Sources for 1960 Bugeye gauges

[tdskip]

Hi folks - any ideas on the best place to source proper gauges for my '60 Bugeye?

She has mid-70's Midget gauges now and I'd like to return her to a more original condition.

Thanks!

 

[Trevor Jessie]

These are the closest that I know of
https://www.gaugeguys.com/Smiths/Authentic/classic.htm

 

[jlaird]

https://www.gaugeguys.com/Smiths/Authentic/classic.htm

And they say new ones are cheeper than restoreing old ones.
Some where on that site you will find orginal Bugeye gages.

 

[capitalcitycars]

I see them pop up on ebay from time to time.

 

[tdskip]

Thanks folks. I also found Britishmiles.com and https://www.caigauge.com/Smiths_Classic_Instruments.htm , anyone ever work with them?

 

[msoylemez]

I had mine restored for about $140-$160 a pop for the big gauges, and $120-$130 for the little ones. You can buy a restorable condition gauge off of ebay for 20-30 bucks if you don't have one yourself. Restoration was a veeeerrry sloooow process, however, so be warned. Regardless, cheaper than the $200 range I quickly glanced at on that one link for new gauges, plus you will have an original gauge (btw, my personal definition--everyone's is different--for original is 1) is it the "correct style" item for that year/model and 2) when the item in question was originally manufactured. Restoration of "correct style" gauges counts as original. Some purists would have a heartattack, I know)

 

[jlaird]

Or made by the same folks with orginial dies or remanufactured dies. ie can't tell the difference.

 

[dklawson]

Tdskip, that link to www.caigauge.com IS what's left of Smiths instruments. They bought out what was left of Smiths instruments and its trademarks. (The Smiths Aerospace division was sold to someone else). I don't think you'd deal with them directly in the U.S., you'd probably be dealing with "gaugeguys" (west coast?) as listed in the links above or with Nisonger (east coast).

CAI (Caerbont) supports the classic lines but I was unaware that they had ones that would match the late 1950s, very early 1960s cars. If you don't find what you're looking for on their web site I wouldn't hesitate to contact them. My correspondence with them has been rather hit-and-miss. You may have to write them a few times before you get a reply.