Stainless Steel Radio Panel Only - Hybrid Dash Anyone?

[ChimpOnGas]

Hi all,

Have any of you guys fitted the stainless steel radio panel only, rather than the full matching stainless upper dash section and radio panel kit?

If so I'm keen to see how this stainless & wood veneer combo would look, if you have any snaps of such a hybrid dash I'd be grateful if you could post them here.

The original TVR wood veneer on my main upper dash is in perfect condition so I'm at pains to replace it just because my Mk1 three button radio panel is starting to crack & peel.

Conscious that getting a veneer to perfectly match my original upper dash section is going to be a significant challenge, and not wanting to go to all the cost and hassle of fitting both sections with a new matched veneer set, I am now seriously considering just changing my radio panel to a stainless one.

To my mind (while not original) this stainless & wood veneer combination shouldn't look out of place, but it would be nice to see a picture of such a set up before I fully commit to buying the stainless steel radio panel.

I've emailed SC-Power & Leven to see if they sell the radio panel separately and if so what finishes they offer (brushed, checkered, engine turned ect), I await their responses.

Are there any other suppliers I could approach?

Thanks in advance, Dave.

[pjac67]

Try London Carriage Craft if you want a match Dave - personally think a hybrid will look awful...

[J400GED]

pjac67 said:

Try London Carriage Craft if you want a match Dave - personally think a hybrid will look awful...

^^^ What he said.

[TV8]

I am fitting a gloss piano black dashboard to mine this week. Not a fan of the wood with the dials and carpets etc. David Gerald has some interesting finishes with vinyl. Worth a look.

[ChimpOnGas]

J400GED said:

pjac67 said:

Try London Carriage Craft if you want a match Dave - personally think a hybrid will look awful...

^^^ What he said.

Before embarking on the project I spoke with a number of veneer specialists and unsurprisingly they all said the say thing.

You will never get an exact match

In fact there are only two ways to address the issue

1. Replace both sections using the same sheet of veneer

2. Stop trying to get a match and look at an alternative solution in keeping with the other materials already used

I think to say a hybrid will look awful is a bit strong, and is not really embracing an intelligent understanding of aesthetics.

I don't want to get all interior designer on you here but there are many brushed aluminum references scattered all over the interior of a Chimmaera. All I'm doing here is sympathetically following the theme of materials already used, it's not like I'm adding a completely new material into the mix which would certainly look muddled and fussy.

I have the ally Leven stalks, an ally Leven heater fan switch, ally Leven light switches, an ally Leven handbrake handle, along with the original TVR the door release, heater controls and of course the bezels on each of the six dials.

All of which are a brushed/satin metal finish.

So you see there are many many brushed/satin metal visual references, to replace the veneered radio panel with a brushed stainless steel one is hardly a massive departure from the theme, indeed it should represent a nice match with the existing visual keys and very sympathetic to the orignal materials used by TVR.

Look awful, I very much doubt it

A logical reversible solution to my flaking radio panel that complements the theme TVR created, well I think so

What would look really awful to my mind is if I attempted to match the veneers and it turned out to be ever so slightly different, which to be honest is inevitable. That for me would stick out like a sore thumb and end up really bugging me.

There are a lot of aesthetic crimes shown on these pages, I really can't see following the design theme of the original interior by replacing one small section of veneer with a brushed stainless radio panel that matches many other similar brushed/satin metal elements is going to amount to anything other than sympathetic to the existing design theme.

I really can't see it looking awful

[2OOM]

I've no idea how it would look but how about covering it in vinyl in the same colour as the lower dash or the same colour as the contrasting coloured trim from the side bolsters/dash top/door tops?

[TVRinBFG]

Hopefully this helps give you a visualisation. In this case the owner painted his radio panel black to match the ambla. My advice would be it has to match, so new veneer or new metal dash set, as when you're driving the car, it's what's you're looking at....

Edited by TVRinBFG on Thursday 6th August 10:50

[J400GED]

ChimpOnGas said:

Before embarking on the project I spoke with a number of veneer specialists and unsurprisingly they all said the say thing.

You will never get an exact match

In fact there are only two ways to address the issue

1. Replace both sections using the same sheet of veneer

2. Stop trying to get a match and look at an alternative solution in keeping with the other materials already used

I think to say a hybrid will look awful is a bit strong, and is not really embracing an intelligent understanding of aesthetics.

I don't want to get all interior designer on you here but there are many brushed aluminum references scattered all over the interior of a Chimmaera. All I'm doing here is sympathetically following the theme of materials already used, it's not like I'm adding a completely new material into the mix which would certainly look muddled and fussy.

I have the ally Leven stalks, an ally Leven heater fan switch, ally Leven light switches, an ally Leven handbrake handle, along with the original TVR the door release, heater controls and of course the bezels on each of the six dials.

All of which are a brushed/satin metal finish.

So you see there are many many brushed/satin metal visual references, to replace the veneered radio panel with a brushed stainless steel one is hardly a massive departure from the theme, indeed it should represent a nice match with the existing visual keys and very sympathetic to the orignal materials used by TVR.

Look awful, I very much doubt it

A logical reversible solution to my flaking radio panel that complements the theme TVR created, well I think so

What would look really awful to my mind is if I attempted to match the veneers and it turned out to be ever so slightly different, which to be honest is inevitable. That for me would stick out like a sore thumb and end up really bugging me.

There are a lot of aesthetic crimes shown on these pages, I really can't see following the design theme of the original interior by replacing one small section of veneer with a brushed stainless radio panel that matches many other similar brushed/satin metal elements is going to amount to anything other than sympathetic to the existing design theme.

I really can't see it looking awful

Dave, do what you like, you're the one who has to look at it.

[ChimpOnGas]

J400GED said:

Dave, do what you like, you're the one who has to look at it.

If your point is it's all personal thing, I think you're quite right.

I've justified the idea to myself and now the forum, to me the argument is strong that it'll work because the interior is littered with brushed/satin trim already.

It's not like a big departure to only replace the small radio panel with a metal panel that matches my of the other interior components.

Clearly the proof of the pudding will be when I offer the panel up, and at that point I can decide to run with it or not.

Tomorrow I receive a brushed stainless radio panel from SC-Power, it's a second but from the picture David sent me I couldn't see much wrong with it at all, so for £22 delivered I took a punt.

Leven have also offered me one of their checkered ones, so I may go mad and get that one too so I can offer them up and compare.

I'll get some photos on here when I do the comparison.

TVRinBFG said:

Hopefully this helps give you a visualisation. In this case the owner painted his radio panel black to match the ambla. My advice would be it has to match, so new veneer or new metal dash set, as when you're driving the car, it's what's you're looking at....

Edited by TVRinBFG on Thursday 6th August 10:50

Thanks for that

Although I'm not sure on that particular combination.

To me the radio panel has to be either a perfect match to the upper dash wood veneer or to take reference from another material used on the interior (IE brushed/satin metal).

I guess trimming the panel in ambla of the correct colour could work too but lets see what the brushed panel I've purchased looks like first.

At the end of the day I'm just looking for something that will look in keeping with the rest of the interior without having to go to all the hassle & expense of re veneering both sections.

The fact my metal radio panel will be completely reversible should I decide to do the whole dash in the future is just another advantage to my mind.

Well lets see.

[ChimpOnGas]

Original cracked & peeling veneer
(looks in better condition in the photo than it actually is).




Brushed stainless steel
(brightens up the interior and looks OEM with all the other brushed/satin metals close by)


Looks fine to me

[ch427]

Looks ok, they do some amazing things with hydrographics these days as well if you wanted an alternative such as carbon fibre etc.

[TV8]

I have just removed the lower panel on mine. So far, easier on the later dashboards than the 3 button version. Does the new panel have the clips in place?

[J400GED]

As I am ".....not really embracing an intelligent understanding of aesthetics. ..." I couldn't possibly comment.

[ChimpOnGas]

J400GED said:

As I am ".....not really embracing an intelligent understanding of aesthetics. ..." I couldn't possibly comment.

J400GED said:

pjac67 said:

Try London Carriage Craft if you want a match Dave - personally think a hybrid will look awful...

^^^ What he said.

I value your opinion, or should I say the opinion of another you just repeated before you even seeing what the idea looked like in my car

Look again.




Now tell me again it looks awful...

The use of a strong word like awful will often stimulate a strong response, especially when it's used before the idea has even been seen. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, even pessimistic negative people that haven't seen the end result yet.

But now we actually know what it looks like I feel I'm justified in saying it's far from awful!

[J400GED]

I refer the honourable gentleman to the answer I gave some moments ago.

[J400GED]

ChimpOnGas said:

......Looks fine to me

This is all that counts.

[J400GED]

How's your hybrid dash coming along Dave?

[ChimpOnGas]

J400GED said:

How's your hybrid dash coming along Dave?

All done, along with a number of other way more interesting developments.

Why not come and see it all for yourself?

'Ol Gasbag' will be on display at the Lloyd Specialist Developments stand at the Neil Garner open day on Saturday 26th September.

I will be there with the Lloyd team to talk any interested parties through exactly how to properly convert your TVR to dual fuel.

We have now concluded the development of what we feel is the ultimate direct mapped fully integrated one box ECU dual fuel engine management and LPG delivery system.

If the idea of a Chimaera that delivers the cost equivalent 50mpg with no loss of performance, practicality or TVR character appeals to you, we'll be pleased to show you how it's done and quote on creating a duplicate turn key system on your very own car.

For anyone considering changing their Lucas 14CUX and distributor for the undeniable benefits of a fully mappable engine management system with wasted spark, it's well worth considering the Canems dual fuel ECU gives you all the improvements on petrol you could wish for with the added option activating the LPG element at a later date.

We hope to see you there.

[J400GED]

Any pics?

[ChimpOnGas]

J400GED said:

Any pics?

No, sorry mate the car is not with me right now but you can see it in the flesh at the NG open day.

Personally I don't feel my hybrid dash is going to set the world alight but it is meant to be subtle after all. It does however cheaply resolve my flaky radio panel veneer issue without resorting to changing the upper section which TBH is in absolutely perfect condition.

These things are very much a case of personal taste, for me it works because it takes material and textural references from the many other brushed metal controls that regularly repeat themselves throughout the interior.

Ok so it's not standard, but in my opinion it easily could have been because it matches the interior aesthetic theme respectfully, in fact I'm confident (to everyone short of a complete TVR anorak) it would never be questioned as anything other than original.

The only other thing I'll say is to me it works better mounted in a lower dash that's trimmed in a lighter and more neutral colour. My lower dash (along with my seats, carpet piping and door pulls/edging trim) are all trimmed in Doeskin, which because it's a light colour over another light colour arrangement makes for quite a nice and subtle effect.




But like I say, it's very much a personal taste thing and I don't expect every to like it, the best bit though is it cost me less than £30 and is at the end of the day completely reversible when I come to re-veneer the whole dash in years to come.

To me it's a big improvement over the flaking veneer I've suffered for years which if I'm honest looked very scruffy indeed and was starting to get me down.

Dave.