Danger: Newbie w/ pics (Custom gauges)

[Max Schreck]

Hey, just wanted to run this by y'all:
there was an earlier thread asking about options for new gauges, both for ones that had a closer-to stock look, as well as doing some multiple gauge gauge combos. I just had these gauges made up by the Classic Instruments people. I realize the color choice may not be, uh, universally desirable. Just wanted to present it as maybe an alternative to the autometer look and show the combo gauge (where the clock was) they built.
Here's hoping one of the stupid links work:


[img=http://img147.exs.cx/img147/8344/pic1cropped34ln.th.jpg]

 

[DarkBuddha]

Nice looking cluster... just one question: How much?

 

[bnickel]

that is very damn cool.

 

[Max Schreck]

Thanks! It was, uh, too much. Just gonna close my eyes and type: 1600 bucks all told.That includes Classic Inst. doing all the modifying of the cluster & setting up the wiring harness. I kinda bought into the idea the panel would require more extensive modification, but once I got it back it was clearly not that big of a deal. So once again time saved = money spent.

 

[Ronstang]

$1600 on a gauge cluster? That is a little absurd in my opinion. I can buy a whole car for that, in fact I passed up an original 65 6 cylinder car that was driveable with no rust last year for $1500 due to space constraints.

 

[HalcyonDays]

$1600?!??! Thats a third what I paid for my car.

I know some mods are expensive, but I could do that for a 12 pack and 2 sporks.

 

[Max Schreck]

>>$1600 on a gauge cluster? That is a little absurd in my opinion.

Can't say I disagree much with that assessment. But this was the final piece of the puzzle in a seven year process for me, so I kind of went nuts over it.

As far as absurd goes, that the only car I own is a 1967 fastback (and that I can walk or take a cab to get everywhere I need to go in the first place), well that's silly even to me.

For what it's worth I did find the vehicle in a barn in southern illinois, sitting there for ten years (but not for 1500 bucks, darn it)

 

[jerry S]

that's great. Just freaking great

We all gather here to bitch and moan about how much Julio Mayan wants for his gauge clusters, the most expensive of which is $1200. We say we'd buy but they are too expensive, hoping the word will get back to him and he might drop the price. And then this schmuck shows up and shows that there IS a market for top dollar clusters. Now there is no hope that Julio will drop his prices. Hell, he may even increase them how.

 

[Hefe]

wow

Schmuck? I dont know why someone would call him that. If he likes it, then its worth that too him. I for one appreciate people showing pix of things they have done etc..


Although expensive, its very cool looking!

 

[jerry S]

Hefe: let me guess. You are either an engineer or an accountant

Schmuck? I dont know why someone would call him that. If he likes it, then its worth that too him. I for one appreciate people showing pix of things they have done etc..!

from www.dictionary.com

2 entries found for tongue-in-cheek.
tongue-in-cheek (tngn-chk)
adj.

Meant or expressed ironically or facetiously.

 

[65 fastback]

Well, if that is just the gauge cluster, I've got to see the entire interior.

Please post some more pictures.

Tim

 

[bnickel]

don't worry about these guys giving you a hard time, they're just jealous that they don't have that kind of money to spend and plaese post more pics of the car as well. i say while 1600 bones is a lot of scratch, it's your money so be proud that you can afford it.

 

[Edbert]

The color is not for me but it looks very clean and well executed. the one I did myself is a hack compared to that. Do you have any pics of the backside of the cluster?

The JME unit costs about $800 the way I wanted it, and that seemed too high to me so I did it myself, only to spend almost $600 on the Autometer parts alone...LOL. Put me down with the groups that says so what to the cost. If you like it great, if you can afford it who cares?

 

[Max Schreck]

Hey all, thanks for your comments, even the incredulous ones (Believe me,
I've called myself some pretty good names on occasion over choices I've made with this project).

Edbert, I have some pics of the reverse side; just gotta find where they went. It's pretty nice looking, although I did have to send it back to them to get the alignment of the gauges exactly the way I wanted it.
By the way, the normal color they offer the gauges in are a classic black background with green lettering which is as close to a stock stang look as any i've ever seen:

http://www.classicinstruments.net/index.phtml?catid=138

I found myself looking at either refinishing the old sloppy gauges, or trying the the Autometers, which I just didn't seem to fit style-wise based on what i wanted to do with the interior. The price would have been a lot more reasonable (base #'s not that different from autometers anyway) had I not done the 2-in-1 gauge, the custom color etc.

 

[Route666]

Man that looks nice!