Lagondaforum

Subject: Black or Chrome Instrument Bezels?

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I know the answer is that you can have what you want but this is just a bit of fun. What are people's opinions on instrument bezels, black or chrome? I've seen many images on the internet showing cars with either finish so what the consensus on here? Mine are currently a mix so need sorting, I'm just not good at making decisions!

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Subject: Re: Black or Chrome Instrument Bezels?

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Black

Chrome is too flash for a pre-war car. OK on an MGB...

Colin

Subject: Re: Black or Chrome Instrument Bezels?

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Fair enough Colin, I see your point!

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Subject: Re: Black or Chrome Instrument Bezels?

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About 16 years ago I had to find replacement gauges for my 2 Litre. It had returned from 35 years in USA with some interesting BMC gauges and a temp gauge from an autoclave manufacturer! In my research over a period of a couple of years, I photographed numerous 1931-2 2 and 3 Litre dash panels. Some very original panels, some fully restored. I only spotted one that had gone down the chrome bezel route and have to say it looked a bit 'show car' but was part of an impressive restoration. I went for satin black as being period and actually saved me money in the instrument restoration department

Subject: Re: Black or Chrome Instrument Bezels?

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Well here's mine and these are as far as can be checked the unmolested originals, so I guess they were always chrome, I have left them as they were when I got the car (except for some mechanical repairs on two)

Subject: Re: Black or Chrome Instrument Bezels?

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Thanks Adrian, great photgraph.
I think this is evidence that on the later cars it was a choice of the customer between satin black or chrome.
Not sure this would have been the case on the earlier cars( 2 and 3 Litre) but when chrome became more fashionable from around 1930 perhaps it was a choice?
Regards
Mark

Subject: Re: Black or Chrome Instrument Bezels?

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Thanks again, mine is a 1933 car so I guess chrome would have been becoming popular however as has been said,especially for a tourer I am erring towards black.

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Subject: Re: Black or Chrome Instrument Bezels?

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Mine are satin black too Richard, the pre restoration photos i have show black too

All the best
Rob

Subject: Re: Black or Chrome Instrument Bezels?

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Well most of the pictures I've seen for tourers are black and it looks right, so If mine had been missing/knackered I might have gone that route as well

Subject: Temperature gauge in Degs F or C?

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Following on from my previous post, can anyone say if 1930s Lagondas were ever fitted with water temperature gauges calibrated in Fahrenheit? Most of the pics I have seen on the internet show them as having Centigrade gauges but I wondered if these are newer? In the winter I am aiming to re-do the dash board in my car and am slowly collecting the correct instruments to go in. Thanks Rich…

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