dashboards

["Watry, Andrew (LNG-MBC)" <Andrew.Watry@domain.elided>]

Regarding the 60s, 70s dashboard discussion, I think one of the big factors
influencing design at least for US cars, which I didn't see mentioned, was
increasingly stringent safety requirements.  This required safer switches,
increased padding and deformable structures, etc., rather than sheet metal
dashes, like on the Giulia TI or Giulietta Spider.  While I personally think
the original Giuila Super and Giulia Sprint GT Veloce dashes and instruments
are the nicest ever done, I don't think their thin padding would help you a
lot in an accident, compared to a later foamy dash like on a 1750 or 2000
GTV or Berlina.  The Super dash is mainly stapled and glued fibreglass,
covered by real wood and chromed pot metal.   The instrument binnacle is
cast aluminum or some kind of pot metal. All of that wouldn't be a fun thing
to put your face into at high speed.  The thin pad on top is, I think, a nod
and a wink to safety, at best.  And while one may or may not like the highly
stylized Giulia TI dash, sheet metal wouldn't deform a lot in an accident
with your body, and I think its dash-top padding is of laughable utility as
a safety measure, it that's why it's there.

Just a thought.

Andrew Watry
Berlina Register
Berkeley, CA
67 Giulia Super
74 GTV

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