Jeff, that's easy. Buy another Spit, and put one dash in each!
(If only life was that simple, huh?)
Dean
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Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 21:32:37 -0800
From: "Jeff McNeal" <jmcneal@ohms.com>
Subject: Custom dash -- sin or inspired?
Hi everyone. I've once again found myself in a bit of a pickle. A happy
one, this time, but a pickle nonetheless. The original, 33-year-old English
Walnut dash on my Spitfire was intact, but in need of some serious
restoration. Removing my guages with their gummy, sticky mounting gaskets
that broke off flakes of the veneer didn't help matters. The original wood
had faded and the varnish had taken on a somewhat milky appearance. The
were no grain characteristics in the wood that I could see whatsoever.
Nothing like the dash on my original Spitfifre many years ago except for the
shade of the stain.
I've sent my entire dash facia off to a specialist who restores wood dashes
professionally. I told him my wishes of matching the color of the original
dash, but longed for some enhanced grain highlights or maybe even a swirl or
two of burl. He mentioned that he had some somewhat rare tiger maple left
over from a Maserati dash project and said that he thought it would be
perfect. Not only is it rare, but according to the craftsman, when properly
finished it takes on an almost three-dimensional appearance. I'm very
excited about fitting this dash, but at the same time I also ordered an OEM
style English Walnut facia replacement from Rimmer Bros., since I was
purchasing a carpet set from them at the same time. It was one of those
"impulse" buys.
So now, I'll have two dashes to choose from. One exotic and unique -- the
other "correct" and factory new. Which one would you put in YOUR Spitfire?
Appreciate the feedback.
Jeff in San Diego
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