Biante BR12601A 1/12 Red Bull Racing Australia Project Sandman Tribute Edition BIANTE

Biante Model Cars are thrilled to announce the 1:12 scale Project Sandman Tribute Edition built by Red Bull Racing Australia on the back of the 1:18 and 1:43 versions announced last month.

Project Sandman was the ultimate tribute to a Holden that held a special place in the hearts and minds of Australia’s car-loving population.

2014 marked the 40th anniversary of the 1974 release of Holden’s Sandman, a special version of its panel van aimed directly at the youth market, a car that perfectly complemented Australia’s beach-bound lifestyle.

To mark the occasion, Holden-backed Supercars Championship team Triple Eight Race Engineering created the Project Sandman Tribute Edition, revealed on the eve of that year’s Gold Coast 600.

The project had started in April 2014, Triple Eight working in conjunction with the GM Holden Design Department. On the outside it looked every bit the panel van it paid homage to – right down to a pair of carbon fibre surfboards on the roof!

But beneath the bodywork lurked a real, pure-bred racing machine. Underpinning the Sandman exterior was one of Triple Eight’s former race cars; in fact, it was the chassis of the very Holden Commodore VF that Jamie Whincup had raced to eight victories during the 2013 championship season!

“We’re here after six months of development to reveal our secret project and what an honour to be a part of a Tribute Edition Sandman and have it race around the track this weekend,” Whincup said at the time.

“The heart and soul of the car is a V8 Supercar and it’s an absolute rocket!” Despite its retro styling, the former race car had also received a couple of technical upgrades. Gone was the sequential gearshift lever, replaced by paddles on the back of the steering wheel. The throttle cable was also replaced by an F1-inspired electronic fly-by-wire arrangement.

The original 5.0-litre Supercars-spec engine was also soon replaced by a 5.7-litre unit capable of producing over 700 horsepower, with a range of guests having the opportunity to belt in alongside Triple Eight drivers for hot laps in the impressive beast.

As is standard with our 1:12 range, there are numerous features worth noting with this model. They include using injection moulded glass housings for added strength and accuracy, photo etched parts, detailed brakes and wheels. Despite the model being produced in sealed body resin (in order to maintain an affordable price point for collectors) there has been no expense spared in replicating the interior cockpit. The interior detail includes full decoration, faithfully replicated seat and painted interior characteristics along with the seat harness and window netting.

This model will be produced in an exclusive limited edition with the number to be set based on pre-orders received and presented in deluxe packaging along with a commemorative flyer and numbered Certificate of Authenticity. It’s an amazing collectors piece and one that shouldn’t be missed.