dash knobs

Driving lights , four ways, blind date ejection seat switch.....

Some install switch controlled electric fans for the oil cooler, switch for the fuel pump, driving lights, and ...............................................whatever other manner of controlled devices they can think of.

From left to right on mine is headlights, steering column (ignition key in the steering column), wipers, emergency flashers.   Down below the dash is the radio, centered, and right under that my heater controls.

Here is a shot of the center of the dash, wiper and 4-way switches, radio and heater control.

On mine, from the far left, headlights, 4 way flashers, small button above steering is windshield washer, windshield wipers, ignition, air conditioning.

There is a lot of variation over the years but the main 2 switches you see on a dash are ignition and headlights.  Everything else on a Beck Spyder (late Gen 2 to Gen 3) is controlled by the turn signal unit.

There was also a lot of variation on the originals, however there was a "standard" in the '55 homologation cars commonly seen at P dealerships.  They had 7 switches total.  One on the left of the steering wheel that was turn signals.  Headlight switch below the combination gauge.  5 on the right side of the dash, stacked 3 high and 2 high.  These were starter button, fuel pump switch, ignition switch, and 2 coil selector switches.

My right-hand switches are, Top: wiper control; Bottom: Accusump pre-oiler/accumulator. Others as original.

Spyders are a blank canvas though...depends entirely on the individual builder or owner.

all kinds of gizmos on this one

these are labeled, I still can't tell.
anyone have a guess what the gooseneck gizmo is running across the dash?

Spyders are a bit foreign to me, but I know that on the original 356 cars there was one or two sockets on the bottom side of the dash for "Map Lights" for those Rand-McNally days before WAZE or Google Maps.  The light itself was on the end of a flexible gooseneck so you could move it closer to the map.  After all, these were 6 volt cars and the bulbs would put out a measly amount of light so the gooseneck was pretty important.

@americanworkmule posted:

these are labeled, I still can't tell.
anyone have a guess what the gooseneck gizmo is running across the dash?

That car belongs to Herbert Linge and is 550-08. He raced it in several 24 hour races so Gordon's guess that it might be a light of some kind may ne accurate.

http://type550.com/racing/raci...terday/mille-miglia/

Yes. It’s a map/road book  light. I remember dreaming about them (and other things rally) in the MG Mitten catalogue as a kid.

IIRC, Porsche offered one that plugged into the cigarette lighter as an accessory at one time.

ps: Wouldn’t it be sweet to take a time machine back to the 60’s and buy some Heuer Rally Masters for $69!!!!