The Dash

[fanaudical]

Great thread - I'm an analog gauge junky. I like my 911 dash. I have enjoyed the layout of all the different Audi's that I've owned.

Can you ever over-do analog gauge placement? How about this one?:



Here's a link to interesting interiors:

https://carinteriors.tumblr.com/

[GH85Carrera]

This is the dash of a 1952 356 Cabriolet. Documented as THE oldest Porsche sold brand new in the USA.

[MRM]

I like the gauges in your Bullet, Paul. You probably know better than me but they seem to be an homage to old school Ford design. The font on the dash lettering is the same as on my parents 66 Custom and the round barrel gauges harken back to that era too. All in all a pleasing design.

[Seahawk]

Last car for me. Dash of my 1996 Land Cruiser, a bit of a Unicorn with only 122K on the clock. Not bad:



Then they put switches all over the place, not sure why:



The switches above the radio, to the left, raise and lower the antenna. So quaint!

[Sarc]

Another favorite (and very similar to the 928 and Z32 300Z). Nice places to be...

[RWebb]

Lotus got the two main gauges right (big and right in front) but the switches and small gauges look like they were placed by using a Remington pump to "pray & spray"

what a mess





1962 Elan S2

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by MRM

I like the gauges in your Bullet, Paul. You probably know better than me but they seem to be an homage to old school Ford design. The font on the dash lettering is the same as on my parents 66 Custom and the round barrel gauges harken back to that era too. All in all a pleasing design.

Thanks. That had a factor in my decision to buy. Easy to read...didn't know about the font, but it's very legible. All appreciated on another non eventful run to my favorite pool hall yesterday.

(edit) An added benefit is that Cindy can't read the speedometer from the passenger seat.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by MysticLlama

Still the bit being missed here is not having to do those things. Speedo on the Tesla is a quick glance, Auto HVAC works great, tactile audio/window controls on the steering wheel and door.

Just no need for a bunch of the other stuff.

This is a consistent thing that I run into with people at work that are hung up on always wanting a big report with a ton of numbers. I just want the computer to tell me what's outside of parameters, not show me a bunch of things that are absolutely normal and have me have to fish it out.

Aren't the vents electronically controlled as well?

Here in the midwest I might have to adjust the vents a few times during my commute. I wouldn't want to have to use the screen every time.

Just had this recovered after enlarging holes for the new gauges.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Just had this recovered after enlarging holes for the new gauges.

Speedo looks pegged at max.
Does that use opposing pulsing current to limit needle movement instead?
(forgot the technical term)

i.e. something else to break

[MysticLlama]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Here in the midwest I might have to adjust the vents a few times during my commute. I wouldn't want to have to use the screen every time.

They are, but they are much more broad than normal vents. I tend to have two general ways I aim it, one for winter that hits the side windows a bit more than summer. I fiddle with it far less than even the other cars with auto temp, not sure if it's the diffusion or what, but it stays a lot more evenly comfortable.

I did find I had to toggle the front defroster now and then when the dog was in the car for a long ride steaming everything up. That's a main screen toggle though, pretty easy to reach over and hit, and could have left it on for the trip I suppose, but it adds a bit of noise, more noticeable with no engine noise.

Also, for what it's worth I pretty much always leave it on fan speed 4 and let it adjust the temp, but it does have a full auto mode for that, I just don't like the up/down ramp all that much, and prefer the air temp change.

[dar636]

My favorite dashes, not for ergonomics but aesthetics. The common theme is analog, if you can adjust it by tapping on it, cool. They all make me feel better!

68 Century Resorter


76 Hatteras


76 Triumph Spitfire


66 Jaguar XKE type 1


81 Skywagon


And it looks like I don't have a good shot of the 87 Carrera - but it's on the list too.

[RWebb]

esthetic if not ergonomic...

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by Sarc

While I fully realize the room I'm in, I've always found the 911's dash to be far from optimum. A nice place to sit? Yes of course, but I certainly wouldn't call it...ergonomically pleasing.

This was my daily view for 12 or so years. All the information I needed without obstruction, and tactile HVAC/Audio/window controls that could be implemented without taking my eyes of the road. No Tesla iPad for me thank you very much.

Thank you. Saves me searching for the e28 dash photo.

[look 171]

I really like the gauges on my 4 runner, similar to Paul's truck. I miss that LC dash. Its simple, not too many switches.

I know is off topic, but its interior Why do I always see so many sheep skins on pilot's seats?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by dkirk

One of my favorite features of the air-cooled 911's is the layout of the instrument panel - 5 perfectly sized analog gauges in a line with the tach in the center...classic perfection! I don't find it detrimental that the Momo steering wheel in my '88 911 partially blocks the view of some gauges - I just move my head to compensate. Analog instruments are easy to read in all conditions and give rapid information at a glance. The round gauges held in by rubber grommets makes for easy service, should the need arise. For those that like "clocking" of the tach and speedometer, the mounting system is ideal.

I'll admit that I'm old and nostalgic, but when I sat in a 911 for the first time (back in '65), I was forever impressed with the panel - it just defines the 911.

When I had my old '88, the only, IMO, thing that kept the dash from being perfect was the tach and speedo. I rotated them so that the tach's redline had the needle vertical, and then rotated the speedo to the same angle. Part of the speedo was obscured by the steering wheel when it was straight. When it was rotated to match the tach, then the part that was obscured wasn't important. I would have loved to have the gauge faces redone by one of the two gauge shops in Cali so they could be tilted without the numbers/text being slanted.

But then I also thought the HVAC control made perfect sense and were very functional which, I think, makes me unusual.

[RWebb]

No - the 911 gauges are near perfect

The most important thing is right in front of you.

2nd most important are just outboard of the tach (Oil Press. and speedo)
- speedo needle can be a bit hard to see over 60 mph but that is due to out smaller dia. steering wheels, it's ok for a stock wheel

Least important things are outboard

Late in the MY's they started adding accessories and just sticking them anywhere - those complaints are valid.

The 996 & Boxster also have xlnt layouts

Now, look back at the BMW above - another no nonsense cockpit for the task of driving.

The Germans had it down pretty good.

[RWebb]

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Thank you. Saves me searching for the e28 dash photo.

Thats an E30. Drove one for years. E28 is similar.

[asphaltgambler]

'55 Thunderbird dash - speedo has clear lens on back so to see right through the unit - through the windshield. That dash grafted-in a early Hot Rod looks very cool.