Wooden instrument panels?

[mr50bmg]

Many years ago there was a company called Prestige Autowood that advertised in Hemmings; they provided wood panels for Esprits to replace the kit-car looking panels that the G-Esprits have. I wanted to buy from them, but didn't have money at the time and now I suspect they're long out of business.

Normally, I'm a strong proponent of keeping things original; especially on cars that are rare. However, these wood panels overcame my resistance and I'd love to find a set. Does anyone know where wood panels for the Esprit can be found? Has anyone done this?

-Dave

[jimmybondi]

I was going to fabricate a set myself - I bought the panels (light walnut) in a DIY-store already cut to size and was about to cut the holes for the instruments. But as my Esprit is 150km away in the shop now, I cannot continue...

[Guest teigan]

i too planned to do up the interior panels in wood. i'm partial to burlwood myself. how well did you cut your templates jimmi? i'd appreciate seeing your templates to help rough in my measurements. i'll be cutting slots in the heater panel to retain the original backlit graphics.

[jimmybondi]

I have done the template in Illustrator, but it's not 100% accurate, as I want to have the instrument rings showing through, but then then in some places the material could get too thin. So no real solution yet...

Re: Heater Graphic panel

I have used transparent foil on transparent plastic.

Then sprayed the back side opaque white (so the letters will come out white) and finally a thin coat of green

Edited September 7, 2005 by jimmybondi