Saw these on a Chesil Speedster. Anyone else have them?
Would like to see some pics of these on an Ivory car. I wonder if they would blend in too much, or if I should go with black gauges.
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Totally up to you. If this is for an existing car, rather than a new build, you'll have to be aware of the diameter of the gauge cans to insure that they'll fit your dash holes and/or get the proper spacer rings to make them fit.
Try googling "classic automotive gauges" and you'll get lots of hits.
My car is ivory, but my gauges are traditional Porsche 356 style, black face.
Also, places like Palo Alto Speedometer, North Hollywood Speedometer and Lisonger Gauge repair (Long Island, NY) can take existing gauges and put any face you want on them.
It is for a new build, so I can basically go either way. I really like the look of the white gauges, just worried that it may clash or blend in with the Ivory dash
VDO makes a Cockpit Royale series -
I've seen that set of Royale gauges above in a white speedster at Carlisle and they looked pretty decent. IIRC, the rest of the interior was a beige/Fawn color.
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Like the look and think they would work in an ivory car, but, as these are probably a custom order to begin with, I think I'd have the needles in black (or gray) so they'd be easier to read. (Notice the needles on the 'Royale' gauges.)
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I had Palo Alto make a similar set for one of my clients and then they also hand painted some accents with the exterior body color. They were about $3000 on top of the VDO donor gauges.
$3000?!?! You gotta want it awfully bad to pay that to paint your gauges. 
Trust me, having the same color gauge faces as the exterior just reminds you of what everyone else sees. I changed the faces of these gauges as soon as I could. North Hollywood does nice, but pricey work.
I don't think ivory faces and exterior would be a problem at all.
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Stewart Warner makes a set of retro gauges with the original little Eagle logo on the face and tear-drop tips on the pointers/needles.......Bruce
We all have our little “cringe triggers.” This is one of mine. Imo, nothing screams “home built kit car” like non-VDO OEM-style gauges. 914 gauges are tolerable, but only just.
I like my 914 gauges with the larger tach. But, I was a bit bothered by the non-OEM look so I had them refaced.
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About non-VDO gauges in a Speedster: I’ve seen a TON of speedsters at Carlisle over the years and most of them are cookie-cutter, non-Outlaw, slab-sided cars with VDO Gauges. All of them look just fine and “period correct”. They’re great, if you’re in to original 356 cars.
Then, there those few of us who drive their own roads, go with flared fenders or wide bodies, delete the bumpers, install custom interiors and then may install variations of VDO gauges (like 914s) or even go with classic style ivory or yellow or even digital gauges if they fit the theme of the car. Some of those cars were built by “builders” to whom the buyer gave guidance and wrote checks, while others were built at home from ‘kits’ and some of those had a lot of thought put into them to arrive at just the right look to please the builder/owner and just plain look great, like Jerome Smith’s flared CMC. They’re all pretty damn awesome. And all of us Outlaw builders (including Rod Emory) say:
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I wish I had a better photo of Jerome's build - This doesn't really do it justice from 2004. Maybe someone else has a better one. His interior was awesome, too.
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Traditional and non-traditional at the same time.
The things that scream "kit" to me(that I don't like):
1) VW pedal cluster
2) HUGE and long aftermarket steering wheel adapter
3) VW Beetle turn signal stalk
I've built mine without any of the above.
Use whatever gauges and switchgear that pleases YOU!
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An article in Kit Car Builder on Jerome's car is one fo the things that got me interested in Speedsters. He built a beautiful car.
@Michael McKelvey posted:I like my 914 gauges with the larger tach. But, I was a bit bothered by the non-OEM look so I had them refaced.
My older IM has 914 gauges and I do like the look of yours, Michael, but I think I better get the car on the road before contemplating such details!
@ALB, what needs to be done to get your IM on the road?
Danny....Are those three little warning lights next to your speedo ? If so, it's a very nice arrangement. Many times warning lights get placed in conspicuously ugly places.......Bruce
Sequential rev limiter, Bruce. I know the rpm by the sound, but they light up at 5800, 6100, and 6400. Redline is 6500, spark cut. I can do fuel too, but haven't yet.
They are LED, you can see them without looking down, day or night.
And I do like your sequential rev-limiter lights.Danny...... Those two areas on either side of the speedo have always looked like something is missing. They are two large areas that are not in proportion to the rest of the instrument cluster arrangement. I have been contemplating installing the wiper sw and the headlight sw in the center of them. The four controls to the right on the dash. (Ignition sw, starter button, wiper sw, light sw etc.) just look like a an afterthought where someone was in a hurry to get things finished. I realize that it's the traditional placing for these controls but for me it's not visually attractive. I'm thinking of only having the Ignition sw with the start position integral and no starter button. Same old theme though. I get to build things like I want them or like them.......Bruce
@Lane Anderson posted:$3000?!?! You gotta want it awfully bad to pay that to paint your gauges.
Our "standard" 904 gauge set without any custom modifications is about $3500 from PA Speedo. They are PRICEY but good.
@dlearl476 posted:Dang. All of sudden my 904 3-way combo gauge seems like a bargain!
they are around $1200 (maybe $1500) for a 904 triple gauge today.
@aircooled posted:Those two areas on either side of the speedo have always looked like something is missing.
I thought the same thing. When I get down my list of things I want to do, gauges is one of them. I was thinking more like this.
I'm not much into looking like the original.
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Yes Carlos.....That looks much better ! No vacant areas and done with a few simple additions. Is this your dash ?
I too, am not up for keeping things looking original . I have found that rarely one cannot improve an original. I guess that's what a "Masterpiece" is !.......Bruce
This is a computer mockup of what I want my dash to look like. I've got the typical Chinese knock off cheese wiz gauges. The two gauges obscured by the wheel are CHT right and left.
The gauges shown in the mockup are Speedhut gauges. I think Danny's gauges are made by them. They have many options to choose from, but not a pay with rocks payment plan, so I'll have to wait.
so... no one has white/cream gauges on an Ivory car/dash?
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@aircooled posted:....Those two areas on either side of the speedo have always looked like something is missing. They are two large areas that are not in proportion to the rest of the instrument cluster arrangement...
Well, as it turns out, a lot IS missing.
Remember that bit about the Speedster being the stripped-down version? Here's the un-stripped-down, fully duded-up cabriolet version they were shipping stateside in 1955 - the same year they introduced the Speedster. No wide open spaces here:
Thing is, I like the spare design of the Speedster better. Both on the dash and on the exterior. So my dash is mostly stock, except for some toggle switches I added underneath, out of sight. Out front - no bumper overriders, driving lights, or stone guards. And no fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror.
But then, that's me.
You can certainly add enhancements without worrying about offending historians or the fashion police.
Not that we worry about that much around here anyway.