Check this out. It's the real thing and the quality of lacquer is brilliant - apparently this guy does interiros for Aston Martins, Jaguars etc. They are based in the UK, called Classical Dash. Bloke who runs it is called Ian - nice guy, also does other colours, carbon etc.

See www.classical-dash.co.uk

 

most people on here will not like it - but i do

here is ours

 

Actually - I kinda like both dashes shown. They are different and that's what I like - being different...:smile: :smile:

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven)
05' Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"

 

I like it, too.....it's slightly understated...and as such might be easy to live with over the long haul. Of course, it naturally appears to go w/ an EB MINI, right? I'd also want to see the effect echoed on the door surrounds, too. I think if you can hit those three (dash and both door surrounds) w/ some sort of treatment (as BWM wisely did), you can pull off almost any effect and it will still work well as a whole. Too much is too busy or diminishes the interior's overall contrast (which I like). Too little and the effect just hangs out there in isolation.

I wonder if the newer interior trim assemblies on the doors is still such a bugger to disassemble and repaint. On my '03 I had failing paint on my door pulls (the tubey things) and the dealer had to replace the entire door panel as one massive piece!!! Kinda extreme. If all the pieces were easier to pop-off/unfasten, I think you'd see a lot more custom work undertaked by the average owner.

 

I like the top one, but I think it would be better in another color...I think it would look killer in black or deep red!

 

You called that one right...


(referring to the second picture, not the first)

 

it's all good most people don't like the ostrich that we in the doors either to each his own...but our best of show trophy at an all MINI event speaks for itself.

 

You have an ostrich in your door?

I have a frog in my throat!

How do you feed yours?

 

the pocket's on the door are lined with it, it's green to match the car i'm looking for a good picture now to post.

 

The two shown must be factory defects, they put the steering wheel on the wrong side!

 

pic

 

Ok, I just threwup a bit in my mouth.

 

Bite it back, man, bite it back...

 

There are a few pictures at
http://www.classical-dash.co.uk/mini.html

Seems like high quality work with restoration of real wood dashes on many classics. Wood veneer over aluminum, real Carbon Fiber and custom painting available.

I didn't see prices and they are in the UK.

MINImania carries their products.

The doors aren't so easy to take apart- I ovals are a pain to take apart and I don't think the new models are any better. My door pulls after two years are getting worn and scratched on the driver's side. If you have anthracite you might be doing better.

I partly did my dash painting due to the wearing I was getting on the driver's side downtube that was scratched and worn.

But if you can find a custom dash design that you love and can live with day to day it can be a smile generator and unique reflection of your personality.
Sort of like jewelry!


Someday I'll take a better picture- it really is much better in person.
Looks great at night too. And it's been durable. The wood finish has flaws incorporated within so a scratch or new flaw looks right at home.

More pictures here-
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=24049
The dash is airbrushed a light Koa wood finish
Koa is a traditional Hawaiian wood

 

Reminds me of a bowling ball. I love the green ostrich though. I wouldn't mind having canary yellow ostrich in mine. Thanks for the nifty ideas.

 

I didn't know ostriches came in green .



Seriously though, did you do the work yourself or someone else? Nice idea.

 

I think they all look good and are deffinitely unique . Gives me lots of ideas for mine!!

 

Hey thanks for the information these guys are just 20 minutes from where I just moved to in the UK. I think I will check them out next week!

 

No we didn't do the work. We had a friend of ours from "The Interior Shop" do the ostrich and yes it's real.

 

I always thought a lighter looking wood like this Surfboard would look good in a mini woody convertable, I should make that someday, a mini woody convertable. The dash I wood use this wood as with the rest of the car! Who's with Me???!!!

Mikey

Kinda like this: