Original instruments

[chris.richard]

as well as being used in the Stratos and Fiat cars, the Veglia instruments may well have been used in planes and boats. Didn't Fiat make planes too? The Italian speedboats of the same era would need similar instrumentation. Perhaps classic boat and aero jumbles / breakers might be a source.

[guy mayers]

Ok guys, original instruments for a Stratos can only be obtained from a Lancia Stratos if my 20 years of research is anything to go by! I don't suppose there are many sets available either. So, what are the sources and differences? The most common donor in the UK is the Fiat 124 Coupe. This has deep speedos and rev counters with three of the smaller gauges, fuel, oil press and water temp. Script style is close to the original but the main instrument markings are not correct. Plus if you have a V6 the rev counter will need modification to read true. Next is the Fiat 124 Spider. Again, similar to the Coupe but the main gauges are shallow, exactly like the original Stratos. Downside is availability in the UK is poor and speedos often only read to 85mph.... Next is Fiat 850 Spider, even rarer than 124 Spiders in the UK but once again these do not have the correct style faces but the nicest touch is the lack of the Fiat logo that appears on the main gauges of all other types. Next is the Fiat Dino Coupe or Spider set which should include an oil temperature gauge. The beauty of these is that the speedo and rev counter are identical in script style and readings as the Stratos(250kph speedo and 9000rpm tacho). The only difference is the Fiat logo. Again, the rev counter MAY need modifying if the donor used twin coil ignition. Early Fiat Dinos only had one language on the smaller instruments and aren't correct but these can be obtained easily from 124 or 850 to make a correct set. Unfortunately the Ammeters are not available unless you are very lucky at an autojumble. Most dealers know the worth of these gauges to Ferrari owners and price them accordigly. In 20 years I have seen one for £200, two at £40 (bought by fellow club members) and one at a slightly lower price, since sold on! Mine was scratch built as was the oil temperature gauge. Prices tend to reflect availability unless you are very lucky! Expect to pay around £60 for a full set of 124 Coupe instruments, £80 for Spider, £120 for 850 Spider, £230 for Fiat Dino and £40,000 for Lancia Stratos ones (although you should get the rest of the car for that!) If any of this sounds like a sales pitch to you you might just be right! Email me if you need a set from any of the above.
Guy

[quick_andreas]

Hello Guy,

I am still looking for the ammeter. As you said they are nearly impossible to find. For the moment I am using an aftermarket instrument, after having upgraded my loom last winter.

Does anybody know anything about Chris Smith´s activities to build replica ammeters using Smith instruments as base? Some month ago I spoke to him and it seemed that several owners / builder were interested. I think this could be an option to get original looking ammeters-and I find nothing wrong about a replica ammeter in a replica car....

Cheers, Andreas

[Jeff Davison]

I've seen first hand that Veglia ammeters were used in the original Maserati Ghiblis. I found a source for used at $250 USD and NOS for $475 USD.

ouch..............however they "look" like the ones in the Stratos.

Jeff Davison

[mogul_x]

I have a question or two loosely related to gauges....

If you compare the instrument binnacle in a genuine Stratos to a binnacle in a Hawk, and look at the distance from the aluminum faceplate to the trailing edge of the binnacle, it appears that the original car has the faceplate set deeper into the binnacle than does the replica.

I'm told that the reason for this is that the replica was designed around Fiat 124 Sport gauges, which have deeper housings than do the gauges in the Stratos. I'm using a speedo and tacho out of an 850 Spyder, which have the shallow housings that Guy mentioned in an earlier post. This should allow me to modify my binnacle and position the faceplate similarly to an original car.

My question has to do with the faceplate positioning. Does anybody know whether the entire faceplate gets moved inwards, or just the top edge? Anybody know how deeply inset the faceplate is on an original car?

Thanks,

[guy mayers]

Scott, as I understand it the instrument panel had to be moved forward to allow th 124 Coupe instruments to clear the chassis rail behind the dashboard binnacle. The spider gauges will give more clearance behind and allow you to move the front back a couple of inches. I can't give you exact measurements for 100% accuracy but I can tell you that only the top edge needs moving back by a couple of inches. This will leave you with a tapering gap down the side. Before you cut the parts up to modify them I suggest you fit the dashboard and binnacle in place with the gauges installed and measure the clearance behind them just to be safe! The alternative is to build the top edge up with filler and taper the sides as well. There should also be a bulge on the bottom of the binnacle below the row of switched to house the heater control lever.
Guy

[mogul_x]

Guy,

Thanks for the feedback - only the top edge gets moved. I'm not too worried about making it 100% accurate - just a little more accurate than it is at present. If I have the opportunity to measure a genuine car, I will. Otherwise, I'll estimate using photographs.

Thanks,

[Chris J]

I'm just in the process of checking the wiring codes between what it says on the Hawk diagram for the Veglia (124?) tacho multi plug and the Fiat Dino one that I want to use.

'Seems as if the wire colour codes are different between 124 and Dino. Has anyone else found that to be the case?

I think I've still got a 124 Sport one somewhere. I'll dig it out and compare the wire colours on the two guages.

I've just read Guy's comment earlier in this old thread. I'd thought that using a Dino guage, meant it would be triggered ok from another type of V6. It's like Guy says though, it depends on the coil arrangement on the original Ferrari motor fitted to the car that the guage was taken from?

[Ken Tomblin]

Chris

The Dino has two distributors causing the tacho to operate at half speed !!!
Speedy cables did a cheap mod on my tacho

Regards

[Chris J]

Chris

The Dino has two distributors causing the tacho to operate at half speed !!!
Speedy cables did a cheap mod on my tacho

Regards

Damn and blast! I knew my theory was too good to be true? Thanks Ken.

I'm still trying to figure out what the other lamp at the bottom of the guage is for? (see attached photo).

The pulse wire (and other wires) on both types of tacho have the same colour codes, but I'll need to change the order they are fixed into the multi plug.

The 124 Sport tacho has one no charge warning lamp (blue/black 'AN' feed wire) the bottom and two ordinary dash panel lamps at the top.

The Fiat Dino tacho has just one ordinary dash panel lamp at the top and two warning lamps at he bottom: One is the no charge (greyish/red 'HR' feed wire) the other has a black 'N' feed. What is this black wired warning lamp for? - the lamp on the bottom right, looking at the back of the short case tacho.

[lancia chris]

The other waning light is for the manual choke on the Dino, obviously not needed on the Alfa V6 injection engine.With an appropriate tell tale this could make an ideal warning light for the rear fog lamp.

[Chris J]

The other waning light is for the manual choke on the Dino, obviously not needed on the Alfa V6 injection engine.With an appropriate tell tale this could make an ideal warning light for the rear fog lamp.

Ahh, choke warning?, right.
Do you know which is which Chris? I'm guessing (looking at the back of the tacho guage - as in the photo) that the charge warning lamp is the one on the left and the choke warning is the one on the right?

It's actually a Honda V6 with Webers, but there's no need for a choke warning.

[lancia chris]

Correct, the choke is the one on the right viewed from the back.

[Chris J]

Thanks for that Chris, I'll label the wire so that I know what it's connected to. As you say, it could be used for rear fog warining.

[guy mayers]

Thanks for that Chris, I'll label the wire so that I know what it's connected to. As you say, it could be used for rear fog warining.

You could always use the low fuel warning light as well.
Guy

[Chris J]

There's nothing wrong with replacing an MPH speedo for a Fiat Dino KPH one is there? (apart from not knowing how many MPH you're doing)

'Spose the insurance would need to know (limited mileage)?