'90 SE turbo Dashboard

[ally_t]

I'm sorry but I have to say that I really hate the plastic fake wood look on my dash, makes a beautiful car look tacky and its cracked a bit from the sun. Can anyone suggest a nice new replacement and a retailer to get one from.

Alex

[superdave]

I agree with you on this one. I have a turbo (non SE) and the dash is black plastic. When I first bought the car, someone on this group had an SE dash I was going to swap with. Now Iam glad I didn't. So really the choices you have is to put yours up for a straight swap with a turbo dash, look around the Lotus breakers and specialists who deal in used parts (try PNM on 0151 630 6101) for a turbo dash. Lastly you could spray it with dash board black wrinkle paint from www.frost.co.uk or other similar place or just matt black. Alternately is to overlay with CF film but with the shpae, this could prove tricky.

Hope this helps,


Dave Walters

[ally_t]

I'm gonna go with the swap I think, just mailed PNM to see it they could help ( thanks again Dave ). I just can't imagine what was going through the minds of the designers, here we have a beatiful car we have spent lots of time effort and moeny on design, how can we spoil all that effort. Or did the budget run out by the time they got to the dash. Glad its not just me who is a bit disappointed by this.

Alex

[karlfranz]

ally_t said:

I'm sorry but I have to say that I really hate the plastic fake wood look on my dash, makes a beautiful car look tacky and its cracked a bit from the sun. Can anyone suggest a nice new replacement and a retailer to get one from.

If your car has the original dash then it is not fake wood; it is the real thing. It is burl elm IIRC.

Please note that this doesn't mean I disagree with you about it's look though. I think it was a poor choice to put a wood dash like this on a supercar of that era.

[ally_t]

Oh it's real, I didn't realise, it certainly is covered with a lot of lacquer then . To add to my growing troubles I curbed my near side front alloy wasn't my fault . Wet road + 2nd geard boost = sideways. I'd just got it broken in after a rebuild and forgot how powerful it was, Ooooooooops. alex now drives slow enough to drive Miss Daisy

Alex

[superdave]

If it's bad and you have standard alloys then Alan Croft should have a spare set if you need one. Otherwise speak to PNM or look on the for sale pages on LEW.

Cheers,


Dave

[ally_t]

Well I guess it's an excuse to get those S4 alloys that I want

Alex

[desson1]

Stop.
Wait a minute.
I had my dashboard redone by a Lotus dealership in black leather. Bieri fine aotos
Great look. Had my entire interior repaired and re-dyed. Looks brand spanking new.

[ally_t]

That way be an idea, there are so many things that I want to do with his car, I dont know where to start. But if I can get a decent replacement for the interior I will. I'm waiting for one of you guys to design a chrome one or something . Come on there must be someone here who is far too intelligent and with too much time on their hands. I would do it but I'm crap at making things.

[kylie]

Someone here did make a polished alloy one which he had pics of. Looked o.k.

[ally_t]

I think that was for the V8 it's on LEW, looks nice, would like something like that

>> Edited by ally_t on Wednesday 7th January 00:54

[kylie]

No it was custom built for their Stevens Esprit (three seperate instrument panels)

Will see if I can dig the web page out when I get a chance.
Cheers
KS

[ally_t]

Thats the problem with the stevens esprit, needs 3 different panels, I mean I like the layout, looks like a cockpit, when people get in the car they can't believe the amount of info in front of you. Of course the only one ever looked at while driving is the boost gauge. you happen to find a picture and have the time please post it.

Alex

[superdave]

Here's the link for the alloy dash, it's off Joonbugs car in the US.

www.lotusespritworld.com/EOwners/joonbug.html

It took quite a few attempts before he got it right. A little bit like your carbon fibre one Kylie LOL!


Cheers,



Dave

[kylie]

Ah thats it, knew it was in there somewhere. Cheers Dave.

CF dash grumble grumble....

[ally_t]

Yeah thats a bit special, I like that. Hmmm CF dash bet that was hard work. Got any pictures of that Kylie check your fontango links but none there

Alex

[kylie]

I have got a few peices which are not finished yet. They need final sanding and clear coated, I might get some in progress pics up soon. Am not entirely happy with them. Was temped to throw my panels to a specialist to just finish it off.

[ally_t]

I have a problem with patience, when I start something on my car I like to see it done immediately. However I did spend the whole of last weekend cleaning my chargecooler with a toothbrush, it is now "very red" thats the only way to describe it.

God I'm so bored, working nights at the moment, not many people posting this time of night. This forum is what gets me through work.

COME ON PEOPLE GET POSTING

Alex

[kylie]

Haha, well I used to be like yourself on the car when I first got it, but reality set in, as I also wanted to go skiing, weekend holidays, artworks to complete, friends to entertain and doing heaps of windsurfing over here at the moment, not to mention all the other stuff need doing at home. But these cars do keep you hooked and there is always something need doing whether it needs it or not.
I am lucky enough to have my own computer at work and a seperate 24hr speedy connection at home. So quickly checking my mail and keeping up with PH isn't too bad, yet can keep myself looking busy.

[ally_t]

Your obviously a real pro . What a busy life you lead. It's so true my car is number one at the moment, everything else is on the back shelf, including my apartment much to my fathers discussed ( I did explain that you can sleep in a car but you cant race an apartment )Just out of curiosity, what kind of artwork, can I ask non-car related stuff on the forum

alex