Gumby’s new dashboard is now done, and we can now put in the gauges and start driving the car.
This is a huge milestone for us and the result of much color and material sampling as we push the envelope on Bugeye interiors. Remember, this was once a $1,795 simple sportscar so the vinyl seat and dash coverings were basic at best.
This is our first completely custom dash and a demonstration of what we can do on Super Sprites going forward. Our goal is to tastefully accent the stock dashboard and make it a bit more elegant without deviating too far from originality. All the gauges and switches will be in the stock locations so it looks like an original dash, albeit with upscale touches.
To build this, first we chose a custom leather hide, custom stamped for more texture, and custom dyed “Aloe Thorn” to contrast with our Aston Martin green paint scheme. Next, we set out to add tasteful details, including a double stitch outline along the front cockpit trim strip and a single contrasting thread outline on the dashboard, all to accentuate the graceful curves of the dashboard. Above, you can see Ken stitch the contrasting silver thread he then carefully aligned with the contour of the dashboard.
If you are unfamiliar, the original cars had matching vinyl on the dashboard and center cockpit trim piece (door tops were uncovered), as you can see at left on the recent dashboard restoration we did on “Motor Mike, which needed a new red vinyl covering. The leather and custom stitching makes Gumby’s dashboard just a little bit more special, a fitting acknowledgment of the 20o Bugeyes we have now sold, and the car that started it all.
BTW, the ratty shift tower in Gumby’s interior is in place so we don’t scratch the nice green one while we finish building the interior…. we are saving the new green tower for when the dashboard work is done.
We’ll have more pictures next week, after the original gauges and switches are installed.
