Center console, originality

[No Quarter]

I know that "originality" is a topic that may spark debates, that's ok

I'm not 100% going for originality, but almost all my center console has been butchered by the once American owners, so I have to do something to it anyway. I have the alu for gauge panel and shifter surround, but the vertical part on the radio stack and all the alu on the center console is gone. Look at the plastic wood that has been riveted in instead! Wonder if they just threw the alu in the bin? Also, my interior is red, but everything on center console is black.

So what should it be? Red material? All alu? From reading now maybe 10 E-Type books, some on originality, I see that it changed during 3.8 production, but also that it changed gradually(?). So what would be right for my March 63, 888409?

The picture is from when it was for sale in the US 15+ years ago

[Simonpfhc]

Hi Mikael,

Your tunnel cover should have a matching aluminium top cover and red vinyl sides. Similarly, the missing radio console should also have a matching front cover and red vinyl sides (where the speaker grills are, but are a total waste of time - but that’s a whole other conversation!). The gear lever cover is correct with aluminium and trimmed with red leather up to the gear lever. All the aluminium panels are ‘framed’ with red vinyl piping.

That mirror on your dash is incorrect though!

[Simonpfhc]

Mine’s a ‘62 but should be identical to yours:

[No Quarter]

I do have the radio console. With 2 speaker grilles and no speakers. Is that right, you show speakers in kickpanels?

BTW Simon, beautiful car

[rswaffie]

Hi
A March 63 car should also have the cross-hatched alloy trim, rather than the earlier polka dot version. Sadly, the cross hatch trim is no longer produced for the E-Type, just the polka dot. There have been posts on here regarding the use of a similar alloy trim that some modern Aston Martin cars use for sill trim, but that is a whole heap of work!

E-bay etc sometimes throws up som bits of cross-hatch trim but it’s quite rare now.

This is an example of the cross hatch trim found under the vinyl in my November 63 car. I couldn’t get all the remaining pieces so had to replace with polka-dot.

[Simonpfhc]

you show speakers in kickpanels?

Yes, I moved them to somewhere where they had a chance of working! Factory placement was indeed either side of the radio console as per your console.

[Heuer]

[No Quarter]

Brilliant David.

BTW, look at my seats, has there ever been this two colour option?

[Heuer]

No. A previous owner has swapped in a red set of squabs as they simply lift out of the seat frames.

[No Quarter]

Wonder why polka dot is available and cross-hatch not. Anywhere? Was cross-hatch a very short period? I actually have two of the cross-hatch gauge panel, so I'm rich!

I won't replace with polka dot, to be frank I'd rather have leather than alu, and if I can't get it right for the year, I'll just put leather on (and a big cupholder and phoneholder ). But will look for cross-hatch in the coming months...

[ysmalkie]

If you need the cross pattern, I think James Lawrance does them.
Contact: https://www.facebook.com/james.lawrance.35

Tadek

[PierreW]

I have a 3.8L OTS 07/01/1964, my center console, the radio panel and the instrument panel are black is it correct?

[Heuer]

[PierreW]

Thanks Heuer !
as mine is # 880417 I am reassured :-)

[Allrand]

For a '64 the instrument panel & the speaker grill panels should be black. The radio panel, console centre top & sides should be leather, same colour as other interior trim.

[PierreW]

For a '64 the instrument panel & the speaker grill panels should be black. The radio panel, console centre top & sides should be leather, same colour as other interior trim.

that's my case , I'm happy :-)

[Series1 Stu]

Thanks Heuer !
as mine is # 880417 I am reassured :-)

That's strange, Pierre. Have you misquoted your chassis number? A LHD OTS should have a chassis number starting 87****, with the earliest being 875001. LHD FHCs started at 885001, making an 880*** number incorrect.

Regards

[PierreW]

Hi David , here the only things I can see:

[Heuer]

It is correct: http://www.xkedata.com/cars/detail/?car=880417

Late 1963 OTS had numbers starting 880, the FHC's had 889. Bit of a heart stopping moment for you there Pierre

[PierreW]

So I'm amazed! My car before its re-export to Europe....