Interesting Wood Dash Panels

[lanciahf]

Anyone know who created these panels? I think they look great!

[manoa matt]

Most likely the owner of the car. I got that picture saved too for future inspiration.

[So Cal Mark]

one popular theory is that a Tibetan monk created that dash while on a spiritual journey of enlightenment

[FinnSpider]

Very nice work with a good taste.
I'm also thinking about making a new dash. Nothing like that masterpiece, though. I was planning to copy the original flat board, but to spread the gauges just a little bit to make the after-market chrome rings fit nicer. They seem to be very tight when installed over the original lay-out.

Is the rear view mirror originally like that in some model?

[azygoustoyou]

This is the dash that I have saved to hopefully get one like it. It looks like real wood. Not a laminate. What do you guys think its made of?

[launieg]

Ron is a woodworker and could probably offer a better guess than me, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is simply solid pine, stained that color. It would account for it being shaped like that too - pine "works" nicely that way and (if made up of glue-up pieces in particular) would remain pretty stable - not warping or shrinking much. The panel under the shifter looks like it might be something else though.

If it is pine, that would not be a huge job to make it if the dimensions have been already calculated, but the mounting of it might be another matter.

I agree, it is tasteful, and somehow still suits the car by not modernizing it too much.

[rlux4]

I don't think it's pine. You're right Launie, pine does work easily and takes stain great. However, it is so soft it would really be fragile, especially in the very small spaces around the gauge cluster. Also, pine usually has more distinctive grain lines. I've seen this picture before and can't quite be sure what wood it is. Sure would be nice to see it in person. I lean toward mahogany though. There's grain there, but not the distinctive lines of grain. They make a lot of doors out of mahogany, either Brazillian or Philippine, and some of them have very nice woodwork on them. I've been tempted to have a go at this dash, but so far I've resisted the temptation. First I need new upholstery, seats and dash, and carpet.
Ron

[launieg]

I don't think it's pine. You're right Launie, pine does work easily and takes stain great. However, it is so soft it would really be fragile, especially in the very small spaces around the gauge cluster. Ron

Yes, I can see that it must be very thin between the small gauges. As you say, pine would not work for those narrow bits. I'll be interested in finding out what wood it is someday, and also how the inside of the glove box door is shaped. I have quite a lot of S.E. Asian rosewood, and although it takes patience to shape it, the upside is that it is very strong and dimensionally stable. My first thought was to make veneered pieces to match the stock pieces, but I'd like to take a shot at this sort of dash. So if anyone learns more, please post.

[lanciahf]

Maybe its a fiberglass shell with a wood laminate stick on sheet covering the shell?

[narfire]

My guess is cherry. A friend dropped some off last year from a tree he cut up from an orchard. Made a couple of strips for the door trim. The guy that helped me (did it) with the upolstry put some cherry trim over the seat hinges. Looks similar to the dash.

[SpiderHead]

and that tone looks like Cherry to me..

of course these days with stains... almost anything is possible

-Ryan

[azygoustoyou]

Okay , now that everyone is discussing the dash. Who's going to attempt to make it? I would but I have to get my 78 onto the Rotisserie.

[SpiderHead]

I just might.

perhaps by the BFI show in November?

I have the tools, it doesn't honestly look that complicated. Mostly hand finishing, after the rough cuts were done.

hmmm..

I just might...

-Ryan

[lanciahf]

Ryan if you make one let me know. I would love to have that dash. I wonder how they mounted it?

[Jazgeek]

you know this could be a fibreglass thingy with a wet transfer print of a woodgrain on it.

amazing process
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDf5CNHX ... re=related

http://www.hydro-dip.com/