Wooden dashboards

[DavidLaver]

Out of interest:

- Is a Fulvia dash solid timber or veneer over ply?

- What type of wood is it?

- What was the original finish?

Were Flavia dashboards the same?  Other than an 832, what other Lancias had wooden dashboards?

David

[eyore]

All Fulvias were mahogany veneer with satin varnish as far as I am aware,the early ones were veneer over a  plastic  moulding as per my S1. Never took the dash off my S11 so cant be sure.

[lancialulu]

Anyone know who/where custom wood dashes can be made ie such as burr walnut?

Tim

PS my series 2 is I belive veneer over ply.

[DavidLaver]

If I was looking for someone "down the road" to do such a job it would be the "handmade kitchen" advert.

To my cost I've found that burr really does need pressing (and for the mother-in-law  ) and that the iron on glue doesn't really do it for me.  With cheaper timbers getting a "very thin board" which will glue very easily to the substrate is the way to go.  Stuff sold as veneer is more like wrinkly paper and getting it flat and to stay flat and bonded is beyond what can really be done with a couple of clamps.  A vacuum press is on order...and then (with practice) I should be able to get any veneer to stick to any flat or curved (mother-in-law again  ) panel.

The other way to go is to buy pre-veneered panels.  With these you need to be careful not to splinter the edges and also the face veneer will be thin so careful not to sand all the way through as you'd have to if you scratched it with the router base. 

http://www.slhardwoods.co.uk/default.asp

For inspiration and supplies look under "veneer" and also "loose boards" where you'll get pictures.  They'd machine a board to size and thickness (or THINness...) for you.

David

[DavidLaver]

A directory of "Classic Car Woodwork" specialists:-


http://www.classic-car-directory.com/parts/partsdetail.asp?id=Woodwork

[ncundy]

I would ask a vintage car restorer in your area. In Derby area you would go through Wilkinson & Son Coachbuilders, but there will be one or two near you - or find a cabinet maker near you. There is a chap who sells them frequently on EBay.it.
But are you sure about burr walnut on a Fulvia . Fulvia Vanden Plas ??  

[DavidLaver]

http://www.london-carriage-craft.com/

[ColinMarr]

I am slow to pick up on this one too, but let me add to it. My early S1 panel is wood veneer on a fairly brittle looking plastic moulding. It’s quite light in colour and I have always thought it to be straight-grain walnut with as eyore says, a satin finish. Later S2 cars have an even lighter veneer on plywood and you can see the laminations around the instrument holes.

Peter Pompilii had his S2 Sport done with rose-wood and it is possible that Mark Webb might know where he went to for this.   

And, for what it's worth - the Flavia 1800 Pininifarina Coupe had a wooden instrument panel, whereas the other 1800 Flavias didn't.