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Replacement Dashboards


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+1 for CD Nick. I did a deal on their stand at the NEC Classic Car show some years ago for a dashboard and matching door cappings for my 4A in burr oak. The fit was excellent with no issues and I was and still am very pleased with the transformation. If you are uncertain which effect to go for then to assist your choice they might be happy to send you a selection of veneers, If you moisten these with a little water that will closely simulate the finished appearance of the dashboard.

 

Tim

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Nick

 

+1 re the comments on Classical Dash - they make top quality dashboards and supply many of the main TR suppliers - I may be able to help you with a dash - have sent you a PM - click on the envelope in the top right hand corner of the page where there should be small red marker, if you are not sure what that means

 

Cheers

Rich

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Hello Nick

Going through this exercise at the moment, not a lot of fun.

I think we have got used to computer cut materials where parts are simply interchangeable, this is not the case with TR4a dashboards.

I picked up a second hand dashboard recently a bit scruffy but sound, The recent rather chilly weather gave me an excellent opportunity to work on it in the house, nice and warm!

Bought a nice length of American walnut and re veneered the old dash, a dozen coats of plastic "varnish" later and it looks quite good, Came to fitting today and apart from having to sand out all the over varnished gauge holes I was surprised to find that the two end screw holes don't match the existing drilled holes in the dash, not a huge problem. but worth keeping in mind. Re fitting all the stuff was a pain in the neck, literally. All the careful polishing and buffing goes out of the window when refitting still I can always give it a polish up when I have finished.

I am quite happy with the results, no extraneous holes and I like the colour and the finish is much nicer than the dash I took out, also changed all the lamps for LEDs so I might actually be able to read the dials instead of just being able to see where they are. The wiring behind still looks like a bit of a rats nest but hopefully it's safe.

The old dash I used cost next to nothing and the materials are cheep enough.

Would I do it again, I don't think so not if you can get a professionally made one at a good price!

 

 

Having said that I may well see what I can do with the now redundant dashboard...............quite fancy having a go with a book matched veneer, well I've got all the stuff now.

 

Good luck David

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Mine is a Classic Dash and very good. Recommended.

 

But before you buy, spend some time thinking about colour. It's all a bit down to personal preference but finished wood grain's covers a wide range of colours and not all are perhaps the best match for any car's body/interior colour.

 

A good starting point for colour is perhaps to do a google search for "car dashboard wood" then click on images.

 

Good hunting,

 

Alan

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Anyone purchased a replacement wooden dashboard?

Thinking of replacement as mine is knackered. Anyone purchased from Classical Dash Stokenchurch in Bucks or can recommend a decent company to deal with from their personal experience?

+ 1 yes very good. Wouldn't bother with anyone else.

 

best Bill

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+1 again for Classical Dash. Used theirs for my 4A and living close by was able to choose one as they had a few in stock. Also you can choose the veneer and they will make one to order using your choice. Fitted 'out of the box'. They supply a lot of the well known specialist distributors.

 

Regards

Ian

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I have just bought one of these dashboards for my TR6 but a bit apprehensive, is the job straight forward or can anyone give me any tips for removing the original and fitting the new one?

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Back in the 70s yours truly and his pal Gordon made a few replacement dashboards for notalot . . . . I wonder if any survive ?

 

We'd purchase a decent, but unfashionable, old veneered wardrobe in a Brighton saleroom for a couple of quid - even a small one yielded 3 dash blanks, a big wardrobe as many as 8. The original dash was stripped down, then used as the template for its replacement, thereby ensuring all holes etc were in the right place in practice, as opposed to theory.

 

The bench pillar drill and its selection of hole saws dealt quickly enough with the main instruments, oblong holes required some judicious filing of course, and a touch of sanding round the holes completed the job . . . . . followed by a few light coats of the rattlecan yacht varnish.

 

Not concours, but no worse than OE factory, and all for the cost of a few pints . . . . .

 

Cheers,

 

Alec

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Thank you to all who posted their affirmation for Classical Dashboards and for the other tips- the feedback is helpful even if my experience is totally different. I purchased on for my TR4 back at Stoneleigh on 11 Feb show direct from their stand. They have taken the money and so far have not responded to any of my requests, having said at the time of the sale that they were in stock for a reasonably prompt delivery.

Clearly not the company they once were and I now have to try to get back the money that I paid in good faith. No response to numerous emails, a registered letter, or to phone messages so maybe a bigger problem but some communication from them would enable me to make an informed decision. So far I would suggest others stay clear of them and I am :angry:

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I am really sorry Nick that your experience of CD has been so different from that of so many others who responded to your post. Of course one can only speak as one finds; in my case I ordered the dash and door cappings from their stand at the NEC on 14/11/10 and paid in full up front on a handshake. There was some delay on delivery since all the items were made to order, I received prompt replies to two emails asking about progress and received delivery on 23rd December. This was fine for me as I was in no rush. Maybe the wheels have fallen off somewhat in the last 7+ years.

 

Tim

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NickNigel

 

Your rights under Section 75

You have consumer rights under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, with the credit card company being jointly and severally liable for any breach of contract or misrepresentation by the retailer or a trader. This means it is just as responsible as the retailer or trader for the goods or service supplied, allowing you to also put your claim to the credit card company.

You don't have to reach a stalemate with the retailer or trader before you can contact your credit card provider - you can make a claim to both the retailer and credit card provider simultaneously, although you can't recover your losses from both.

This right is particularly useful if the retailer or trader has gone bust, or it doesn't respond to your letters or phone calls.

Foreign transactions

 

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act also applies to foreign transactions as well as goods bought online, by telephone or mail order for delivery to the UK from overseas.

 

In a nutshell, if you paid using a credit card and the amount was over £100 then the credit card provider will intervene and pay you back the amount you spent,

 

Just a thought.

Mike

Edited by MikeThomas
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Thank you to all who posted their affirmation for Classical Dashboards and for the other tips- the feedback is helpful even if my experience is totally different. I purchased on for my TR4 back at Stoneleigh on 11 Feb show direct from their stand. They have taken the money and so far have not responded to any of my requests, having said at the time of the sale that they were in stock for a reasonably prompt delivery.

Clearly not the company they once were and I now have to try to get back the money that I paid in good faith. No response to numerous emails, a registered letter, or to phone messages so maybe a bigger problem but some communication from them would enable me to make an informed decision. So far I would suggest others stay clear of them and I am :angry:

 

So, I am not the only one. There are so many recommendations on here that I was reluctant to post my experiences.

 

Following the recommendations on the Forum, I visited Ian during my last trip to the UK in May 2017. I spoke with Ian about the dash I required including mods which he agreed to incorporate and he showed me around his facility. I returned to Canada and several emails were exchanged, finalising the design that I wanted. He asked for payment up front which was understandable for a non standard dash. I confirmed the order and paid by bank transfer in June of 2017.

 

After many emails & phone calls unanswered, I was beginning to give up hope, then I got a reply to one email in January apologising and promising to send by priority mail the next day.

 

Still not received the dash and he has not responded to any further emails.

 

Just my experience and I know his work is first class.

 

Graeme

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  • 3 weeks later...

Sorry to find I am not the only one affected Graeme.

A few days after my last post 23 Mar I had a call from Ian Bond (the owner of CD). Not wishing to bore the pants off you guys with full details he did apologies and revealed he had been most unwell. I decided this was genuine and that he is a genuine guy, the same thoughts I had when I shook his hand in Feb after agreeing the deal. In the following days there were several pleasant phone calls from him all positive but as I was going away we agreed he would courier it on Friday 6 April for delivery the following Monday - less than 50 miles distance. I was convinced and still am that this guy is genuine but he is bad and telling people when he has problems and buries his head in the sand. Anyway I am still waiting and I ,like Graeme, am back to unanswered calls and messages again - so I am deciding my next move with the same amount of pace as Ian.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Always an optimist and in my last post I stated that I believed the supplier is genuine and good and the reputation attested above supports that. A week ago my dash arrived. It is a lovely finish and clearly made by a craftsman - can't fit it to the car yet as it is in a paint shop right now but look forward to doing that - Good luck Graeme from Canada.

 

Nick

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Good luck Graeme from Canada.

 

Nick

 

Thanks Nick, pleased that you have received your dash.

 

I live in hope but as the car nears completion I have to consider an alternative.

 

Cheers

Graeme

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Thanks Nick, pleased that you have received your dash.

 

I live in hope but as the car nears completion I have to consider an alternative.

 

Cheers

Graeme

I think you need to visit Classical Dash again when you back in the U.K. but don’t be as nice as you were the last time.
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  • 1 month later...

Just for completeness, my dashboard arrived last week, only one year after standing in Ian's workshop discussing my requirements.

 

As others have said, the quality is excellent but he could really do with a partner to run the business while he gets the craftsman bit done.

 

Cheers

 

Graeme

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I had my dash, 4A, re-veneered by Chapman and Cliff, both ex RR and Bentley. When I received the dash back from C&C the standard of finish around the apertures was disgraceful as well as the warning light holes being made a tad elliptical , not a good advert for their work or quality control. Following my complaint to them about the situation, it was returned to them for rectification. When it was returned to me the problems had been resolved satisfactorily.

Graham

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just been attacking mum's original TR4a dash board, thoroughly ruined cracked lacquer, water damaged in places. If you have time on your side, sometimes it's possible to revive even the most worn of dashboards.

 

Heat gun and an exceptionally sharp chisel made short work of the lacquer.

 

Oxylic acid removed the odd water marks.

 

Light sand prepped it for varnish. Be careful here, the veneer is very thin. If your Essex way regency veneers in Southend do excellent work on our yacht stuff at work, and I'm sure a dash would be no problem to re-veneer.

 

I only have a base coat applied in the last photo. Some fancy Renner 2 part polyurethane varnish, I'm waiting until we next do some gloss work to finish the top coats. This is still the original wood veneer.

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Edited by tr7v8
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