Mike,
I think the name "Idiot Light" is very appropriate. It reminds me of the
time a had a thermostat stick shut on my Honda Accord while I was driving
80MPH on the highway for about 20 miles. I never even thought to look at
the pegged gauge until I pulled off the highway, put the clutch in and the
engine died. The end result was a very scorched engine that smoked and never
quite ran the same. An idiot light would have been noticed before it had a
chance to do any damage.
LESSON: Gauges sure look good but they only work when you remember to look
at them.
Charlie Hubbard
1964 SPL310 (1500)
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Kerr [mailto:mikekerr@innercite.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 2:49 PM
To: CalSpeed@aol.com; datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net;
alevisen@gdhscats.org
Subject: Re: Dashes and Consoles
the later 1500/1600 dashes where the best for looks and useful
information, the 1500 early dash had idiot lights for the charging and oil
presser.
Mike Kerr
Roadster Restoration
3730 Todrob LN.
Placerville CA. 95667
Ph.# 530-644-6777
Fax# 530-644-7252
E-mail: mikekerr@innercite.com
Web page : http://www.innercite.com/~wolfgang
Visa & master card
-----Original Message-----
From: CalSpeed@aol.com <CalSpeed@aol.com>
To: datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>;
alevisen@gdhscats.org <alevisen@gdhscats.org>
Date: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 10:50 AM
Subject: Re: Dashes and Consoles
>
>Hello,
>
>I must agree that the early 1500 dashes were stunning. From the circular
>ashtry to the chrome grab handle... they are certainly a dash designed out
of
>the 50's and early 60's using the "glamorous cars" as examples. But I feel
>Datsun moved away from that look as part of a change of attitute about the
>car. (Amongst other reasons too). The dashes changed to a "performance"
>look. As a matter of fact, it is the same look that Porsche used for many
>years on their 911's. Hey, quite possibly copied from the Datsun
Roadsters!
>Yeah, right! But non-the-less... it was a change with the trends in the
>automotive market. The 1500 dashes may look great now but at that time
they
>were a design that was showing its age. Trends sell cars. (Okay
performance
>too) Take a look at the '65 1500 and you will see the "so-called" ugly
dash.
>
>
>There was no way Nissan was going to stay with an outdated style. The
>European marques had changed and that was where the sports car sales were.
>The European models were sucking the exhaust fumes on the track but Nissan
>was still stuck with an outdated, non-performance orientated dash design.
>
>Many other reasons the dashes changed were because of DOT Standards. I
>believe that the chrome ringed gauges of the late 1500 and early 1600
dashes
>were spectacular. But according to DOT safety laws Nissan had to remove
the
>chrome. Too shiny! Look at the steering wheel hub. Look at how the
>windshield frame was painted silver over the chrome. The shifter plate,
the
>parking brake handle, rear view mirror, placement of the ignition key...
etc.
> But these changes don't make the 67 gauges ugly either. Everybody had to
go
>to the blacked out, dulled chrome look.
>
>Personally, I like the '66 1600 gauges the best. But there is somethjing
to
>be said about a 67.5 U20 gauge that reads 160mph! Yes! But as you know,
the
>flat metal split gauge dash was short lived as the new safety dashes were
>employed in '68. And yes, they may not look as vintage the the previous
>generations they are still wonderful. I like the warmth of those dashes as
>well as the slightly modern look. If I had a car with the later dash I
would
>have changed all of the gauges to modern style gauges. I would really
employ
>alot of the modern dash styles you see today.
>
>Beauty is personal preferance. The markets preference. And the change in
>style was based on that too. Remember, back then the cars were modern and
>cutting edge. Okay... enough said.
>
><Time to fire up the ignition and activate the gauges and just let those
>Solex's howl down the street!>
>
>Take care!
>
>Michael "Calspeed" Carion
>67.5 SRL311-000248 Solex
>San Francsico, Ca
>
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