I have one of those pesky autos and the dash veneer needs replacing. I have looked in the usual places and found plenty of veneer kits but of course they are for the manual version which to my hopeless eye look quite different. (I know the dash itself is the same )
So as a result I am thinking it will be easier to source some veneer and have it cut to order. I am generally quite heretical in that i am not obsessed with complete original looks, fixtures and fittings but I would like to match the original wood type, if indeed there was just one.
anyone have thoughts, suggestions or even better facts !!!
cheers
chris
Chris
While I am sure you will get plenty of advice/suggestions about dashboard veneer there are a number of alternatives worth considering.
I used a plastic material which had a dark walnut wood grain pattern. This material is nearly identical in thickness to the original veneer and is super easy to work; it can be filed, drilled and cut with a sharp blade and snaps off clean and is not suceptible to water damage like wood veneers. Added bonus is that it much cheaper than the veneers and I was able to do it all myself.
Barry
Chris you ask an interesting question and I suspect it is something the normal suppliers havn't given much thought to given the low number of auto 105s made, let alone may have survived.
From what I understand the original wood used for the panels was some sort of mahogany. The same situation actually also is a problem for owners of 105 sedans as it is for auto GTVs.
In my case, I wanted a wood veneer and rather than Barry's approach basically obtained various samples of wood veneers from a craft wood supplier, and chose what I liked. In my instance fiddleback blackwood, which I had cut, polished and sealed to the sizes I needed for the dash.
I have also seen some one use birds eye Huon Pine veneers on the dash of a Giulia Super. So I guess my advice is if you want wood rather than another finish, to hunt around the specialist shops, and/or make some enquiries with auto interior trimmer shops to see what is available, and then do perhaps as I did. Dave
Just a quick reply to you both I am on my travels so a fuller response later .
Thank you for the advice it is much appreciated. Allin all I do prefer the wood veneer approach
thanks for taking the time to reply
cheers
chris
Hi Chris,
These guys in Queensland have a good range of timber veneers, a mail order service, and their prices look pretty good.
http://www.rivergumtimbers.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=26
Regards,
Nick
Thanks guys....sorry for the delay in writing a proper thank you for your input. Sadly literally jsut afte ri made that post some clown hit me from behind and the car has been off the road. which has put plans for replacing the dash somewhat on hold as it may be written off. fingers crossed it wont and i can follow up some of the suggestions.
thanks again and fingers crossed
chris
Every sympathy! The same thing happened to my 69 1750 (twin spark) 18 months ago... it was written off but with Shannons you get salvage rights, so I got the cash and the wreck... and the car is nearly ready to go back on the road again.
I hope you get it fixed.
Hey Cj,
thanks for the sympathy. from your experience is there any kind of formula that Shannons would use to determine the salvage cost if it was written off. It may work out financially better for me if they do write it off and i get my full ins value as long as i could buy it back cheaply.
cheers
chris
Not sure. Mine was a third-party claim (I had been stationary for some time, so not at fault, had a bus-stop full of witnesses, and didn't lose my rating 1 protection). The third-party didn't dispute it and their insurance paid my agreed value in full - plus I got the wreck. No salvage deductions, that's what salvage rights means. And though I'd certainly rather it hadn't happened, that did turn out to be enough to make it worth repairing. If you were with Shannons also, so much the better for you!
Clifford.
Hey Clifford
thanks for the info...mercifully i am with Shannons so i do have salvage rights but looking at the PDS it says they will deduct salvage cost from the payout. did you have something different in your policy? All mine states is that I have salvage rights!
sorry for the questions but i am desperate to keep the car. appreciate any feedback
cheers
chris
Sorry Chris, I'm the wrong person to ask - you should speak to Shannon's. Maybe it depends whether it's a 3rd party claim or not, or a no-fault claim (as in my case).
no problem clifford....all sorted by Shannons, they have approved the repairs which are now underway!!! thanks for the info anyway
cheers
chris
Hi Chris,
I went through the trouble of finiding Veneer to replace the tired set in my 2000 105 a few months back. I colour matched it (using stain) with the original non faded side of the veneer and as far as I can tell its appears to be spot on.
I had quite a bit left over and could be tempted to part with it if you are interested.
Send me a pm.
Cheers
Hi Krishann
nice one. thank you for the offer. i shall PM you shortly
cheers
chris