Panel van

It is an older term that usually only applies to station wagon–based vehicles (sedan deliveries/delivery wagons) such as the Chevrolet Delray and Ford Courier,[6] or pickup-based vans (panel deliveries).

[16] With the growing sales of the Volkswagen Type 2 and the introduction of compact vans, sedan deliveries faded from the scene.

The Vega Panel Express was introduced in September 1970 and it was Chevy's first sedan delivery in ten years since the final full-size model was offered in 1960.

[31] Examples of panel vans from the last 30 years are the Renault Kangoo (1997), the Fiat Doblò (2001), Opel Combo (2001), Ford Transit Connect (2002) and the Volkswagen Caddy (2004).

In May 1961, Ford Australia released a panel van version of the XK Falcon, marketed as the "sedan delivery" body style.

[42] Panel vans' combination of cargo space and customisable interior in a relatively compact vehicle made them attractive to painters, electricians, general labourers and film crews.

[44] Early Australian panel vans used swing-down and -up tailgates and a standard roof height, indicative of their ute and station wagon/sedan delivery origins.

These were higher than the previous stagion wagon based roof, giving greater cargo space and functionality.

[48][49] In the 1979 movie Mad Max, a modified 1975 HJ Sandman model was one of the vehicles driven by the lead character (played by Mel Gibson).

Younger drivers were especially attracted to panel vans, not least because of the ease with which a mattress could be installed within the cargo bay.

[55] Along with Volkswagen Kombi micro-busses, panel vans were popular with surfers, who could sleep in the cargo bay while carrying surfboards on the roof.

By the end of 1979, the Sandman had largely lost its place in the contemporary Australian youth culture – order figures were down and many of the vehicles were now being sold with the stripes and tailgate logos deleted.

The final Sandman was in the Holden HZ series and featured V8 engines only, along with a four-headlight grille and under bumper front spoiler.

While this Sandman was never released, a canopy or "camper shell" featuring the same styling was made available as an A$6,150 accessory for Holden utes from 2003 through 2006.