Modifying Dash

[AllyCat555]

I'm in the process of making a curved dash like in the picture below- I was wondering if removing the original dash and putting in a different style would decrease the value of the car? In know restored to the original cars are valuable, but would modifying it be benifitial or would it have a negative effect to the value of the car?
Thanks- Ally

[spiderrey]

I think that looks great and could only add to the value.

[Semiaussie]

Hi AllyCat555,
With my past vehicles, it seemed original was always best (?); but it seems to me a lot of Spiders are slightly, if not heavily modified to suite performance/personal preferences, etc.
They aren't a 'generally' desirable car (God, I'm going to cop it for saying that), so I would think 'do whatever you want'.
Sweet dash, by the way. I'll bet a lot of people are going to be interested in how you're going about it! Are you going for the door re-trimming as well?

[Zippy]

That's a very nice looking dash on that car. I pretty much like everything about that car except for the round mirrors. Maybe if they were painted the body color or if they were chrome. A few other things I noticed were, no visors and the mirror is mounted to the dash(I like the clean lines but not sure how I feel about not having a visor), wood trim on the doors, wood insert in the ashtray cover. I'd like to see more pictures of the rest of that car.

Anyway, the question is, is customizing a car going to help or hinder the value. I think it all depends on the lengths you are going to, to restore the car. A car restored to exact factory original condition next to a car with some minor modifications but restored as well to like new condition? I think the factory original might bring in more money. But if you are talking about a rolling restoration with performance upgrades and minor customization of the look, I don't think it will matter. I think the structural soundness of the car will matter more and the finish will be subjective to the person evaluating the car. Heavy modifcations to the car to try to make it look like something else rarely appeal to me. It's a Fiat it should look like a Fiat, but that's only my opinion.

I guess the important thing to me would be that the work was done right and looks professional, not tacky or cheap. It's your car do what makes you happy.

[bradartigue]

It may be valuable to someone with such a change, but generally speaking modifying an antique with period-incorrect parts devalues it. Your example car has an incorrect paint color, dash pieces, gauges, side mirrors, windshield mirror, wooden door strips, ash tray...I could go on just from that picture.

One thing is certain about modifications like you're suggesting; in about 2 years or less you'll be in the market for original dashboard parts or a replica of the original. Off-shoots rarely last long.

[spiderrey]

Point of view. When worried about modifying an old car, this mod would be a safe bet. Its not a permant mod, and the owener will enjoy his car as he wishes. The stock parts can be put in a box a saved in case this value ever shoots up. Ive modded the c#@p out of my 70 spider, and 90 percent of it is easily reversable. I now enjoy my car 10 times more then before. If you want a resto car now go for it. Just enjoy it.

[124ADDHE]

That is a very nice idea! I just replaced the stock one with Cherry plywood and stained it to a custom colour, it looks kinda original but nicer in the sense that the woodgrain is real and with the 20 coats of varathane I used, it has more depth as well.

I think it would definately negatively impact the value, however, as mentioned, it can be easily replaced with an original or replica.

[PittsburghKevin]

Some good points have been brought up. I'll add my own perspective.

I would guess that you are a reasonable person who is wondering "Am I totally shooting myself in the foot by putting in a custom dash if I goto sell it?" When I bought my car a couple years ago, I looked at a lot of cars before buying. The low was $1200 the high was $6000. Mine was about $2K. Most of the time when someone had done a "customization" it wasn't the best workmanship, they were thrilled with it and "just wanted their money out of it". In my mind, it was something that needed to be yanked out and fixed.

That said, yours truly is replacing the carpet and seats with custom. After that the dash is getting a make over. I am adding a little bit of depth to it and then having it vacuum laminated with a nicer wood grain.

If I were worried about resale, I wouldn't do any of it. There is no way I am getting my money out of these fixes. Restoration projects are big time losers in all but rare instances.

I guess I think the question I ask myself isn't how much I could get for the car on resale, but rather how much I am willing to lose by doing some projects on it that make me happy.

[spiderrey]

I personally never ever think about how much money I can retrieve from my car if I sell it. I only think of how much satisfaction the mod will give me thru the life of the car. As it stands the two fiats shall never be sold, ever. They will either go to my two sons, or my gandsons. Im not planning on leaving anytime soon so those two options are still not set. Time and money put into your own personal car is for YOUR personal enjoyment, not others. If others end up appreciating the things you do, then thats just an added plus for you.

[So Cal Mark]

this Barrett-Jackson value shift puzzles me. I'm constantly asked about the worth of Spiders and how much I think they'll be worth after certain upgrades and some time in the future. All of this televised auction crap is all based on some "investor" paying for a car he/she feels they can flip somewhere down the road.
Heck, if you want to change the dash, do it and make yourself happy. Unless you're hoping to start a business making those dashes, it doesn't matter if anyone else likes it. If you do a nice job on it, someone will buy the car when you're ready to sell it.

[Kingme2]

AlleyCat, I'm actually in the midst of making my own version of that exact dash.

To me, I think custom a vehicle to make it as you wish it rolled off the showroom floor looking ... And agree with other postings, don't try to turn it into something it's not (direct nod towards those who try to make these look like Ferrarri, etc)

I've put new wheels (Rotas, not "original tin-look"), fat-a$$ rubber to wrap them in. I've redone the seats in leather, wrapped the lower console in leather (and added a dreaded cup-holder!! Shame!!).

I've upgraded the alternator to support the heated leather seats for the cold evening drives with my lady... and the new alternator really makes my new headlights glow...

On my first revision of the dash, I moved ALL of the switches and indicators from that horrid plastic contraption in the center of the original dash down towards the lower console (also wrapped in leather)... and it works WAY better down there. Seems like they belonged tghere in the first place.

Do I really think that any of these "lowered the value"? No. Those who want a "original" one will find many that are stock to shop for. Those who want one with a few more creature comforts (really??? No cupholder??) will NOT be "downgrading the value" of these.

Skip the body kits, no "glow lights" underneath, make any mods professional... And Drive it like you Love it!!

[backyardbill]

Kingme2: can you provide some pics of your interior? I would like to see how you did the console and dash. Thanks.

[Kingme2]

Here's my page, pics posted there... http://myfiat.weebly.com/upgrades-done.html ... can see some build pictures.

This is my first version, I'm about to embark on 2.0 any day now...

[Kingme2]

Actually old picture. Since then, the interior has become all black leather, etc..

[Kingme2]

Here is a build picture. 3/4" solid paduak... beautiful, except has darkened conciderably since then.

Version 2.0 will be 1" thick goncalo alves, so I can make the beautiful curves in the original poster's picture. (http://www.google.ca/images?hl=en&biw=2 ... d=0CDwQsAQ