Anglefire Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 I think I’ve probably asked this before but anyway. I asked my dad today about making me a new wooden dash for my Triumph Spitfire 1500 it currently has what looks like a plywood dash varnished to look like real wood. It doesn’t look bad but isn’t right. He used to be a teacher and cabinet maker. He still restores antiques. Trouble is he is getting on a bit and his wrists are going due to arthritis and probably abuse over the years hitting things! And he is 82 this year So if I’m going to do it I need to get him to do it sooner rather than later. He has a massive selection of veneers - everything from burr walnut, burr elm to oak and Australian black bean - and some even he doesn’t know what they are. He has enough of the burrs to mirror match them. i think they were originally walnut? So should I keep it original or go for something a bit different? - though I’ll not be going mad! It’s not a show car - certainly not original and will never be that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 A burr walnut would look great Mark especially like you say with the burrs mirror matched I would love to do that to my 2500s, but the cost put me off. Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 How about something like this lovely Vitesse on fleabay at the moment Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted March 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 10 minutes ago, poppyman said: A burr walnut would look great Mark especially like you say with the burrs mirror matched I would love to do that to my 2500s, but the cost put me off. Tony. I have an advantage there - it won’t cost me anything other than perhaps the base - unless the original dash is re-used as the base Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted March 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 12 minutes ago, johny said: How about something like this lovely Vitesse on fleabay at the moment Now that’s classy 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 Have a look at the rest of the car: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIUMPH-VITESSE-MK-2-CONVERTIBLE-2-5-LITRE-1969-FOR-RESTORATION-COLLECT-LONDON/192860778345?hash=item2ce765ef69:g:~qUAAOSwX2JcjkCk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted March 17, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 I feel so much better for seeing that Beauty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rlubikey Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 Angelfire, you should have whatever you like. But for me, burr Walnut is too fussy. Too ... ummm? ... Rolls & Jag! The original was American Walnut and that's what I've stuck with. Did your Dad do a 7-year apprenticeship in cabinet making? By the way, a modern finish will stand up to the rigours of convertible motoring much better than a traditional one. Rustin's "Plastic Coating" is what my Nearest & Dearest used on mine. Cheers, Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 28 minutes ago, Anglefire said: I feel so much better for seeing that Beauty. Me too plus it is a 2.5 litre. Unfortunately the add says "may not post to France", guess I'll just have to live without it 😥 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 22 minutes ago, rlubikey said: Walnut is too fussy. Too ... ummm? ... Rolls & Jag! Watch it Richard! I've got a Jag. When I picked up the Jag I said to the man "You sure this is wood? It looks plastic!" He spluttered a bit, well a lot. The trouble is it's so shiny perfect it looks fake. Which is a problem you can make with dashboards, it should look like wood. Doug 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 It looks more like a "treeumph"...................... Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted March 18, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2019 10 hours ago, rlubikey said: Did your Dad do a 7-year apprenticeship in cabinet making? He went to Loughborough university - so was three years I assume. I know he got some pieces he made back home on the bus - but he had to use a van to get the extendable 6 seater table and chairs back - still in use today. He did a teaching degree (or whatever it was called back then!) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anglefire Posted March 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2019 Whilst at my dads tonight, we had a look at the veneer options. I think I’ve decided what I’m going to use. Austrialian Black bean. In the raw As a finished coffee table- which I think is 50+ years old A piece of the veneer with a couple of varnish options - the one on the left is my preference The burr walnut is lovely. But not for a spitfire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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