102 replies to this topic

[roberts]

what about an innocenti dash for right hand drive cars... i know they are out there but maybe different colours etc but make it so you can use the original size speedo...id sure be interested

cheers james

Afternoon James,

Innocenti dashboards are already available in bare fibreglass so you can paint them any colour you desire (check out ABS Motor Sport, they sell them).

We can certainly trim a Innocenti dashboard in leatherette, leather etc. but you would be looking at a cost of £400+ for such custom trimming work

I have been trying to get in touch with ABS recently regarding covering there range of dahboards and offering them as a product.


Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

Edited by roberts, 05 February 2013 - 03:26 PM.

[JacPowell]

+1 for the cup holders, possibly a gloss finished range in a variety of colours?

[roberts]

Something like the Riley Elf Design/Wolsey Hornet type of dash would be good, with the centre speedo and 2 or 4 side holes and two drop down glovebox doors

We will be offering exactly this - available for all MK3 (onwards) Classic Mini's that have the top padded dash rail removed, they will initially be available in a range of vinyl leatherette coverings (or leather at an extra cost), we will also eventually be offering real carbon fibre coverings and burr wood laminates.

Please find a couple of work progress photos below (two different styles):





Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

[roberts]

I've suggested they re-do these from the 60's. What do others think. The top is covered in black leathercloth and the panel face was body colour, but could be finishes to suit personal taste.
PS Roberts you have a PM.

A very nice dash and a nice idea, but...

It's basically a new top dash rail (which would have to be made from fibreglass and then trimmed in vinyl leatherette/leather), with a custom binnacle (once again which would have to made from fibreglass and trimmed in vinyl leatherette/leather or pained), so the cost wouldn't be worth it - as an estimate I's guess that you would be looking at between £200 and £300.

Which unfortunately, doesn't fit in the Classic Mini dashboard market price range (£50 to £150).


Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

[roberts]

If they don't already, clocks that face up to the driver as per the Rover dashboards.

This is something that we have been looking into for some time and something that we have addressed on all offset binnacle dashboards.

All offset binnacle dashboards will have a 6mm front face (cut our from an 18mm block of MDF) with a radius cut on the edge of the hole - so the clock binnacle sits inside the raised binnacle face, not up against it (on the back of it). Or in other words, so the thickness of the MDF (18mm) doesn't obscure the view from your eyes to the clocks - which is the problem with a majority of after market dashboards.

In addition to this our range of plain faced dashboard with an offset raised binnacle will have an angled raised binnacle.

Our raised binnacle dashboards (like the Custom Consoles design) won't have the angled feature, simply because putting an angle on the raised block for the offset binnacle spoils the design (as it sits differently to the other two raised blocks of the central cluster and glove box).


Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

[scaffers]

one with an under slung glovebox on passenger side, a built in area to install a tablet, no radio hole, no veneer, no looking like an afterthought.



scaff

[roberts]

I'd like to see a dash that incorporates a few things.

A Cup Holder
A Glove box
A Radio

- Cup holders is something that we have been looking into. We can only offer cup holders if they are made from fibreglass/plastic so they may be added to the range as an option extra that you can attach to the back of the glove box door.

So in other words, you can open the glove box and place a cup in a holder that is attached to the door. However, the feature won't be cheap due to the fibreglass manufacturing and painting costs - from an additional £50. We will also be offering a similar feature as an insert to the arm rest pocket.

- All dashboards will come with the option of a glove box and also (except out budget range) - centre binnacle dashboards will have a glove box either side of the binnacle. Dashboards for Mini's with the top padded dash rail fitted will also come with actual carpeted glove boxes (not just a hole).

- All offset dashboards have the option of a CD player/radio housing. However, there is not enough room to fit a CD player/radio either side of a centre binnacle - so centre binnacle dashboards don't offer that option.


Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

[roberts]

If they don't already, clocks that face up to the driver as per the Rover dashboards.

As above, the thing that lets most aftermarket dashboards down is that the instrument cluster isn't tilted upward so that it is in easy view of the driver.

Yup, already covered it above

Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

[roberts]

Not sure if they do this already but, I'd like a centre clock dashboard using the earlier speedo that allows the later cars to keep the bulkhead plate.

Yeah I think all after market dashboards allow you to do that already. You can fit a standard centre binnacle to a later Mini without removing the bulkhead plate, so I imagine all after market dashboards would fit the same way.

Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

[roberts]

Nobody does a walnut elf type dash for central speedo without side vents....there must be a market for them?

As I've covered above (and attached a few pics) we will certainly be offering an Elf type design - and will certainly be offering walnut and carbon fibre coverings in the future.


Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

[iMurray]

well. done andy, this kind of customer care is why i'll be using OA, if ever i need such products:)


you can give me that tenner later:p

[roberts]

i would like to see a dash that i can fit a weber box behind. so no glove box. angled gauges. oh and definitely a cup holder

I would have thought a Webber box would fit behind any after market dashboard? Or do they intrude into the cabin that much?


Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

[roberts]

+1 for the cup holders, possibly a gloss finished range in a variety of colours?

Yup pained gloss finishes will be available on our range of plain faced dashboards.


Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

[roberts]

one with an under slung glovebox on passenger side, a built in area to install a tablet, no radio hole, no veneer, no looking like an afterthought.

scaff

Afternoon Scaff,

A very interesting idea, but there isn't enough room behind/under/between/around the dash to install such a thing to a dashboard installed above the dash rail. It would have to be a custom bracket system attached to the bottom dash rail/metal supports.


Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

[Artful Dodger]

i would like to see a dash that i can fit a weber box behind. so no glove box. angled gauges. oh and definitely a cup holder

I would have thought a Webber box would fit behind any after market dashboard? Or do they intrude into the cabin that much?


Thanks
Andy @ Optimise Automotive

Website: www.optimise-automotive.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 579 080

Nope sits fine, any dash would fit. You just wouldn't be able to have anything mounted were the box is, as there isn't enough room for guages.

Also, what's the cost of the works dash pods, not fitted or painted in ally? Ones that will it with a weber box? Cheers:P

As Ian said 10/10 for customer care;)