Sandman decal on the tailgate. These sixand eight-cylinder chariots, with their bucket seats (not bench seats), became forever known as %u2018Shaggin%u2019 Wagons%u2019.Holden didn%u2019t hold back in the marketing department, branding the Sandman as %u2018your own personal pleasure machine%u2019. At one stage, it even o%u00a0ered a velour mattress for the back, complete with an embroidered Holden logo.Ford attempted to muscle in on the action with the Surferoo, followed by the more popular Sundowner. In 1977%u201378, Chrysler entered the fray%u00a0with the Drifter, but it couldn%u2019t compete with the Sandman. By then, the glory days of the panel van were%u00a0numbered. Tastes changed, young people discovered proper beds, and the panel%u00a0 van became pass%u00e9. The Sandman was phased out in%u00a01979.This Aussie icon enjoyed a brief comeback in the early 2000s as a canopy for a ute, but it never achieved the same dizzying heights of popularity.YEAR 1974%u201378DESIGNER v Design TeamMANUFACTURER General Motors%u2013Holden