New Year Makeover - Dashboard questions
Happy New Year Stags!
I have arranged for my 1976 White Stag to be resprayed in January - It currently looks nice, but a close look can see that some panels have been painted in the past and the color match is variable - and not so glossy as I'd like it. I'm keeping the same colour (Glacier White, I believe, could be Old English) and doing a few other updates to make it look even more beautiful. However, the main reason for this post is I want to replace the current dashboard. The car is, as far as I can tell, completely original - Triumph v8 engine, gearbox etc etc - some additions to rid it of the overheating issue, but overall is like it should be.
It has the original dash presently, but it is lacking in lustre and there's a split in the 'wood' of the glovebox that isn't unsightly but it offends my eye, so thought I'd replace it. My main question is what should look for and where is recommended? Preferably from others who've been down this path already. So some questions for opinions and advice, please!
1) I assume the original dash is a veneer laminated onto a wood base? Not solid and stained and polished wood? What's recommended approach - removing and replacing just the surface veneer? Or, simply stick a replacement veneer over the original? It seems from what I see on line, that sticking veneer over the current dash is the way to go, but I'm a little nervous of surface levels not being as good as they would have been from the factory when complete - I don't want to see annoying lips to the veneer. Or..... is a more expensive approach to replace the wood dash with an entirely new one - and is that recommended? If so why?
2) Is it best for posterity, to replace with the original colour finish? I am led to believe that it is American Walnut that was standard? A light yellowy colour. The car won't ever be concourse condition, so does it matter?
4) I'm not opposed to a change, but wonder if darker colours on a white car with black vinyl dash top might be a bit oppressive? I've just seen a video on 'Arry the Stag showing what he describes as Dark Walnut - which looks very nice - 7mins 56s into this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or20l8ufoPw and I think would complement the white car. Any recommendations as to what finish looks particularly effective? It's an Automatic box. Steering wheel is not wood, so no issue with matching them.
5) When I Google 'Replacement Dashboard for Triumph Stag' I get loads of ebay hits at around the £100 mark (which seemed suspiciously cheap to me initially, but perhaps for a veneer it's about right?)
Walnut Dash Company supplied the veneer used in the 'Arry the Stag video https://tinyurl.com/ya9n7ubm and that's £100. Classical Dash have Burr Walnut and Burr Elm options (and alternates on enquiry) - but no prices listed. Anywhere else recommended? I am in Pinner NW London.
6) The clock on my car doesn't work - it's hardly essential but I could replace it. Is there a recommended supplier of an exact fit that looks like the original? Rimmer the most likely? Or I read somewhere that someone had replaced their clock with another type of gauge - can't recall what. Maybe oil pressure? Sensible thing to do, or keep to original?
I need to spend money soon to have the parts ready for when the car goes in for respray - so any advice would be helpful!
Enjoy the next Classic year on our cars!
Greg
I have arranged for my 1976 White Stag to be resprayed in January - It currently looks nice, but a close look can see that some panels have been painted in the past and the color match is variable - and not so glossy as I'd like it. I'm keeping the same colour (Glacier White, I believe, could be Old English) and doing a few other updates to make it look even more beautiful. However, the main reason for this post is I want to replace the current dashboard. The car is, as far as I can tell, completely original - Triumph v8 engine, gearbox etc etc - some additions to rid it of the overheating issue, but overall is like it should be.
It has the original dash presently, but it is lacking in lustre and there's a split in the 'wood' of the glovebox that isn't unsightly but it offends my eye, so thought I'd replace it. My main question is what should look for and where is recommended? Preferably from others who've been down this path already. So some questions for opinions and advice, please!
1) I assume the original dash is a veneer laminated onto a wood base? Not solid and stained and polished wood? What's recommended approach - removing and replacing just the surface veneer? Or, simply stick a replacement veneer over the original? It seems from what I see on line, that sticking veneer over the current dash is the way to go, but I'm a little nervous of surface levels not being as good as they would have been from the factory when complete - I don't want to see annoying lips to the veneer. Or..... is a more expensive approach to replace the wood dash with an entirely new one - and is that recommended? If so why?
2) Is it best for posterity, to replace with the original colour finish? I am led to believe that it is American Walnut that was standard? A light yellowy colour. The car won't ever be concourse condition, so does it matter?
4) I'm not opposed to a change, but wonder if darker colours on a white car with black vinyl dash top might be a bit oppressive? I've just seen a video on 'Arry the Stag showing what he describes as Dark Walnut - which looks very nice - 7mins 56s into this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or20l8ufoPw and I think would complement the white car. Any recommendations as to what finish looks particularly effective? It's an Automatic box. Steering wheel is not wood, so no issue with matching them.
5) When I Google 'Replacement Dashboard for Triumph Stag' I get loads of ebay hits at around the £100 mark (which seemed suspiciously cheap to me initially, but perhaps for a veneer it's about right?)
Walnut Dash Company supplied the veneer used in the 'Arry the Stag video https://tinyurl.com/ya9n7ubm and that's £100. Classical Dash have Burr Walnut and Burr Elm options (and alternates on enquiry) - but no prices listed. Anywhere else recommended? I am in Pinner NW London.
6) The clock on my car doesn't work - it's hardly essential but I could replace it. Is there a recommended supplier of an exact fit that looks like the original? Rimmer the most likely? Or I read somewhere that someone had replaced their clock with another type of gauge - can't recall what. Maybe oil pressure? Sensible thing to do, or keep to original?
I need to spend money soon to have the parts ready for when the car goes in for respray - so any advice would be helpful!
Enjoy the next Classic year on our cars!
Greg
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