Wanting to replace a dashboard and don't know which one to buy

[marcanders]

I am wanting to replace the dashboard in my 1985 Spider. I have shopped for them and find HUGE differences in price, from $329 at Vick Autosport to $1295 at Centerline.
Now obviously there is a HUGE price difference in what I have found. I would love to know if anyone has gone down this journey (didn't find any previous posts) and have you seen them and is there a major difference? If I can save myself a grand, I'll obviously do that; any input?

[Elio Comello]

Have you considered a dash cap?

This is a rigid vacuum formed plastic cover that is glued on to cover the old dash board.

IAP #53252. less than $70.

Alternatives are to remove the dash and have it covered in leather. There are also threads for doing it yourself for a low cost.

Best regards, Elio

[marcanders]

don't want to do the dash cap, as it is part on the front that is damaged as well. How much do you think it would cost to have it covered in leather? I tried to find the threads with no luck.

[Zunige]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcanders ... I tried to find the threads with no luck.

[Giovanni2000]

There's usually a leather dash for sale on Ebay, I think it runs $1,195 + shipping. I'm waiting for my dash to get back from Just Dashes in SoCal. They take your old dash and strip it to the frame and then recover it in new foam and vinyl. Cost for the dash, glovebox door + return shipping was $795.

[Zunige]

The only supplier that offers the exact original pattern is Centerline...

Best regards,

[block]

I got mine for about $150 from someone parting a car out. It came crack free and real nice. Had to dye it as it was tan and my interior is not. Now that the weather is breaking I get to rip the interior apart and match the center section to the dyed dash. Once that is done I will try the akitaman dash repair on the original one to see how it works out.

[eight-o-one]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcanders I am wanting to replace the dashboard in my 1985 Spider. I have shopped for them and find HUGE differences in price, from $329 at Vick Autosport to $1295 at Centerline. Now obviously there is a HUGE price difference in what I have found. I would love to know if anyone has gone down this journey (didn't find any previous posts) and have you seen them and is there a major difference? If I can save myself a grand, I'll obviously do that; any input?

[kritter]

Obvious noob with a stoopid questions but couldn't the dash cracks be "patched" at one of these vinyl repair shops? I just bought a 74 spider with a few small cracks and want to repair without spending big $. Thanks.

[Zunige]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kritter Obvious noob with a stoopid questions but couldn't the dash cracks be "patched" at one of these vinyl repair shops? I just bought a 74 spider with a few small cracks and want to repair without spending big $. Thanks.

[ghnl]

And if you are really cheap there's the Dash Repair for $30! They used plastic bumper repair products and spray-on truck bed liner paint.

[Dolce86]

I am happily crack free (dashboard that is...) If I did have one though, 1st thing I'd do is take it to an upholsterer and get a price for a nice soft padded leather or some other durable material to have it covered in. This is my baby afterall.

[marcanders]

I thank all of you for your input and I will ignore the insulting one that needs a spell check. My question was if anyone knew the differences between the several different dashes that one can purchase. I do appreciate methods others used and will do my homework on those.

[kritter]

Marcanders: Sorry, but I was referring to myself as the "obvious noob" and not you. I was wondering about the vinyl doc as a solution as I just bought a 74 and was wondering what to do myself. Sorry for the confusion!

[marcanders]

No problem! I also just responded to your other post about a new top.