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Keep in mind, if you're shopping for a replacement, the difference in outer case diameter between the originals and the replica gauges that were put in most replica Speedsters, up until a few years ago.

The new VDO reproductions (probably the 8000 rpm tachs you're finding at most aftermarket suppliers) are the same 100 mm diameter as the original Porsche gauges. The Chinese and Brazilian repops that are in most of our replica cars are 105 mm diameter.

Beck and other suppliers have oversize rubber gaskets to fill in the gap if you're fitting a 100 mm gauge into a 105 mm hole in your dash.

But, I'm with Gordon. The easiest path might be to have one of the major speedometer shops rebuild your existing tach with new VDO innards. It will be a reliable, quality unit with the look and fit you're after.

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Oh my goodness, it's a love-in for North Hollywood Speedometer and Palo Alto Speedometer.

Have any of you had work done on your gauges at either?

I had the Brazilian VDOs -speedometer in KPH, 6K tach with the funky redline, and a combination gauge that said "combi" right there on it (so you'd know for sure).

I sent every gauge out to Harmut at NHS 10-12 years ago one at a time because it was more expensive to do it that way, and apparently I'm an idiot. I had the tach redone to be 8K RPM with a redline at 5500, the speedometer calibrated and changed to MPH, and the combi gauge completely reworked to have an oil pressure gauge where the gas gauge used to live and numbers on the temperature gauge rather than a red band. The heart wants what the heart wants, and my heart wanted some pretty spendy things.

I had symbols put on the idiot lights to let me know what they were - because, well, I said I was an idiot. I spent the equivalent of about 2 full sets of the "new style" gauges (which did not exist then) - you know, the ones with the real speedometer and accurate tachometer. I cried a little when Carey and Henry had the new gauges commissioned and offered them for sale to any schmuck with the cash. I knew a schmuck who would have loved to have them.

I'm OK with what I've got. But here's the thing - the fonts don't match from one gauge to another. The redline on the tach has faded to a pink line. The speedometer still relies on a cable running down to the FR hub, and I'm not sure why I want one that reads to 130 mph. I can't trust the tach to read exactly correctly in all situations. The combi gauge is probably the biggest success story, but it was eleventy-billion dollars to replicate the utility I had in my '68 Firebird with a $10 gauge from AutoZone.

Harmut did some amazing things for me, but he was polishing a set of turds.

Push the "easy" button. Get a set of the new gauges.

Last edited by Stan Galat

Stan, that is the reason I went with the Speedhut gauges when Greg offered the option.

One, they're made in the USA. Two, they have a LIFETIME warranty. Three, they come with sending units. Four, they have ACCURATE stepper motor movements. Five, the GPS speedo means no cable(the only drawback is no reading in tunnels). Six, there are many programming options. Seven, any sending units can be programmed(such as actual functional E-F readings without bouncing needle). Eight, and only because it's a THING on here, the built-in hysteresis means no bouncing needles. Nine, central dimmer control of LED backlighting(including the needles) via a plug-n-play lighting harness. Ten, 0-60, 1/4 mile, altitude, clock, and compass direction STOCK. Eleven, there are programmable warning lights for high temp or low fuel or a rev-limiter via an included programming button that plugs in back. Twelve, the gauges are only an inch deep, and rings screw on the back to tighten them to the dash.

The only drawbacks: the chrome bezel looks a little different than OE, and the combi gauge doesn't look like the regular 356-style combi gauge.

Can you tell I like these?

I hit the floor when I saw the estimate for the Alfa Romeo gauge restoration (North Hollywood). They have so much business they can pretty much price whatever they want.  It's probably planned to scare some people away.  I had to pull back a few things to bring it back down to a ridiculous amount from the quoted Ludacris amount.  I guess we are lucky to have these people; but holy s*** Batman. 

N. Hollywood Hartmut did my Spyder gauges for me (like Stan had to have them just right) and it was close to $2k for the three gauges & they work perfectly, albeit without any fancy satellite uplinks or data logging features.

The shop is full of professionals and they were easy to work with. I'd recommend N. Hollywood Hartmut to anyone who just has to have the gauges be just so.

I would not make that case to anyone else though. The new ones from Carey & Co. are absolutely righteous and so are the Speedhut ones from Vintage.

Here's a couple pictures of the Speedhut gauges before they were even installed in the car. The pigtails all just plug in, there is a power harness that daisy chains the three gauges, and a lighting harness that does the same.

I forgot a feature: highest speed telltale. Resettable.

If I did it again, I'd put oil pressure in the combi gauge and a low-fuel light like Stan.

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Last edited by DannyP
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