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I'm going to lose the dashboard battle

Brosky

Great Pumpkin
Offline
My wife has never questioned or asked about one dollar that I've ever spent on the TR6. Not one word about anything, no matter what the price was. Her logic really was; "if you're happy, I'm happy".

So far, so good, right? Well, yes, up until last week.

Erik stops by the office at that time to borrow a part to test on a car and asks about the shiny new dash that I posted pictures on a while ago. My wife had never seen it, so I proudly cut open the box and pulled it out to show them. His eyes lit up and hers went blank. He said, "it's beautiful, she said "I don't really like it". Nothing more, nothing less. He looked at me and quietly left and I packed it back up and said nothing.

About an hour later, I asked her why she didn't like it. She said, I don't really like that look, I prefer the satin finish. I never knew it, but she walked around the last two shows looking at dashboards, to decide what she liked and didn't like. After 20 + years together, I knew not to push it, so I decided to search for another dash and I found one that night on eBay. I took a chance, but lost in the bidding and forgot about it. A day or so later I decided to call the guy and see if he had any more and he didn't, but he said that he would make one for me.

So I took a chance, ordered it and it came in today. It is really beautiful and the work is first rate quality. he is a cabinet maker by trade, so I wasn't worried, but the part came pre-drilled and test fitted for gauges as well.

Item description below:
"This is a dashboard for a 73-74 Triumph TR6 manufactured by a master cabinetmaker and British sports car enthusiast (please see my website at www.sawbladeproductions.com ).This dash is templated from my original dash onto 7-ply Baltic birch plywood which makes it very stable. It is then covered with a quarter sawn mahogany veneer, this veneer is very impressive in sunlight. The veneer is adhered with wood glue and pressed, which makes it very stable. The back is covered in veneer and finished in the correct brown color. The "LIGHTS" label is applied and it is then sprayed with a satin marine grade polyurethane (with UV and moisture resistance) until perfectly smooth and flat. The dash was test-fitted to the car as were all of the gauges, switches, warning lights, etc. All holes have been pre-drilled and the dash is ready to mount your hinges. This dash is very professional, very pretty and at a very good price."

This not to cut any of the BIG 3 out of the picture, but this is really nice and the more selections we all have the better.
 

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I agree that Carl's dashboards are as good if not better than the factory ones. I asked him to sell me a raw dash unstained so I could keep it very light in color with just a few coats of satin urethane to have a wood grain texture. It came out exactly as I had hoped. He even included the "LIGHTS" label with instructions for me to apply. Great price for the quality and the glove box grain lines up perfect which to me is a huge plus.

forumdash.jpg
 
The natural wood is a really great look IMO. I like lighter unassuming woods and a friend did one in Bird's Eye Maple that is really strikingly beautiful.
 
I still don't get it. I reread twice and can't see where you lost the battle. that dash looks incredible.

I can see how it might have been a hit below the belt. took my S.O. to a british car show this year and after the few years of money and work on the gt6 (mk3), she told me that she really liked the mk1's the most. At least she was honest, i guess.
 
How about just a quick spray with a clear satin polyurethane? Same beautiful dash wood, but no shine.

Tom
 
That is a beautiful dashboard. I have to agree that I prefer the satin finish and the simpler veneers.
You didn't say, though, if your wife approves.
 
Bob,

We agreed today to put them both in the car out in the sunshine and then we'll make a decision. That's fine with me.

This is the other dash that we'll be comparing the one above with.
 

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Just my opinion from the photo and light angle but
the bottom dash looks like it is made of plastic
over imitation wood. Just my opinion.

Pick the one YOU like and enjoy it.

d :thumbsup:
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Pick the one YOU like and enjoy it.[/QUOTE]

Dale,

It really looks much better than that. It actually appears to be more like a hand rubbed gun stock when you see it up close, but the white snow background makes it look like extremely shiny, so I can see where you got that impression. Those were the pictures that were sent to me and I never took any others.

This will be more along the line of "Pick the one SHE likes and we'll both enjoy it", mainly because I don't really care which one goes in.
 
Tom,

Did you want to post the above to the other Dash Finish thread?
 
Paul: I believe that the high gloss is more in character with the other modification you have made. Remember, you need to minimize wind resistance. Actually, I like them all, but I do fancy the high gloss.
 
What's up with that Frank, like I actually do some modifications that might be considered "slightly flashy"? :yesnod:

I kind of like it too Frank, but.....if this is what it takes to keep my wife happy with the project, it's really no big deal for me. Especially after I saw how nice Carl's dash came out.

I'll either pack up the other one and keep it, or sell it some day.
 
Now I like the gloss one too! That is a beautifully made dash.
 
They both look absolutely gorgeous to me.
 
My 2 cents...after looking at both pieces, the wood grain of the first (shiny)piece is amazing. The 2nd (satin) piece looks like it has a stripe across the top. I also like the gloss, and would "sacrifice" the gloss to keep the grain pattern. A satin finish will look quite stunning too, imho. :smile:
 
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