Customs placement and order of gauges in dash

What I have found in recent years is that when I look away from where I'm driving, my vehicle has a tendency to wander rather than continue straight like it used to do. Also, my eyes do not seem to refocus as quickly as they used to.
I want my most used guages to be as close to straight ahead so a simple flick oy my eyes tells me what I want to know. I want my speedo and tach easily viewed. Additionally I will add a shift light, possiby hidden but atop the dash.
I don't care for an inordinate number of guages added to the primary set of guages and strung across the dash or clustered close to the others. Too much to view and have to locate the correct guage while driving.........
My solution will be to put the basic guages in place for easy viewing. Then the additional guages I want/need will be placed in either a lower panel or an area above the windshield. Some cars have room above the windshield and some don't. Current plan is to adapt a 35 Ford dash into my 32. I found a cast bracket which is sold just for this dash......but it would be very easy to cast one similar to it for other dashes if someone doesn't like the old sheetmetal guage holders. The idea is that when I want to avail myself of the info on these secondary guages, I can find the correct one more quickly because of its location and separation from the primary panel.

Another one where someone added a lower panel to a stock 32 Ford

And one that a little beading made it look a lot nicer.
Area above windshield on 32 Ford Body


So depending on the shape of your cars dash, maybe some options for you to think about.

 

The gauge placement doesn't matter if you can't see them due to your steering wheel obstructing the view. With my '59 Impala wheel, it is ok but being so large, it doesn't leave enough room for me to be comfortable. Would love to have one of those repro wheels with a smaller diameter.

 

I like the speedo front and center and flanked with what I feel are the two more important gauges, temp and oil pressure. This is the instrument cluster for the T I am building.

 

In my opinion the best factory panel, a la 1956 Golden Hawk.

 

Thanks ekimneirbo! Going in my Model A coupster. Tach is mounted to the column. It and speedo are visible through the wheel. Hand p***es between speedo and gauges when driving. Hole between speedo and gauges is for choke. Will add one higher for headlights. Gauges L-R, oil pressure, temp, ammeter, fuel. X'd out holes are turn signal w/high beam in the middle. (center of dash) Don't want to add anything past the existing holes. The similar weight of the areas of the ends helps balance out the asymmetrical design.

 

Yes, I really like how it looks and would have given credit to you, but didn't remember where I had gotten the picture from. I have some computer folders where I pluck pictures of things that I like and may use on my own car. I have one folder on dashboards. Did I mention that I really like how it looks.......... I will be trying to do that on my dash.

 

Figure out how to get rid of those nobs and you're gonna have the best looking washing machine on the block