 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Neat, 'factory' looking dash ideas |
 
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| Shroppy Member Since: 25 Feb 2016 Location: Shropshire Posts: 866   
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I'm a big fan (as I'm sure many others are) of the Defenders produced by Cool & Vintage and Brooklyn Coachworks, particularly their simplistic, factory approach to the dash. A couple of examples below.
 Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge My 1986 127 essentially has what is shown above, albeit a bit scabbier, lacking AC and in need of some love. I'd like to to tidy it up (maybe even trim in leather) and maintain the simplicity. However, I'm also going to be adding in the following; - Electric windows = 2/4 Switches - Heated seats = 2 Switches - Heated windscreen = 1 switch - Rev gauge - occupies 'clock' space on dash but where does the clock go?? - Warning lights and or temp gauges for coolant/oil - maybe a dual one to fit the standard hole if such thing is available? - Radio - Speakers The obvious answer I suppose is to fit a TD5 dash or a MUD/Raptor centre console, they're fine but not to my taste. The next best I suppose is to conceal it all in the cubby box which I'm certainly not against but I'd prefer it not to look like the starship enterprise.... So, what have you done? any ideas? I'm certainly not opposed to making holes in the dash providing it yields a factory looking solution. 1985 127 V8 Build Thread Series 2 109" Series 1 80" |
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31st Mar 2021 7:13am |
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| jimbo55 Member Since: 15 Jul 2020 Location: Midlands Posts: 399
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Those examples of dashes do look very nice though and would love one in my 90
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31st Mar 2021 10:22am |
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| Smyles_ Member Since: 25 Aug 2018 Location: Copenhagen Posts: 517 
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If you wanted a classic looking radio but with the most up-to-date internals and features the Bremen SQR 46 DAB BT is your best and only option. Lots of classic Porsche owners use them. Stuart
Cummins 130 Build Thread 58 130 Double Cab HCPU - Cairns Blue 04 110 Double Cab - Black (gone) 07 Audi RS4 Avant - Silver |
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31st Mar 2021 11:56am |
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| Smyles_ Member Since: 25 Aug 2018 Location: Copenhagen Posts: 517
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Another idea that's come to mind is to rid of the head unit entirely and just install a Bluetooth speaker like seen here:
Click image to enlarge or
You can get a kit for the latter here (although I've just translated it to find they don't ship and only fit locally  ) Stuart
Cummins 130 Build Thread 58 130 Double Cab HCPU - Cairns Blue 04 110 Double Cab - Black (gone) 07 Audi RS4 Avant - Silver |
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31st Mar 2021 12:02pm |
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| Shroppy Member Since: 25 Feb 2016 Location: Shropshire Posts: 866
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Some great ideas there guys. At 6"5 I'm not sure I could fit around the roof panel sadly.
As for the Marshall speaker, I really like the concept but wonder if it might grow to be annoying, especially for rear passengers? The other option I'm pondering is mounting the radio head unit in the cubby box and positioning the speakers strategically, avoiding the lower dash if possible. 1985 127 V8 Build Thread Series 2 109" Series 1 80" |
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31st Mar 2021 12:32pm |
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| rallysteve Member Since: 10 Feb 2014 Location: Cumbria Posts: 2227 
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Shroppy,
For info I am 6'6" and have the mud roof console in my DCPU and it causes no head room issues for me. Steve 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread |
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31st Mar 2021 12:53pm |
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| kenzle8a Member Since: 12 Feb 2020 Location: None Posts: 1074 
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I love the idea of this, however for the farm truck the cost is a bit much.
https://defenderwood.com/2019/05/30/neque-...unt-vitae/ I've always hated expanses of black leather in cars, something in a nice brown or green would be so much nicer. |
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31st Mar 2021 1:00pm |
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| kenzle8a Member Since: 12 Feb 2020 Location: None Posts: 1074
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Also if your after a bluetooth no stereo look this could be an option.
https://www.classiccarstereo.co.uk/hidden-...amplifier/ |
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31st Mar 2021 1:09pm |
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| mikeh501 Member Since: 07 Jan 2013 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1142
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I bought some vinyl off ebay and recovered my dash. Wasnt that difficult and was cheap as chips. I bet you could get a professional upholstere to do it too.
Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge |
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31st Mar 2021 1:13pm |
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| mikeh501 Member Since: 07 Jan 2013 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1142
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less proud of my trimming on this, and ill probably rip it off and try again/do something different; but all my switches and radio are self contained in the cubby which means i can easily remove it etc. The radio and CB sits behind the cubby which is fine by me for a bit of background music (spotify) as i wont be fiddling with it.
Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge |
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31st Mar 2021 1:19pm |
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| adafish Member Since: 30 Mar 2009 Location: atherstone Posts: 1384 
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Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Just in process of doing a makeover in my 90.. Going down the Rat look ... Click image to enlarge Putting Dreams on Drives at JLR Solihull.. |
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1st Apr 2021 5:48pm |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10382
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Love that Ada
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1st Apr 2021 5:53pm |
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| adafish Member Since: 30 Mar 2009 Location: atherstone Posts: 1384
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Cheers Ste....doing more on week off, next week Putting Dreams on Drives at JLR Solihull..
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1st Apr 2021 5:54pm |
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| jimbo55 Member Since: 15 Jul 2020 Location: Midlands Posts: 399
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That looks great Ada, nice to see something so different
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1st Apr 2021 7:54pm |
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