Like moths to a flame, car people are naturally drawn to an elegantly sketched and pressed body line, or the smells and sounds of an internal combustion engine, but it’s the dashboard that bewitches them on a daily basis. Just about any old car dashboard looks better than a new one, but there are some that stand out above the rest. In no particular order, my favorites follow.
The lead picture shows a Bullet ‘Bird’s interior, and it’s probably my favorite of the ’60s. The brushed aluminum (or a suitable substitute) trim flows elegantly into the still-present console. T-Bird interiors may have peaked with the ’64 model, but this dashboard is my favorite.
It would, however, take an obstinate debater to disagree with the assertion that the Cord 810/812’s glorious engine-turned dash did not make for a suitable cockpit. It’s simple and elegant, and like a fighter plane, there are as many gauges as an operator needs.
I’ll wrap up my “big-three” with a car with the “Forward Look,” the 1957 Imperial. This dashboard is not an obvious standout, but I find the massive gauges enchanting. They’re like large-print books, wildly oversized in person, which is just right for a ’57 Imperial.
What dashboard lights you up?
Call me a contrarian but I really like the purposeful nature of an early Porsche 911. The central tachometer the left hand ignition switch for faster Le Mans starts send a message of this is a serious tool. For that matter a Series II Land Rover or original Mini’s spartan central gauges also convey an aura of stuff to get the job done rather than decorative tinsel.
Tinsel is fun to look at, especially late 50s-early 60s Chrysler products but I really appreciate Bauhaus style functionality.
I hate centrally mounted instrument clusters. I learned this when I rented a Saturn Ion once.
The only center mounted cluster that I kind of liked was the one from the GM EV1, the whole interior had this 90’s interpretation of the year 2010 that was cool.
Woah, I don’t think I had ever seen the interior of those like that.
That is really good looking specially for the experiment it was.
If electric cars looked that cool inside, I might hate them less lol.
I like the abundance of buttons mainly. And the shifter looks like a fighter jet’s yoke.
The EV1’s were mainly keyless, the keypad on the bottom right hand side of the console was for entering a code and then pressing “run” and the car would “start”.
Agreed! I think the 911 with the 5 gauge pods and center tach is classic. Timeless and the center tach is usually copied by sporty cars (350z, 370z, BRZ, FRS, etc.)
Another favorite of mine, and I’m not sure how I forgot this to start out–the Facel Vega HK500. The leather…the wood…the gorgeous design of it all. And a dash full of gauges so you always know exactly what’s going on. I could spend all day in one of these, just gazing at the switchgear, the stitching, all of it.
*Fun fact–that’s actually not wood–the dash is metal with a woodgrain paint finish. Still looks amazing, and a lot more convincing than dinoc!
Yeah I believe the Spyker owes a bit of its look to the big Facel. Funny how incongruous the deep dish wheel looks I behind it.
seriously? so many posts and no one mentioned the Lancia Trevi? I am disappointed! 🙂
Egad!
I think the stylists for that one were on magic mushrooms. . .
Or, as some kind of design studio exercise, had had all of their pens and pencils replaced with pushpins.
I suspect that most of us on this side of the pond had never seen it. Or at least I never had. It certainly is out-of-the-ordinary.
Another favorite of mine, 1968 AMX:
Awesome comments. Although the Astrodome Chrysler dash has been mentioned before, I have seen it at night and it was out of this world. The ’68 Imperial dash with its cabinet doors and bronze inlays (not fake wood) is also a standout for me- especially the way it wraps into the door armrests on each side. So that you don’t think I’m mopar obsessed, I think the 1973 Grand Prix dash, with real African Crossfire Mahogany was a standout in the 1970’s.
But you guys are excellent curators. There is not an ugly dash in this post!
… ok, the Lancia Trevi might be a bit off, but I really dig the Innocenti Mini Cooper’s dash. Gauges wherever you look!
61 New Yorker
and the 73 GP
Hell yea!
That was exactly the dash on my 1975 Grand Prix SJ, except mine had the optional tachometer which replaced the big clock on the left gage, and the clock (a much smaller and rectangular version) was relocated to the blank space seen on this photo to the right of the steering wheel and underneath the radio and A/C controls.
It’s too bad my GP was so beat up when I bought it in 1987 (for $500 bucks). It would have been a keeper as it was a very loaded car for its time and segment – power everything, black cloth bucket seats with center console and shifter, tilt wheel, rally wheels, and blood red exterior with a black vinyl top. Even in its then-forlorn state, it was still a looker.
I must admit when I’m checking Autoblog for the latest releases, it’s always the interior photos that I want to see, especially the dashboard. A lot of modern dashboards aren’t terribly nice though, being too flat, too symmetrical looking, too bland, too lost below a too-high cowl and too-shallow windows. So many of the classic dashboards shown above are so characterful by comparison. The ’60s Thunderbirds are a personal favourite.
Although I love many of the dashboards shown, I haven’t experienced them personally, so my votes go to cars I’ve actually been in. I have a favourite dashboard for each decade.
* The 1960s: 1969-72 XW/XY Ford Falcon GT with its centre section of cascading matching dials for the heating and radio etc.
* The 70s: 1973-76 XB Falcon GT for its wraparound shape; honourable mention goes to the Volvo 200 series for its modern shape.
* 1980s: the 1984-88 XF Ford Fairmont Ghia for its overall look – imposing yet nicely detailed design. Honourable mention goes to the Ford Sierra for having the best-placed airvents ever.
* 1990s: the 1988-93 C33 Nissan Laurel for its clean shapes, lovely gauge font, tasteful wood applique and suede trim.
* 2000s: the facelift gen1 Mazda 6 for the great balance of matte and gloss finish and the fantasticly easy-to-use centre stack.
* 2010s: the Jaguar XJ by a country mile.
My favourite overall is definitely the current Jag XJ – the dashboard is simply magnificent in every detail (although the virtual instruments could look a tad more real):
Okay–for a current production car, that’s a real standout. Bravo Jaguar!
XW GT:
XB GT:
LOVE that XB GT dash!
So do I. It’s wraparound without being claustrophobic.
XF Ghia:
C33 (albeit with aftermarket steering wheel):
And facelift gen1 Mazda6 (yes it looks quite monotone and oppressive in the pic, but mine felt very stylish and inviting, I loved driving it):
Yeah, Scott, I really like that current Jag interior!
The E Type Jaguar, and the `61 to 66 T Birds. Honorable mention-`59 Imperial and `62 Chrysler 300.
Citroen CX GTi
It looks like something that would feature in the next version of Battlestar Galactica.
Yes, my airline-pilot father was impressed when he saw mine – though it was the later series which had regular instruments combined with the pod switches.
The ergonomics were great – you could reach all the major switches without letting go of the steering wheel.
Can we do “Worst Dashboards” some time?
I think the Lancia one needs to be on there!
Hey, that’s easy. The 2009 Toyota Yaris. Just terrible.
I raise you one 1998 Fiat Multipla.
I don’t know — I agree that the center vent stack is kind of gruesome and I’m not too fond of central instrument clusters (this is far less obnoxious than most, but would give me neck strain on a long drive), but it’s mostly pretty sensible and in keeping with the Multipla’s mission. Also, it’s a rare modern(ish) vehicle without an intrusive center console! (And three-abreast seating front and back.)
The Rover James was much easier to drive.
Mine blew up, sadly.
It’s functional though, tons of storage including two “extra” compartments. With the next generation they put the gauges in front of the driver but got rid of all the storage except for the “normal” glovebox.
Apparently Toyota still can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.
Gets my vote for the worst dashboard hands down!
Yaris gets my vote for worst dash too!
I like the dash on the Dodge Marida.
I do agree with you. I did own a well-kept, used 1980 Mirada and I liked pretty much everything about it. It was smooth, comfortable, and I had no problems with it. There’s times I’ve regretted trading it in on the smaller, more economical and fun-to-drive 1986 Shelby Charger (which was also a great car).
2006 Civic.
165 responses and no Citroens? How is this possible!
Look about five comments up, sir…
Man, this topic to a car lover is like asking a parent which kid is their favorite lol.
I have too many favorites. Most of the aforementioned are awesome.
I specially like late 50s to early 60s Mopars, with the electroluminescent instruments and the really space age design and square steering wheels.
60s Jaguars are nice too, specially the toggle switches.
Citroen has some interesting ones too, with the single spoke steering wheels and radio placement.
The Porsche 911 is another favorite, with the 5 gauge pods and the tach front and center. Very clear and purposeful.
And of course the Art Deco dashboards of the 30s and 40s are amazing. They usually have some really nice intricate details that show the care that went into their design.
Unfortunately, modern cars have lame dashboards. It’s all about who has the biggest and most screens and least buttons, so you waste 5 min on menus just trying to turn down the AC.
Tesla is the biggest culprit, with a screen bigger than most computers. Most other European brands are doing the same.
Gauges is another thing. Ford only has a tach on many of their new cars, which I don’t like. Cadillac has CUE and Mercedes has digital on the S-Class too. And while they emulate gauges, what’s wrong with just having physical gauges and then a screen in between or aside, like Porsche and others do?
I love gauges. To me, they are like jewelry on the car.
Spykers have some beautiful ones and Pagani does too.
My favorite modern instrument panel is the Porsche Panamera, with 80+ buttons. Feels like a fighter jet made for James Bond. “Don’t press Sport Mode +. It activates the thrusters.”
I hope buttons make a comeback. Ford claims they are trying to phase buttons back in after complaints and Audi has a whole department devoted to the tactile feedback of their buttons (I really like their instrument panels too), so there’s hope.
Lincoln Continental, 1970-77
I do have to admit that even though the favorite dashboards I shared all include a center console, I wish that not all cars had them. My 1979 Honda Accord, 1981 Buick Skylark and 1988 Saab 900 each had no center console and I think it gave them a larger feel as a result. Ever since my 1993 Toyota Corolla it’s been 100% full console cars.
The dash I look at every day, 2004 Jag XK8. The dash is 90% of why I bought this car.
+1
Jaguars have always had nice dashboards.
Gotta love the three center gauges.
Figuring out how to get the picture to post
I really, really like the flamboyance of the early 1960s Thunderbirds. In a different way, I admire the quiet elegance and restraint of the 1956 Continental Mark II:
Nice, a dashboard that stands out, literally. Like in some current Peugeot models. The 308:
And the 208:
It looks like the whole cluster can be locked down into the dash. When you want to see it you push down on it and it pops up like an ash tray!
One more try with a smaller picture.
Looks VERY nice, Dave.
Most of my Top 10 come from the 60s…
* Any 60s T-Bird
* 60-62 Chrysler — that dome!
* Jaguar E-Type — those toggle switches!
* Mercedes W112 — especially the later 280SE 3.5 Coupes and Convertibles
* 63 Buick Riviera — almost as good as the outside
* Porsche 911 — lasted from 63-98, the record holder!
* 67-68 Cougar XR7 — E-Type meets Mustang
* BMW 2500/2800/Bavaria — started the BMW look
* Mercedes W116 — started the modern Mercedes look
* Porsche 928 — started the wrap-around look; pairs especially well with the Pasha seat cloth
Boy there are some great ones here. Hard to pick one over the other. One common thread is that they all seem to be prior to 1975 or so.
In addition to great dashes, interiors pre 1975 came in many choices of available upholstery, trim levels and unique touches. Some that come to mind are pedal trim, rim blow steering wheels, thermometer type speedometers, chrome window frames, sail panel lights, lighters in the armrests, foot operated radios, autronic eye headlight dimmers, swivel seats, tissue dispensers and more. Don’t believe any of these items are available today.
For more modern ones I have always liked the Z8, probably because it was inspired by something from the 50s.
Both Pontiacs…..
#1 is the 1959 Pontiac….loved the three pods and the chrome
#2 is the 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix…..loved the three pods and the wraparound.
the 1959 pix didn’t show up in my previous entry…..
This ’59 Pontiac dash (a favorite) may have borrowed some from the 1953 Cadillac LeMans show car dash, below.
…I say that because the 1958 Pontiac dashboard (below) most certainly copied the ‘Cadillac LeMans show car.
Definite resemblance. Both very nice too.
I have always loved the interior and simple, functional, elegant instrument panel 😉 of the 1989 Cadillac Fleetwood (Coupe):
http://hostthenpost.org/uploads/c659f727cef4d997e7f62ee120f516a2.jpg
http://hostthenpost.org/uploads/c1e85de98e52f730ae46da5eb8d785db.jpg
I liked this dash, It was modern with enough old school Cadillac touches to make it interesting.
The wrap around section around the steering column reminds me a little of the 1971-1973 Cadillac dash and the 2-tier design was sort of a take off on the Cadillac dashes from 1974-1976 and from 1977 and up, that had all the warning lights on the top level, along with the fuel gauge and clock. I like the “Information Center” too.
Interesting about this vintage Cadillac is that they have no “gas gauge” in the cluster, all the fuel info is in the “Fuel Data Center” on the left side of the dash, which is also part of the cars OBD system, and it has hidden tricks, like it can be used as a secondary digital speedometer.
That was my Dad’s exact dash and interior color from his 1990 Coupe deVille. The only difference was that he had the huge hideous steering wheel with the airbag. Other than that it was a beautiful interior. People often commented on how nice that car rode and how comfortable it was. As his last car, that Caddy made Dad proud. He loved the acceleration and comfort plus he said it was pretty decent on gas, too. Memories!
Carmine, this made me remember something about rare options that I had totally forgotten about….Remember what we were discussing about rare options like the cornering lamps on the Regal? Well, Dad’s Coupe deVille was a spring edition, special ordered by someone and then cancelled. Dad spotted it in the showroom and knew it was the one. It had the extremely rare heated Insta-clear windshield. I can’t tell you how many of those cars I looked in and never saw another one with that option. I know he had to have that windshied replaced and they had to ship one in from the factory – replacement cost was well over $1000.00!! The guy at the Caddy dealership’s service department even said, wow I’ve never seen one with that option before!
1970 Datsun 240Z
GREAT SUBJECT.
I’ll follow the theme set by the inclusion of the Cord’s dash by highlighting some art deco dashboards.
Here’s the ’37 Imperial -with the picture was higher resolution because the detail of the gauges within a gauge pod is beautifully understated.
This art deco dash was designed by Helen Dryer (who worked doing Vogue covers in the 30s and who Studebaker hired around the time they brought in Raymond Lowey). Helen was famous enough that Studebaker ads actually mentioned her name as designer of the interior.
This is a ’37 Studebaker
By 1939, Cadillac’s take on art deco was more restrained.
This pic is hi-res and shows the symmetry of the single-width, single-band across the dashboard -divided in the center by the radio speaker.
The 1939 Lincoln Zephyr used a theme now seen in Mini Coopers: a giant center-mounted housing with multiple gauges. But the Lincoln’s gauge sat at the top of a binnacle, aping the look of a grandfather’s clock.
Lastly a clean design from Dodge in 1948
I do like the 1956 Plymouth’s dashboards (CHROME LETTERING?! Get outta here!), but for me the best looking dash is the 1969 Ford Torino. Not the Gran Torino (little difference as there is), but the basic Torino. The dash looks like the motor cylinders have broken through the firewall with pride, the straight lines of the door and console stop right at the perfect angles, and everything has bevelling on it to make it seem like it’s thicker than it really is. When you’re cruising at night in a straight line the interior lights shine on the back of the steering wheel, giving it a ghostly glow which is reflected in the bevelling of the dash. It looks like the car has a soul! http://coloradoguy.com/1969-ford-gran-torino-gt/interior.jpg
And what kid who grew up in a certain time with motorhead genes didn’t lust after one of these?
We used to make our own out of cardboard (sans steering wheel). At school (indoor recess in bad weather), I drew them on the blackboard.
I had that very same dashboard. Prior to that, I had this ….
I had a Playmobile. My parent’s were forced to get me one for Christmas, just to get me to shut up. I liked it, but it seemed cooler in the TV commercials.
The T-bird dashes are all very nice. Glad to see the Chrysler 300, Newport and New Yorker dashes up there from the early 60’s. When I saw them back in the days, as a young boy, I was mesmerized by them. There is one other Mopar dash and that was in the 1966-67 Dodge Charger. Far more interesting than the other two pony car competitors of Mustang and Camaro.
Yes, and the Charger, at least in 1966, was rather unique in having four bucket seats with a full-length console running from front to rear, fold-down rear seats for lots of extra cargo space, and the full-width taillights with sequential turn signals. And, the availability of the 426 Hemi.
I agree with you about the 61 and 62 Chrysler instrument cluster. When I was a young boy I had 2 uncles who each owned one. I loved riding in them at night to this day I still dream of them. In the dreams that blue electroluminescent color is so vivid I wish I had one. So cool.
Electroluminescent instrument view
What no edit on the previous post above?
What kind of car was that?
My other favorite, the original Citroen DS:
That’s fantastic!! So clean, yet curvaceous rather than stark.
Having had a couple of ’58s back in the day I do also like this one:
Let’s go a bit farther back, to a ’53 Hudson Hornet. Wear your sunglasses….
Dad had a hornet in the mid ’70s. Speaking of EL, those hornets had phosphorescent numerals that glowed after the lights were shut off like a Timex watch.
Notables =
Grand Prix 69-72 and 73-77…. 78 on up G body as well
Chevrolet/ GMC Truck 67-72 and 73-87
Firebird 70-81 and 85-89
Camaro / Firebird 67-68
240Z
300ZX 1990
Accord 98-02
Bonneville 77-81
Porsche 928
I have five contenders:
The Fuselage Plymouth Furys from the late 1960’s and early 1970’s were wonderfully unique in form with a nice wraparound-style binnacle which contained all the instruments and pertinent switch-gear, including the radio and HIVAC controls. It was all neatly laid out on a matte black surface which was flood lit with blue/green illumination. The switch-gear was well-done and looked as though milled from solid aluminium ingots (but weren’t).
Then there was Rover’s P5, Britain’s default ministerial conveyance for nearly 20 years. Designed in the late 1950’s, the binnacle dashboard was ahead of its time.
I love the door-to-door deep black channel “concept” first seen with the Buick Regal of the late 1980’s. This was a classic American approach to dashboard design: elegant, clean-lined and clutter-free and was very fitting for the car. Both Honda and Toyota dabbled with the style for their early 1990’s Prelude and the 2003 Avalon models.
All of the above I believe were “conceptually” excellent designs that were ultimately let down by their execution. Mercedes-Benz during the 1980’s schooled the industry when it came to dashboards. Take any 1980’s M-B model and you have the best-designed and executed dashboards. In my opinion, they collectively represent a high-water mark in dashboard design to date. The W123 dashboard is perhaps the most iconic of M-B dashboards from that era.
’60 Lincoln…a long time favorite for that “captain of industry” feeling.
My die for dash was my Humber Sceptre Mk I’s interior. Rootes were a bit sloppy putting their cars together, but at least they went down in flames looking great.
Plenty of dials back in ’64 to put a jag to shame. Pity I spent most of my ownership under the car. Photo copyright © not mine.
I like that dashboard
Panhard 24 BT specifically because the thermometer on the glove box door records the temp INSIDE the box. Presumably so you could monitor the temp of your wine bottles.
Here is that Panhard dash. Glove box is deep.
Could not agree more with you !
Indeed one of the best dashes ever
The large Jaeger gauges
man oh man I sure miss my BT24
How could I forget? One of the ergonomically best dashboards from one of my favorite all time cars – The 1990 Honda Accord. Nothing like the low cowl for visibility, and the shelf on top allowed for you to place your cell phone, gloves etc. up there. Find a car that you can do that with today!!
What country got an Accord with an optional whorehouse red wrinkly leather interior?
LMAO! That was the best picture I could find to show the low dash and shelf on it – I have no idea what country that one is from!
Well the red-interiored Accord has the ‘Honda of America’ badge on the steering wheel that our Accord wagons wore. It’s likely a coupe as there’s a noticeable absence of rear power-window buttons on the door. Given that it’s LHD with a km/h speedo, I’m gonna hazard a guess it’s a Canadian model. I like it, very striking!
Yes, not only do I like it, I’d love to find a decent one that looks just like that. Yeah, baby! I am very partial to the red interiors that people like to label as “whorehouse red.” Really hoping that all-red interiors make a comeback.
Wow. I was about to chime in that I owned a ’91 Accord and that the dash was extraordinarily functional–but certainly not in red leather!
Porsche 356. Classic.
High on the list was that perfect mix back then of a Great British concept called Mini Cooper, but executed into near perfection by their Italian assembly partner called Innocenti : the Innocenti Mini Cooper 1300
The Mercedes dash from the 60’s is quite elegant in it simplicity. I really liked it in the 65 220SE sedan that I had.
I like the vertical position of the speedometer and gauges. 🙂
That is…very unusual. But I like it!
I agree. Not many cars that I’ve seen have this type of speedometer. Most are either circular, or horizontal. I like the horizontal kind. 🙂
The current FIAT 500 dash is very unique. I like the combo tach and speedometer.
I realize it would take some getting used to, but who cares how fast you’re going in a FIAT!!
Ciao!!
I like simple