Well, everyone is entitled to an opinion <g>, but I guess you weren't around
in the 60s when metal dashes were the norm. I would have to describe your
statement as essentially inaccurate. Certainly in 1962 "sheet metal punched
full of holes" was standard in sports cars that didn't rate the full wood
treatment, and there wasn't any third option (outside of Detroit plastic
fantasies). And in 1968 I had certainly never seen anything that remotely
resembled the "Abingdon pillow", and I didn't see anything like it again
until air bags became mandatory. But industrial design history (and
esthetics) aside, a major objection to that dash style is the absence of a
lockable storage compartment, necessary in an open car.
on 5/22/03 3:27 PM, David Breneman at idcb@airborne.com wrote:
> Paul M. SEZ -
>> I am just getting ready to dig in to the restoration
>> of the interior of my 1971 MGB. Everything is pretty
>> much in place. I've decided to keep the "Abingdon
>> Pillow" (call me crazy, but the aesthetics have grown
>> on me somewhat...) I have the carpets, the upholstery,
>> all the panels... I'm ready to go.
>
> You're not crazy. I had a 1968 MGB and I liked the look.
> The earlier dash always looked too "50s" to me, for what
> is on the outside a very 60s-looking car. In fact I'd
> go so far as to say I think the early dash was ugly.
> Frankly, I just don't see what it is that people object to
> in the "pillow" design. By the early 60s, not many cars had
> "piece of sheet metal punched full of holes" dash boards and
> the the original dash design just looks jarringly anacronistic
> with the smooth modern lines of the MGB. And I *really* don't
> understand cutting up a car to put a "retro" dash in. I say,
> kudos to you for not butchering the interior of your car.
>
> Some may choose to "reinterpret" their interior if they want, but
> it's small consolation to tell themselves "It may not be original,
> but at least it reduces the value." :-)
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the primer red one with chrome wires
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