I opted not to fit multi-connectors for now, but might revisit that later. I did make up a small table to balance the dash on whilst I sorted all the screw-in connections, and that worked really well - thanks to those who suggested it on another thread. The part that pleases me most about this dashboard is that every single gauge and every single switch (bar the screenwasher, which is now electric) is the one that was fitted at the factory in 1955. I have not had to replace a single one - and following excellent work by JDO on the instruments, none has been repainted and the odometer still shows the original 77,000 miles that were displayed on it when it was put away in 1982. Iâm also very pleased with the antique copper plate on the ashtrays and the dash mounting screws - I found a London antique restoration specialist who could do this for me.
Thereâs a few small mods - you canât see the extra fusebox in the panel beneath and behind the tachometer, and you probably canât see the housing beneath the tacho holding the USB and 12V sockets. The second photo shows the contents of the glovebox, which is a Brantz II International digital rallytrip with its remote button for the navigator. This has a sensor in the speedo cable, and gives the trip total mileage to two decimal places and the inter mileage, zeroed each time the button is pressed. This is very useful when an event route book has tulip diagrams, and gives my navigator (SWMBO) something to do. i.e. - keep me on the right road.
WowâŚ,thats what you call a luxurious dashâŚeven veneered inside the glove box doorâŚsuperb. âŚjust need a plentifull supply of Pledge nowđâŚSteve
I have to admit that I did not do the veneer. That is the work of the mighty Nick Reeves, who is stupendously skilled in Jaguar dashboards and a lovely guy to boot. He did all the veneering on my car and provided a set of hood timbers too, and for a lot of the veneer he managed to re-finish the original timbers where possible. It is truly beautiful, and all fitted first time, and I have the added bonus that a lot of the date-stamp markings and body numbers in crayon are still there. If youâre in the UK, I would thoroughly recommend him without hesitation. He might do international jobs, tooâŚ
Congratulations Roger! Looks perfect. Nick Reeves is a fine guy and itâs fun to walk through his workshop and see what he (and his father) have gathered over the years with regard to dashboards, door panels, steering wheel etc.
See picture below of Nickâs work on my XK 140 FHC done about 10 years ago.
Thatâs beautiful, Bob.
My drawer also matches as yours does, but sits on the shelf wrapped up as the radio is in its place instead. Not sure how well the radio will work (it has modern internals), but it looks nice!
Nick does a fantastic job, and is such a nice chap to deal with.
At present thereâs a radio as well: the same (original) Radiomobile 200 as you have (I guess). But mine is still original inside as well and unfortunately most the Medium Wave stations have dissspeared. In the evening you can still receive some of these Long Wave stations.
It would have been better if I also would have upgraded the electronics, but âoriginalityâ was my motto thenâŚ
I wouldnât worry too much about functionality, Bob. I went to a lot of trouble to fit a concealed modern stereo system in my '68 Mustang. Weâve done 47,000 miles in it now since restoration, and I havenât listened to the sound system once. We usually drive along with the windows down, listening to the 6.3litre sound track.
