I has a full Wing series gauge set up. I had the bigger MPH and the RPM and 7 smaller gauges. Fuel leval. AMP. Vacuum. Oil pressuare. Oil temperature. Dual water temp. ( all mech ) I has S/W RPM adaptor on crank and NOS floater leval in tank. In bg time I’m keen on dual 5” and the bigger industrial S/W gauges. Its more cl***ic look but very nice - but Wings fit my style well. As a very earlly 50’s racy look, chopped 5W coupe, no fender, big & little Firestones, Halibrand smooth wheels rear, blower etc. I has both the S/W master panel and the ensight. Both is nice panels but maybe the ensight fits better the 32 dash but its very nice with the master panel. The ensight had 1 bigger gauge ( ex MPH ) and 4 smaller. To ne its more ’street tod’.. One can add up 2 extra water temp and a RPM on dash or at steering collum. The master panel has 2 bigger gauge and 6 smaller gauge. Its Very nice but feel ’little’ eligante or boat aplication. So as I bought a Bell Auto 15.5” 3 spoke steering wheel I’m back to has a std dash and the gauges on a row ( no panel ) I dont need decide this now, but I bring the ideas up. -So whats the cool set up here ? Ideas welcome.
Hi, Hank! The 'Ensign' was called the "Straight Five", (held 5 gauges) and was out of production for quite a few years. I felt lucky when an old gent had one at the Turlock swap meet, He said "15.00." I gave him a 20, he went for his pocket to give me 5 back, I said "Please keep it, for watching this piece for me!" The guys standing around all laughed, said "Nice goin'..." My brother whispered, "You should have offered him 10!" I just rolled my eyes. Your first pic looks just like this older guy's in his '32 roadster. First '32 I ever rode in, I was 13. His gauges were all 'crowded', and staggered. Looked like gauges for everything, not in a straight line. I was impressed. Second pic is of the beautiful Stewart-Warner Master. That is what I decided to use in my '27 roadster. Car is NOT channeled, so there is room for the extra depth. I'm pounding (and welding) a flat steel dash, with 'curves'. Much like the picture #2. Absolutely beautiful! (I have Auto-Meter gauges this time, wife got them for me for my birthday. Your coupe deserves such a panel, but you might '****ter' them, lots of gauges. Maybe like pic #1?
Dash design and layout and steering wheel are the two most personal things in a hot rod in my book. Every time you get in the car it is the one thing that you should really love about the car without trying to please others beyond the looking in and thinking "wow, that's nice" and thinking that it is nice enough to take the time to take photos of. You are working harder than most anyone I have seen in a long time to it right in all ways, All pieces working together in the build plan with nothing out of place era wise for what you want to present the build as. That is a serious challenge in it's self as most of us tend to stick on our favorite "wrong for the build' part or a part that we settled for that sticks out like a sore thumb when all is said and done. On the dash as long as everything works together in one package and nothing looks out place life is good. My preference runs to the the engine turned one but with less clutter around it. I like the simple dashes in the other photos but the one with all the extra gauges is way too much of a good thing.
Yes, the road is fun and interious is important. In my Heni Cuda NHRA stocker I did it my way and I love sit in that car. I will do the same in this coupe but need to go the road. My personal favorite is the picture with dual 5”, as it’s racy, modern & cl***ic. I sold my 5” Police Special and got the Wings series and came over the master panel. I truly like that one and condition on panel is mint. Aburn ( and std S/W ) is cool but maybe to cl***ic for my car. The straight five is to ’street rod’ for me, but got the RPM... A std 32 dash with Wing gauge all over feel racy ( but might feel ’ to much’ ) but my guess thats the way it might been done (?) The master panel can’t go wrong whit small patina Wings in it, but... PS. 15 bucks was great, but can easy be 150 or x2 !
My dad made this one in the 50’s. Still using it today. The original gauges were toast as the car languished in a barn until the mid 80’s then outside for a few years
I think the more gauges you have, the better. In my coupe I have 9. Do I really need a vacuum, oil temp, or fuel pressure? No. But in my book it looks cool.
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