PV Adding instruments under dash

[adarvasi]

Good evening,

As I am a newby in the classic car environment, I was wondering if you, learned people, can guide me in this subject.
The PV that I just bought, as you well know has only indicator lights for oil pressure and generator charging.
I feel much more confident in having mechanical gauges for battery charge, oil pressure and temperature, as well as having a tachometer.
If I install these instruments under the dash, will it be considered an attempt to the "originality" of the car, even though that they can be easily removed?
Will appreciate your comments
Cheers
Andres

[Army]

Originally Posted by adarvasi

Good evening,

As I am a newby in the classic car environment, I was wondering if you, learned people, can guide me in this subject.
The PV that I just bought, as you well know has only indicator lights for oil pressure and generator charging.
I feel much more confident in having mechanical gauges for battery charge, oil pressure and temperature, as well as having a tachometer.
If I install these instruments under the dash, will it be considered an attempt to the "originality" of the car, even though that they can be easily removed?
Will appreciate your comments
Cheers
Andres

In my experience, originality is one of those things that has surprisingly convenient moveable boundaries. "Period correct" modifications are more often than not considered to be fine.

In the PV world there seem to be loads of "rally" cars where high prices are expected whether they have true rally status or not - so modifications aren't necessarily bad.

If you are at all worried about this it is best (as you say) to make modifications that can easily be changed.

####

My PV has several modifications that I consider to be positive changes made to the car (and considering what the car is and how the car is I approve of these modifications whether anyone else agrees or not!)

1) Front disc brakes
2) A reservoir for the brake fluid
3) Speed variable windscreen wipers
4) Electronic ignition
5) A metal glove box interior
6) Amazon front seats (more comfortable than the originals apparently)
7) A light in the boot / trunk
8) A tow hitch
9) Inertia reel seat belts for the front passengers
10) A B20 engine with a Weber Carb
11) Marshal fog lights on the front

I will be / I am making the following additional modifications

a) Daft bare metal look to the outside
b) Re-wiring and repositioning the fuse box inside the cabin
c) Adding USB power points
d) Considering a heated rear screen
e) Fitting slightly wider 5.5 inch wheels so I can use modern tyres
f) Looking into LED bulbs
g) A custom exhaust following the style of the Abarth ones that used to be available
h) period correct fog light on the rear
i) An electric cooling fan

Perversely I am in the process of returning the inside colour to the original Fawn Brown (from a gaudy red that was chosen by someone else). If my plans for the outside bare metal look don't work out then I'll be returning all of the paint to the original Fawn Brown.

[blueosprey90]

I'm also a noob in the PV world.

I don't think that our cars have enough value to worry about modifications, so go for what you want.

Agree that period correct is best, but any modification that upgrades safety and performance (within reason) will probably increase rather than detract from value.

My car is 6 volt. I can't imagine any penalty points for changing to 12 volt. My car has a generator. I can't imagine any penalty points for changing to an alternator. I want to put in some footwell lights. Don't see a negative. I can't imagine than an engine swap to a B18 or a B20 would hurt the value of my car.

Now, of course, if your car is concourse material, you might want to pause.

As for me, my car was used in two bank robberies and then parked under a tree for the duration of the prison term. I think all of the value is still hidden under the rear seat.

[canis]

Originally Posted by blueosprey90

As for me, my car was used in two bank robberies and then parked under a tree for the duration of the prison term. I think all of the value is still hidden under the rear seat.

Was the loot still there when you got out?

[Army]

Originally Posted by blueosprey90

...
As for me, my car was used in two bank robberies and then parked under a tree for the duration of the prison term. I think all of the value is still hidden under the rear seat.

I was going to say "no wonder they got caught driving a PV" but then I guess the first robbery was a success. It must have been the PV's distinctive style and grace that picked them out from the crowd after the first robbery...

[adarvasi]

Originally Posted by Army

In my experience, originality is one of those things that has surprisingly convenient moveable boundaries. "Period correct" modifications are more often than not considered to be fine.

In the PV world there seem to be loads of "rally" cars where high prices are expected whether they have true rally status or not - so modifications aren't necessarily bad.

If you are at all worried about this it is best (as you say) to make modifications that can easily be changed.

####

My PV has several modifications that I consider to be positive changes made to the car (and considering what the car is and how the car is I approve of these modifications whether anyone else agrees or not!)

1) Front disc brakes
2) A reservoir for the brake fluid
3) Speed variable windscreen wipers
4) Electronic ignition
5) A metal glove box interior
6) Amazon front seats (more comfortable than the originals apparently)
7) A light in the boot / trunk
8) A tow hitch
9) Inertia reel seat belts for the front passengers
10) A B20 engine with a Weber Carb
11) Marshal fog lights on the front

I will be / I am making the following additional modifications

a) Daft bare metal look to the outside
b) Re-wiring and repositioning the fuse box inside the cabin
c) Adding USB power points
d) Considering a heated rear screen
e) Fitting slightly wider 5.5 inch wheels so I can use modern tyres
f) Looking into LED bulbs
g) A custom exhaust following the style of the Abarth ones that used to be available
h) period correct fog light on the rear
i) An electric cooling fan

Perversely I am in the process of returning the inside colour to the original Fawn Brown (from a gaudy red that was chosen by someone else). If my plans for the outside bare metal look don't work out then I'll be returning all of the paint to the original Fawn Brown.

Thank you Army, good tips

[adarvasi]

Originally Posted by blueosprey90

I'm also a noob in the PV world.

I don't think that our cars have enough value to worry about modifications, so go for what you want.

Agree that period correct is best, but any modification that upgrades safety and performance (within reason) will probably increase rather than detract from value.

My car is 6 volt. I can't imagine any penalty points for changing to 12 volt. My car has a generator. I can't imagine any penalty points for changing to an alternator. I want to put in some footwell lights. Don't see a negative. I can't imagine than an engine swap to a B18 or a B20 would hurt the value of my car.

Now, of course, if your car is of your is concourse material, you might want to pause.

As for me, my car was used in two bank robberies and then parked under a tree for the duration of the prison term. I think all of the value is still hidden under the rear seat.

I tend to fully agree, and as you say, “if your car is concourse material”, it is not, perhaps it could become but I rather enjoy it as much as I can, and spend the money in something else.

Funny story about the bank robbers! I know a person here in Mexico that bough a business jet in a government auction, when they were refurbishing the interior they found a stash of drugs. He returned the aircraft with its load and preferred (wisely) to lose the money than to deal with the individuals that had lost the drugs.

[adarvasi]

[adarvasi]

Originally Posted by Army

I was going to say "no wonder they got caught driving a PV" but then I guess the first robbery was a success. It must have been the PV's distinctive style and grace that picked them out from the crowd after the first robbery...

[arcturus]

My PV had gauges fitted under the dash on the entry side,left of steering wheel. Kept banging my knee on them so I removed them. As an after thought, PVs may not have a high value now but as the years roll on they seem to be coming more sought after. An original one can fetch more money so keep all the original parts so that you can renew them if necessary. Try not to cut any holes in the dash.One similar to mine in reasonable nick here in Portugal will fetch about €15.000 Original like mine with papers
will fetch €17,000.