Intermeccanica dash-gauge configuration

Does anybody know if Intermeccanica ever used a dashboard gauge configuration in their Speedsters that was any other than the vintage - 3 large gauges style?

Thanks for your reply. I am asking because a member has an '83 IM for sale, and a photo shows the 6 gauge configuration (2 large, 4 small) which I believe may be typical of CMC bodies (?). I am of course wondering if it is actually an IM car, or it may have been altered by a previous owner.

John (Gary Cooper?), Henry will build anything his customers want so it's possible some customer ordered that dash set up on a new car.

Yes. There is a picture in the Intermeccanica web site photo gallery of a pre-A dash they did for a customer; two large instruments, one small, and the three vertical warning lights.

The small gauges are available used and can be rebuilt if necessary by Palo Alto Speedometer or North hollywood Speedometer. You would probably not want to use a real 356 tach as they are mechanically driven off of the oil pump; the drive can leak and mechanical tachs don't work as accurately as electronic tachs (built in "lag").
(Message Edited 6/26/2003 12:39:42 PM)

George, I'm sure that is possible. I suppose the real test is whether or not it has IM's tube frame construction, which they were using for Speedsters in the early 80's, is that correct? And also if it has an IM label.

Gary Uh....... I mean "John"

I don't remember when IM switched to tube frames, but if it has an IM VIN plate on the door jamb and IM stamped on the rear deck lid hinges it's probably an IM.

I'm sure (but not positive) that an '83 IM would be on a VW pan, not a tube-frame.

RJC

83 Intermeccanica, would not be a tube frame. It is very similiar to the CMCs of the day on a VW pan. This is not the same Intermeccanica that exists today.
-=theron

I checked the IM site, re its company history, and the tube frame was developed in 1985.

Why not contact Henry directly and ask if build sheets, though probably archieved, are still available, and match them with the car you are looking at. It would also help identify those changes (by elimination) that have been made over the years.

Excuse me. I meant "archived".

Gents:

I am sure "John Doe" is talking about my car. I call it an IM b/c it has IM on the hinges. That said, I believe it was built in 1982 as a rolling chasis and finished in '83 by someone in Chicago. The car is built on a pan. It has six gauges which appear to be original. I indicated in the description that this car was an older IM, which I believe is true. The quality of the car is reflective of an IM.

Anyway.

Dave

Thanks to all for the info, for the record - Dave is very forthcoming, open and informative in describing the car he is selling. He confirms the presence of an IM label. I don't doubt its a good representative of an older pan-based IM, just as he says.

Intermeccanica history file states that the tube frame came out in 1985, but I'm sure that Henry told me that the first tube frame IMs to be sold were 1990 models.
Ron

Are you sure on that Ron? My IM is an 84 and a tube frame. When I talked to Henry about it he remembered the car as a tube frame RS delivered to Ontario and set up to accept a 2.7 911 and a 901 transaxle...it now has a 2.4 and the 901. I thought I remember him saying that it was an early tube frame model.

The frame, from what I can see, looks identical to the frame model that is on their website so I don't doubt it.

Brian Puskas

Shows how much (little) I know. My 84 must have been one of the last pan cars form IM.
Ron

I just checked the website and it says that IM developed the tube frame in 1985 so maybe my 1984 was a one off or proto or possibly incorrectly dated...who knows. The serial number is IM12079...how does that compare with yours Ron?

Brian

Where is the serial #?
Ron

Brian: I have an 84 pan based IM, the door number is 12037. I don