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Westy Steve
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2006
Posts: 1095
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 Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 8:23 am Post subject: Dressing up an early dash |
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Since I'm asking questions, here's another one.
My dash is uncut. I couldn't bear to cut a hole in it. But I was inspired by the recent post showing all those lit up gauges at night. Here is Samba User, Peter Plade's gorgeous dash from another thread:
What's a good source for buying those speaker grill covers that can hold multiple gauges? I'd be happy with a reproduction since it wasn't original to the car. Then I'll need some nice gauges that look period correct.
Also, I have the early batwing (55 and down) steering wheel. What's a good source for reproduction steering wheel horn buttons? Is it pretty much an accepted practice to use repops since the good early original ones are so hard to find?
Steve
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Have nice 914, want nice Bug |
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volksartist
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2004
Posts: 264
Location: Muskoka
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RareAir
Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2002
Posts: 14577
Location: 18 miles North of the border
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My57Oval
Samba Member
Joined: March 10, 2005
Posts: 624
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 8:38 pm Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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| What's that unit under the radio? |
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66brm
Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2010
Posts: 3676
Location: Perth Western Australia
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 9:15 pm Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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Picnic radio?
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Westy Steve
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2006
Posts: 1095
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 10:53 pm Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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Thanks for the help, guys. Ugg...you had me until you started talking about cutting the dash. I have to figure out how much it means to me to have a gauge right there.
Decisions, decisions. What did you guys do for your gauges? Did your gauge layout happen based on how you got the car, or did you cut somewhere. Pix?
That horn button is sorely tempting. I really like the golden lady and the St. Christopher, but they don't come on the '55 wheel. So I'm considering a repro wheel now. Hard choices to make. Wish I had two ovals so I could mix and match. 
Steve
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RareAir
Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2002
Posts: 14577
Location: 18 miles North of the border
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| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 12:21 am Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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| Westy Steve wrote: |
That horn button is sorely tempting. I really like the golden lady and the St. Christopher, but they don't come on the '55 wheel. So I'm considering a repro wheel now. Hard choices to make. Wish I had two ovals so I could mix and match.
Steve |
A St. Christopher button WILL fit a 1950-55 steering wheel.
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1947 Typ 11a
1954 Typ 117
1956 Typ 151
1959 Typ 117
1959 Typ 265
1961 356B
1966 Typ 151
1966 Typ 241 |
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D. Haviland
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009
Posts: 536
Location: Burlington, Vermont
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| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 5:04 am Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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| I have a Perohaus clock and grill. I also have a 5000 rpm tach that fits in the grill. My Oct 52 zwitter has an Okrasa engine in it and I have thought about putting that tach in it . The problem is that the dash is umolested and I have a hard time thinking about cutting the section out of the speaker hole. It's been 8 years since I finished the restoration on the car and I still can't bring myself to do it. I find it much easier to use non-permanent accessories. |
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Westy Steve
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2006
Posts: 1095
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| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:51 am Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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| RareAir wrote: |
| Westy Steve wrote: |
That horn button is sorely tempting. I really like the golden lady and the St. Christopher, but they don't come on the '55 wheel. So I'm considering a repro wheel now. Hard choices to make. Wish I had two ovals so I could mix and match.
Steve |
A St. Christopher button WILL fit a 1950-55 steering wheel. |
An original or a repop? I can't invest $500 into an original. I don't think they make a repop that will fit the original wheel. I've looked hard for one. But I'd love to be wrong.
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Have nice 914, want nice Bug
Last edited by Westy Steve on Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:54 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Westy Steve
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2006
Posts: 1095
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| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 7:53 am Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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| D. Haviland wrote: |
| I have a Perohaus clock and grill. I also have a 5000 rpm tach that fits in the grill. My Oct 52 zwitter has an Okrasa engine in it and I have thought about putting that tach in it . The problem is that the dash is umolested and I have a hard time thinking about cutting the section out of the speaker hole. It's been 8 years since I finished the restoration on the car and I still can't bring myself to do it. I find it much easier to use non-permanent accessories. |
I think I speak for everyone here when I say that we're going to need pictures.
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Westy Steve
Samba Member
Joined: February 25, 2006
Posts: 1095
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| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 11:28 am Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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I hate to keep replying to my own post, but maybe something good (and/or cool pictures) will come out of this.
I've noticed that the screen behind the central dash grill looks way different when they are rust free than when they are darkened or oxidized. Anyone paint theirs? Or replace theirs to make it look cleaner? Got pictures?
Also, I'm reminded of that scene in the movie, Kindergarten Cop, where Arnold says, "Who is your Daddy and what does he do?"
only, my question is:
"What does your dash look like and why is it like that?" (got pix?)
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Peter_Plade
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2005
Posts: 551
Location: Denmark
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| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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| My57Oval wrote: |
| What's that unit under the radio? |
It's a short wave adaptor.
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AlanInMass54
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003
Posts: 1070
Location: Massachusetts
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| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 2:28 pm Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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| Westy Steve wrote: |
Thanks for the help, guys. Ugg...you had me until you started talking about cutting the dash. I have to figure out how much it means to me to have a gauge right there.
Decisions, decisions. What did you guys do for your gauges? Did your gauge layout happen based on how you got the car, or did you cut somewhere. Pix?
That horn button is sorely tempting. I really like the golden lady and the St. Christopher, but they don't come on the '55 wheel. So I'm considering a repro wheel now. Hard choices to make. Wish I had two ovals so I could mix and match.
Steve |
I'm with you! I had my 56 for nearly 20 years and my Motometer set nearly all of that time as well. I'd bring it out once in a while to see how great it would look. I'd say "I'm gonna do it this time!" then put it back in the shed for another year or so. That car had a beautiful unhacked dash as well. But my Zwitter's dash is butchered in the middle so it's game on now!
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RareAir
Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2002
Posts: 14577
Location: 18 miles North of the border
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| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2015 3:32 pm Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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| Westy Steve wrote: |
| RareAir wrote: |
A St. Christopher button WILL fit a 1950-55 steering wheel. |
An original or a repop? I can't invest $500 into an original. I don't think they make a repop that will fit the original wheel. I've looked hard for one. But I'd love to be wrong. |
Gary at BrezelWerks made them and sold them several years ago. He no longer advertises them. But there is one on eBay being sold by Mark Weiner for $175 that Gary made years ago-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ST-CHRISTOPHER-HORN-BUTTON...mp;vxp=mtr
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1947 Typ 11a
1954 Typ 117
1956 Typ 151
1959 Typ 117
1959 Typ 265
1961 356B
1966 Typ 151
1966 Typ 241 |
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tisius
Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2011
Posts: 1570
Location: Rotterdam,NL (+Chicago,IL)
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| Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 12:51 pm Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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[quote="AlanInMass54"][quote="Westy Steve"]
| volksartist wrote: |
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So did you put the motometers into the good ol' zwitter?
Pictures or it didn't happen 
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you don't have to be crazy to be into VW's, but it sure helps!!
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AlanInMass54
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2003
Posts: 1070
Location: Massachusetts
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| Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 1:00 pm Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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I've put zero into the ol' zwitter! I got a 58 Lloyd which I am working on, I love it. The Zwitter is mothballed away in darkness, looking the same as you see it here, probably to remain there forever!  |
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ZENVWDRIVER
Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2008
Posts: 3340
Location: N.E. Oklahoma
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| Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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... I sure like a dash with ONLY a speedo.
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1960 single cab
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Sharp64
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2015
Posts: 5304
Location: Central Florida
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| Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 4:27 am Post subject: Re: Dressing up an early dash |
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Does anyone sell a reasonably priced/vintage looking 6 volt set of gauges? I've looked through the classifieds and most of the tachs don't mention 6v or 12v. Are these voltage specific? I'm actually looking to put in a 64, but seems germain to the conversation.
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1960 Indigo Blue Ragtop (Blue Barry)
1967 Ghia
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