Which dashboard option (to match dark blue leather)

[fog66]

joncon said:

do the little heater lights need to be replaced ?
also how do you change lights on clocks ?
cheers

The heater lights are bonded in with some seriously tough epoxy stuff and they are very easy to break. The lights are easy, at the back of each instrument us a push fit holder. Just pop a new bulb in and then push it back in, simples.

[Ron McC]

Cut, filed and trimmed to same size as template



Heater controls & LED holes filed & drilled





Surface smoothed down with an air sander



1st polish with Wadpol polishing compound



I'm currently in the process of making my own Chimaera dash out of 2mm thick aluminium alloy which at the present time has been cut & filed and is now undergoing a final polish with Solvol Autosol and very fine sand paper/wet & dry. Once the final polish has been done I'm going to get it clear laquered and see how it turns out.

I'm looking at doing another 2, one which I'd like wood veneered and the second covered with carbon fibre.

Will update when the final polish and laquer has been applied to dash No 1

[Ron McC]

[Cats]

This is my old car - still regret selling it

[unclepockets]

Cats said:

This is my old car - still regret selling it

I would love a turned aluminium dash but I've never seen them for sale, where did it come from do you know? or was it plain alloy dash like those advertised on PH then truned by someone else afterwards? they look fantastic.

[Cats]

When I bought it from Fernie's they said it was a factory option. Not sure it that is correct or not.
It certainly goes well with Blue bodywork and portland interior.
It wasn't my first choice when buying but it really grew on me. Absolutely love it now and certainly no worries of it cracking or deteriorating.
I am sure you can buy turned aluminium sheet.

[MPoxon]

My Griff has a turned dash which I was looking about changing back to veneer. In the end I decided that I preferred the turned dash.

Current dash


Photoshoped original veneer dash

[peacock1982]

Here's my chim with dark blue interior, stripped and wrapped my original dash with carbon style by 3m! very please with the outcome

[Marty V8]

unclepockets said:

I would love a turned aluminium dash but I've never seen them for sale, where did it come from do you know? or was it plain alloy dash like those advertised on PH then truned by someone else afterwards? they look fantastic.

You used to be able to buy sheets of turned aluminium from Car Builder Solutions (www.nfauto.co.uk). Not sure if they still do it though. Piccie attached shows the size of the machine marks. I used some of it on the bulkhead of my old Cobra.

[grm500]

Turned dash was a factory option for Griffs in 1998 (would it be same for Chim?) - bought mine in 2001 from Fernies, Simon told me he specced the car the first owner.

[Pvapour]

matte finish burr is quite popular in some of the luxury models of late, saw an Audi with matte finish piano with CF along side it and it looked beautiful, as did a Bentley with matte finish Burr Walnut, similar to this...



I'm half way through renovating my interior, dash is next so will try this I think, should look nice against the cream

[Timja]

grm500 said:

Turned dash was a factory option for Griffs in 1998 (would it be same for Chim?) - bought mine in 2001 from Fernies, Simon told me he specced the car the first owner.

Mine is a 1998 Chimaera 450 and has the turned dash, which was a factory fitted option. I much prefer it to the wood.

[rb5230]

I voted for aluminium but that real carbon one on the 1st page looks amazing.

[Speedracer329]

The wood veneer was ruined on mine too, & thinking I would like it got a brushed stainless dash. However I think it looks too plain, so I covered it with alcantara to match the car, which in my case is dark blue. How about choosing the right colour for your car & having a go, it's fairly simple & the alcantara is not expensive.





I know it looks like it doesn't fit properly but pics were taken before everything was screwed down, so in reality it does.

[Pvapour]

wood will date less, seems to be the most popular, so finding a modern spin on the wood look is where its at for me.

I agree the std. orangey tint walnut looks a little tacky, a little less orange and in the matte finish could work out well I think.



will post some images once done

[kris450]

Speedracer329 said:

The wood veneer was ruined on mine too, & thinking I would like it got a brushed stainless dash. However I think it looks too plain, so I covered it with alcantara to match the car, which in my case is dark blue. How about choosing the right colour for your car & having a go, it's fairly simple & the alcantara is not expensive.





I know it looks like it doesn't fit properly but pics were taken before everything was screwed down, so in reality it does.

A fantastic choice. I very much applaud

[Pvapour]

kris450 said:

Speedracer329 said:

The wood veneer was ruined on mine too, & thinking I would like it got a brushed stainless dash. However I think it looks too plain, so I covered it with alcantara to match the car, which in my case is dark blue. How about choosing the right colour for your car & having a go, it's fairly simple & the alcantara is not expensive.





I know it looks like it doesn't fit properly but pics were taken before everything was screwed down, so in reality it does.

A fantastic choice. I very much applaud

maybe deep pile carpet would work as well

I get the CF and turned Ally dashes, think they look great on the right colour combo, but these colour coordinated Alcantara remind me of the seventies.

Edited by Pvapour on Wednesday 16th March 17:44

[Markh]

Pvapour said:

maybe deep pile carpet would work as well

I get the CF and turned Ally dashes, think they look great on the right colour combo, but these colour coordinated Alcantara remind me of the seventies.

Edited by Pvapour on Wednesday 16th March 17:44

Maybe add some nice deep buttoned velour as well

[Pvapour]

all done, not sure it comes through in pictures taken in the garage but in the flesh it looks far far classier than the standard glossy veneer & I'm very pleased, also the old finish seemed to be more plastic than genuine veneer, glad I now have the real deal






Gloss comparison

Edited by Pvapour on Sunday 3rd April 15:34

[ralphy12345]

Pvapour said:

all done, not sure it comes through in pictures taken in the garage but in the flesh it looks far far classier than the standard glossy veneer & I'm very pleased, also the old finish seemed to be more plastic than genuine veneer, glad I now have the real deal

That looks really good indeed!




R