1800 Glove box

[TVRHTV]

Does anyone have dimensions, photos or a spare glove box for an 1800/1800S?

[Astacus]

I could do with one too for my S1. I was going to make a glass fibre one, but they were originally made of some sort of textured pressed cardboard and I think riveted together. I had a spitty at one time and that had the same thing.

Do you still have the original?

[TVRHTV]

Sorry, no original, the dashboard had been replaced without one before I bought the car.

I thought I'd seen somewhere that they were glass fiber!

I was considering making one from sheet steel riveted together and lined with felt or similar.

[Astacus]

Later cars are glass fibre. early cars up to at least S1 Vixen are compressed card. That was the standard way of doing it it seems. Similar for Spitfire, MG etc. Strange stuff, always seems to get out of shape and suceptible to etc getting wet.

[S1Vixen]

Echo that @Astacus.

My S1 Vixen hardboard / compressed card version covered with leathercloth.

From what I can establish it was stapled to the rear of the dash to hold it's shape and then bolted to the bulkhead to support it at the back.

[Astacus]

Thanks for that Steve, that s really helpful. It looks like it was made at the factory rather than a bought in part, like maybe a Spitfire of MG. Also it might help explain a couple of holes in the bulkhead that I couldn't explain!

[Granturadriver]

Similar construction was used in the Mk2a Grantura, however the card is folded on both sides and rear, but no top as the Vixen part. In the Grantura it is screwed to the bulkhead.

[Andrew Gray]

[Andrew Gray]

Millboard
https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/product/1648/millbo...

[TVRHTV]

Steve, Andrew

Thanks for the information.

I think I might go down the Millboard route, but now I have two more questions,
1) is the rear face of the box parallel to the front?
2) how deep is it front to back?

A sketch of the developed Millboard would be an asset.

The rest of the dimensions I'll make to suit the aperture in the dash board.

[S1Vixen]

Which dash do you have? The Mk3 1800 as per Andrew's pic or the flat sheet of veneered ply as in Vixen S1?

[TVRHTV]

Hi Steve

It's the flat plywood version. I'm sure I took a tracing of yours several years ago and have only just got around to building a new one, something to do in lockdown!

[S1Vixen]

Ah yes - I do recall. No worries, I'll crack the tape measure out....

[S1Vixen]

In case it's of use to others, here are the dimensions of the Vixen S1 glovebox

[TVRHTV]

Does anyone have experience of using Millboard, for example can it be bent through 90°, at 2.3mm thickness I would assume it would need to to be heavily scored before bending?

[S1Vixen]

The original part is scored to get the folds straight and in the correct place

[TVRHTV]

Thanks Steve,

By the looks of it your glove box is made from card about 1.5mm thick, I can see that scoring the card would work well, but the material Andrew suggested (Millboard) is 2.4mm thick
I'm worried that it would be difficult to get the scoring deep enough without going too deep.
Folding inwards may be achievable but folding outwards around the edges may be a bit unsightly.
Maybe someone out there has some experience in folding Millboard?

Kit

[TVRHTV]

Steve

Looking at your photos again, is that a plywood alternative glove box in the background?

[S1Vixen]

Yes it is.

I've remade the whole dash and elected to make up a ply version which bolts up to the back of the dash panel.