[jdickey]

It appears that old age and Texas heat has finally caught up and beat up the entire top of the dash on my 88 to the point it has to either be replaced or recovered. There are some very severe cracks on the top and on the passenger end; all of these were in process when I purchased the car two years ago. But in spite of constant care, it appears to be a lost cause.

Any suggestions as what would be the best option?:facepalm

 

[Vulcan Grey]

Your 88 is the black plastic dash correct?

My 89SE had the burled Elm veneer dash, and I replaced mine with a carbon fiber veneer after all the wood cracked.
https://picasaweb.google.com/116113253735518541549/LotusCarbonDash

 

[Beerman]

I'm guessing jdickey is talking about the dash board.....not the binnacle panel for the gauges...

jdickey, mine's in about the same state I think. It doesn't look too tough to recover once removed. Anyone removed the dash board on an '88 before? tips?

 

[Vulcan Grey]

ah, yeah, the leather didn't cross my mind, even though they all do that.

I believe you really need to remove the windshield to replace the dash leather IIRC.

 

[jdickey]

It's the leather cracking on top, but it has also dried in spots and looks terrible. I don't know if the entire dash should be removed and recovered or if there are aftermarket replacement kits?

I plan to repaint the car and change the color from Lotus red to Mendip blue!

 

[carbuff]

Travis is correct, the leather piece closest to the windshield curves over the dash-top and under the glass, so the glass needs to be removed.

That usually means that the black windshield edge molding strips will be broken in the process...


++++++++++++

What color is Mendip Blue actually? :shrug: Got a picture of any cars painted that color?

 

[jtrealty]

Go over to

leatherique.com

They sell products that can fix, clean, dye, and rejuvinate leather. The website has a wealth of knowledge and you can probably fix it all in place. I have used their rejuvinator on leather that was like cardboard and made it soft and supple again. The sell patch repair to fix cracks. They have dye in our colors on file. From now on use a sunshade over the dash when you park it in the sun.
David Teitelbaum

 

[Vulcan Grey]

Travis is correct, the leather piece closest to the windshield curves over the dash-top and under the glass, so the glass needs to be removed.

That usually means that the black windshield edge molding strips will be broken in the process...


++++++++++++

What color is Mendip Blue actually? :shrug: Got a picture of any cars painted that color?

This is Mendip Blue (originally an Aston Martin color I believe)

 

[jdickey]

Thanks VULCAN GREY....that was exactly the picture that I was going to post. I've seen a couple of others on the forum and certainly like that color! And yes, it is an Aston Martin color - or should I say colour!

JTREALTY - that link was the one I had been looking for. Thanks for posting!

 

[jtrealty]

This is Mendip Blue (originally an Aston Martin color I believe)

Later years that color is called "Azure Blue". It is a very deep blue, almost to purple. They did not use it on many cars so it is somewhat rare.
David Teitelbaum

 

[jdickey]

David, one reason why I like it, because it is somewhat rare!

 

[Vulcan Grey]

Later years that color is called "Azure Blue". It is a very deep blue, almost to purple. They did not use it on many cars so it is somewhat rare.
David Teitelbaum

That is NOT Azure blue!

Mendip Blue was only used on 2 Esprits apparently. It is an Aston Color, and looks completely different than Azure Blue.

This is Azure.

 

[carbuff]

Heh, I've always liked Azure ever since I saw my first one at LOG 22.


So Mendip is different? (Hard to tell on a computer screen) More purple, maybe? We had an Acura that was Indigo Blue Pearl...)

Is it named after something British ... like the various Norfolk Mustard colors?

 

[Vulcan Grey]

Mendip is much darker. And can have some slight hints of an emerald green in it depending on lighting and angle.

 

[greentengu]

x2 on the Leatherique.

I'm going to be tackling the entire interior of my car, too--it's in as sad a condition as David notes his was. The cracked/smashed windshield let in water that dripped onto the leather atop the binnacle, and that needs to be patched (filled with their cream/paste/salve), while the glove box leather has pulled and torn away at one edge, necessitating a re-skinning (or other solution) of that piece. The rest of the leather is, just as many of the Leatherique posters/bloggers note, patchy, splotchy, and faded, looking more like the old and worn skin that it is than the plush leather it once was. Truly this is going to be a very fun (if comprehensive) project (I love rubbing oils into a girl's skin lol)!

I'm thinking about re-dying my seats (the tutorial by the Ferrari owner on the site's various blogs is extremely helpful) as well.

--Scott