Not only did they regulate the padding and the "killer" toggle switches, they
also demanded the removal of chrome from the gauges so the driver would not be
blinded by the reflections. US safety regulations brought us side markers in
late 1968 and forced the 1970 rear reflectors to be relocated inboard of the
tail light because they had to be bigger.
So, don't blame Datsun designers for destroying the flat dash. And even
though I own a "butt ugly", to quote Charlie, dash board in my 1969 1600, I will
agree I like the flat dash look much better. I know Les has done the swap once
or twice. Maybe soon CDM will market a kit! Then we can have an opportunity to
be blinded by the reflection off the chrome gauges, hit the brakes and throw
ourselves into a rock hard dash and impale our bodies on the toggle switches as
we are run over by some 4 ton SUV!
And in case you haven't been keeping up with your reading, the government has
paid for another study of crashes between small cars and big cars and concluded
that small cars will be damaged more (Brilliant aren't they! ). The
recommendation out of D.C., .... eliminated small cars!!??
Paul
OROC
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