Beautiful Instrument Panel

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...from an early Volvo P1800. This picture is from an article in Hemmings on the Volvo.

Readable, stylish, beautifully backlit, what more could you ask for? Now back to the perfectly functional but completely sterile iPad like panel on my DD.....

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All these stupid proprietary shape tablet like dashes won’t work in 20 years, while this will work good as new!
 
2013 Pagani

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I don't know why this is so hard to comprehend.

I've repaired plenty of analog clusters.
Exactly. Almost every 80's BMW on the road now either has had speedometer/odometer gears replaced, or needs them. The screens and electronic clusters will just require a new fix of some sort.
 
I don't know why this is so hard to comprehend.

I've repaired plenty of analog clusters.
Because these are irregularly shaped screens, deeply embedded into dashboards. Not a few gears on a shaft that can be easily worked on. Or a few solder pads to reflow.

Computer screens fail. LCD screens get bad pixels or failed backlights. And that’s in relatively benign conditions. Cars get horrifically hot and cold.

There is no standardized interface for cars. No vga, display port, etc. every screen is a custom job.

I’d love to know how many old screens are available as new replacement parts these days.

No, a screen based display for controls is completely different, and a poor comparison to the clusters of old.

If lots survive, great. At some point they won’t. And they’ll be much harder to repair than gauge clusters. It’s not that hard to comprehend that a million unique, proprietary screens don’t make for easy obsolescence management or combo repair parts as the years go by.
 
Because these are irregularly shaped screens, deeply embedded into dashboards. Not a few gears on a shaft that can be easily worked on. Or a few solder pads to reflow.

Computer screens fail. LCD screens get bad pixels or failed backlights. And that’s in relatively benign conditions. Cars get horrifically hot and cold.

There is no standardized interface for cars. No vga, display port, etc. every screen is a custom job.

I’d love to know how many old screens are available as new replacement parts these days.

No, a screen based display for controls is completely different, and a poor comparison to the clusters of old.

If lots survive, great. At some point they won’t. And they’ll be much harder to repair than gauge clusters. It’s not that hard to comprehend that a million unique, proprietary screens don’t make for easy obsolescence management or combo repair parts as the years go by.
I mean, you can get a fully functioning android head unit for a 20 year old VW on AliExpress...

If the cars have a following, the aftermarket will support them. If not, then they'll die, like Chevettes and Cavaliers and every other crapbox throughout history.
 
I mean, you can get a fully functioning android head unit for a 20 year old VW on AliExpress...

If the cars have a following, the aftermarket will support them. If not, then they'll die, like Chevettes and Cavaliers and every other crapbox throughout history.
That’s not what I asked for. I couldn’t care what counterfeit Chinese junk is available on Aliexpress. Does any major manufacturer offer replacement screens for 10+ year old vehicles?!?

Ive fixed 40 year old gauge clusters. Parts are available. Heck, I can send my 40yo Becker head units back for refurbishment and Bluetooth upgrades.

Aliexpress is apples to oranges. This stuff won’t be supported by OE or OE functional equipment in 40 years.

Unless common backlights and digitizers and form factors become the norm, this stuff will all be throw away in a manner far different from the speedometers and clusters in even a chevette.
 
Unless common backlights and digitizers and form factors become the norm, this stuff will all be throw away in a manner far different from the speedometers and clusters in even a chevette.
you can buy a digitizer for a 20 year old honda

if there is demand they are incredibly cheap and easy to make
 
I had a 1977 Trans Am with a 4 speed when I was 19 years old. Coolest dashboard ever in my opinion. Shaker scoop adds to the nice view from the drivers seat.
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Nice! I'd forgotten about these; 'Euro' gauges on a machine turned panel. Liked the steering wheel too. Did Canada get different gauge faces w/ the dual scales before we did? These seem busier than I remember.
 
Jeff now that is one area where I can't agree. Yeah like it's attractive to slap a tablet computer OVER the dash. Someday this will be looked at as absurd.
You may be right, but I don't think so. Time will tell.
The Model 3 is followes the Japanese minimalistic approach. Uncluttered.
I can tell you that after driving the Model 3 and getting into the GS350 F Sport, I find the Lexus dash unnecessarily cluttered. I have to search for the right control. It sounds ridiculous, but it becomes a bit of a pain.
If I wanna set the temperature in the Tesla, I press the right button on the steering wheel and say, "I'm cold." Or "Set the temp to 70."
I do think Tesla needs heads up display and blind spot indicators on the outside mirrors.

I realize these cars are different and not for everyone. I say this all the time.
I can also tell you that people who grew up with computers take to the tablet interface naturally while others struggle with it.
My next door neighbor is on her 2nd Bolt; she greatly prefers it over our car.
 
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For me simple is better. My 1965 VW Beetle has a beauty of an instrument panel. Speedo with lights for oil/generator and turn signal and to the right a gas gauge that is mechanical. No computer to draw on the battery when parked and a radio AM/FM with push buttons that physically move the dial pointer.
 
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