Page 1 of 1

Race / Rally dashboard project

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:30 pm
by PETROLHEAD
In an attempt to convert my track biased Sud back to some semblance of comfort, it has always been in my mind to build it as part homage to S1 Trofeo race car styling, but with enough upholstery and trim to be useable day to day as an awesome street sleeper too.

Currently, it has the bare original clocks bolted to the bulkhead, and the usual extra gauges in a pod further along the bulkhead, so its a little sparce!


Even Teds lightweight race car has retained a full compliment dashboard, and has its information displayed on a full race display where the clocks would be, and thats fab, if Teds cars can stand a bit of dashboard weight, mine certainly can.

So for something different, i thought i'd use another old'skool method, and so got hold of another empty dashboard and centre console from Kev's Loft Alforium! It didn't matter that it wasn't the best example, it had a typical split across the top, but that mattered little either.

I stripped the dashboard entirely to a shell, repaired the split, filled and shaped, and then a good friend of mine did this to it, just like the race and rally cars of old, it has been Flocked!
DSC_3162 (1280x720).jpg


And so to house the gauges, i thought about using what could be the stereo housing, but instead, i decided to do a little more of an integral job, and so i've done away with the forward facing heater vents, which i never, ever use in any vehicle i have ever owned, and come up with this arrangement instead using proper carbon fibre.
DSC_3159 (1280x720).jpg
The dash can now be rebuilt with the standard clocks installed, with the extra gauges neatly integrated, and it will feel a lot more Sud like again :P


I am wondering whether to take it a little further?

Ive been so pleased with the results so far, i am debating whether to carry the same theme onto the custom door cards and other area's of trim, and maybe inject some contrasting colour into it?

The car is going quite a dark graphite grey, so maybe if i pick out certain subtle external parts, brakes, springs, that kinda thing in red, should i perhaps do the same inside?

Gauge surround, handbrake and gear lever gaitors maybe, a bit of trim in the door cards, mats, you know the sort of thing i mean i'm sure...


Thoughts? Be honest! :?

Re: Race / Rally dashboard project

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:39 pm
by Johnboy
That looks great chap ! Agree use a different shade in places inside would cool

Re: Race / Rally dashboard project

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:49 pm
by KevJTD
what was wrong with the minimalist approach :roll:



nah, looks great mate. really nice covering over the dash. cracking is an issue with the standard dash, even here in gloomy UK so it's a great mod 8-)

Re: Race / Rally dashboard project

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:52 pm
by PETROLHEAD
But do you think contrasting parts in Red might be a bit, errrrr, too much?


maybe a grey such as the car will be?

Re: Race / Rally dashboard project

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:55 pm
by KevJTD
petrolhead wrote:But do you think contrasting parts in Red might be a bit, errrrr, too much?


maybe a grey such as the car will be?

you've been working on H's car too long :D

you don't need to use all the colours of the rainbow :roll:



sorry H ;)

Re: Race / Rally dashboard project

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:04 pm
by Johnboy
:lol:
Maybe not red inside ,but gray would work ;)

Re: Race / Rally dashboard project

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:09 pm
by Spacenut
That is a great look - lovely even finish, non-reflective, what's not to like?

I haven't posted anything about it yet, but I am currently in the middle of my own dashboard re-design at the moment. This has certainly given me something to think about!

Lauren

Re: Race / Rally dashboard project

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:23 pm
by Kermit
KevJTD wrote:
petrolhead wrote:But do you think contrasting parts in Red might be a bit, errrrr, too much?


maybe a grey such as the car will be?

you've been working on H's car too long :D

you don't need to use all the colours of the rainbow :roll:



sorry H ;)
Oooooooooooh that hurts





I have you know that stevie Wonder was a great fan of my car :lol: :lol:

The black fabric dye has made my roof lining a graphite colour but looks so much better than the shitty grey!

You'll see her on Wednesday anyway Shrew so you can see the inside looks nice with the black / yellow and red - I've got enough leather to make the gearstick and handbrake boots as well :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Re: Race / Rally dashboard project

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:46 pm
by PETROLHEAD
Ooh you lot can be so cutting! :shock:


Good job H is pretty thick skinned eh? ha ha!


Yeah, i'm leaning towards black & grey, and i'm sure that will tie nicely with whatever carpet and upholstery trim i manage to find.

Glad you all like it though so far.


Lauren, i don't think ive ever seen the Nova offering of dashboard, will you be posting something soon?

Always nice to see what others are thinking about doing :P

Re: Race / Rally dashboard project

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 7:35 pm
by 88liam
Dash looks excellent Shrew,

Liam

Re: Race / Rally dashboard project

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 8:20 pm
by sud_1.5ti
Wow, What a great idea! Looks fantastic!
No more colours please ;)

Re: Race / Rally dashboard project

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 8:30 pm
by PETROLHEAD
Thanks chaps,

Seems to have been well received, which is nice!

I went to ask about colours to add some contrast, and saw heaps, but the only way id go personally, will be a bit of dark grey I think.

We'll see when I start putting thd interior together.

Incidentally, has anyone put the longer sprint centre console in a sud? Must have been done that, surely?


It will help no end when it comes to a neat job of some of the less than standard switchgear and brake bias etc

Re: Race / Rally dashboard project

Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2014 10:31 pm
by Spacenut
petrolhead wrote:Lauren, i don't think ive ever seen the Nova offering of dashboard, will you be posting something soon?
Yes, I will post something up soon. There were three main dashboard variations, all of them ergonomically flawed :roll:

My inspiration was the magnificent (but non-functional) Alfa Romeo Eagle concept from 1975. That was flawed too...

Lauren