Anyone made their Centre Console functional?

[jedwards1123]

Anyone made their Centre Console functional?
My 83 911 Cab has a centre console with a black hole sized bucket that seems to completely useless. Anything that gets in there is out of reach to anyone other than an orangutan, so as a driving storage resource, its not really functional. I’ve seen pics showing consoles that owners have added
90’s style CD “racks” to, but disc drives and iPods have really made those redundant.
I’m keen to see what others have done to make this space as usable and handy as it is in modern cards.
Jeff

['89cab]

My situation is maybe worse. I've got plastic drawers to hold cassette tapes. I've been looking for years for a solution, but no luck yet.

[cattman]

I have not seen any great examples, but I have seen creative arm rests fabricated, that feature a storage unit underneath, and that would seem to be on the right track.

The challenge with the center console is the e-brake handle, which renders the entire front tray area useless.

[RoninLB]

the console face plate can be removed for the storage bin and replaced with another plate to mount non necessary gauges like a dual CHT gauge, a volt gauge, and any other gauge you may desire

[RSWiser]

I Installed an old school cassette player and the little cubby hole in the console holds about 8 cassettes.

Nice thing is I don't need to lock my car, who is going to steal cassettes?

[shahram]

or upgrade to 964 or 993 center console.
I removed the entire center console, like the clean old style look better.

[Kidasters]

I installed a voltmeter in mine. Got the panel here:

911 extra panel

[Turbo1987]

I bought a console from Porsche Body Kit | Porsche Accessory. It is not yet installed, but their website has good pics.

If you search "center console upgrade pic" on this forum, you will see the console I bought installed.

Russ

[Tippy]

I just bought a piece of black matte finished 1/8" plastic sheet to cover holes like those yesterday matter of fact.

I just cut out a piece and siliconed it (for easy, no cutting/drilling removal since silicone is strong but will easily peel off surfaces) to where the AC controls used to reside. Looks a lot better than an empty hole in the dash.

You could do the same on the console for pennies.

[Dave Colangelo]

I have thought about this many times, I have a dash mounted Iphone contraption and have thought about moving it down there. Here are some other suggestions

A lot of useless gauges that read things you dont need to know (people will think they are more important than they are.

Non functional yet comical James Bond switches (although they may go better in your Aston)(if you get them to work all the better)

A top loaded 2 slice toaster would fit nicely in there

8track tape deck.... (depending how old you are)

A model of a 911 cabriolet with a model of a 911 cabriolet in the center console........

Flux capacitor/time circuits

Just some ideas to toss around

Regards
Dave

[kyle242gt]

I use mine to hold my lunch on the way to work... with the way I drive, I need that deep bottomless orangutan well.

[rusnak]

I installed a cig lighter socket in mine, so that I have an extra socket to charge the phone.

[Winter]

Interesting, because I'd like an out-of-sight spot to stash sunglasses, cell phone, etc. I've been looking for a console, but have yet to find one for the right price, as my '75 didn't come with one.

I think I like Dave's suggestions: "Flux capacitor/time circuits"

Regardless, I spoken to people who like them removed, makes the footwells feel less cramped, and they probably have a point.

And yes, my door pockets and glovebox can probably meet my needs. . . .

I just have a need to tinker. Guilty like the rest of you.

[nineball]

used one of these to give me a line out and remote control over my iphone.

Amazon.com: Kensington LiquidAUX Deluxe Auxiliary Car Kit with Remote for iPod; iPhone 1G, 3G: MP3 Players & Accessories

i have since redone my entire interior and left the center console out. much more room without it. plus i bought a cablejive cable and ran it under the dash to the ashtray, which is a perfect holder for my iphone in a case turned sideways.

[RWebb]

To really make it "functional" you will want it to become a structural backbone to stiffen the chassis...

[Winter]

Well, of course, nineball kills it with the interior. No surprises there.

Sorry, Webb, it's a targa . . .want to make the chassis stiffer? Buy a coup. . . .

[Cloggie]

I put some real ductwork in it, part of my RetroAire install....

D.

[nineball]

Originally Posted by Winter

Well, of course, nineball kills it with the interior. No surprises there.

after the new interior i thought it just looked "cleaner" without it, and i really do like the fact i don't rub my right foot on it anymore.

[Tony V]

Installed an old iPod in mine. Cut a piece of black plastic, to cover it, and put a couple of AC knobs to disguise it.
Tony

[nineball]

nice work tony. well thought out and executed. got pics of the cover?