Early Kadett gauge console

[Gordy]

Another item I haven't seen too many of, which have not been butchered in one way or another, are the 1967 Kadett Rallye console that the 3 gauges mount into. (Mine a PO had drilled a lot of little holes in to mount a speaker behind it).I have seen others where a hole has been cut to mount an 8 track or other stereo. I am going to be going to be seeing a metal shop and see about fabricating a new metal piece to cover the front of the console (the sides won't need covering because there is a vinyl trim piece that runs it's length, both sides, where the front of the console meets the side- so there would be no visible seam front to side) and by cutting the holes out to accept the 3 gauges and being painted, should go right over the front of the old console and not at all look like anything has been done to it.
Any interest in having such an item made in any quantity? (again making 2 or 3 might be more economical per unit than just doing 1).
Or does someone have an unmolested early Rallye console available? Gordy

[opelbits]

Gordy-

i found this one awhile back (it has since moved on, though), is this the type you are talking about? The book shows it as the 'early' style, 67 1/2 to early 69.

[opelspyder]

2 types of early styles on those consoles. Actually there were three total, but two early styles that were metal and went all the way from the dash to the console. This gauge arrangment as far as I know is the early or for a 1.1 only. The later the middle gauge was lower than the outer two. I might know of an NOS one, but can't remeber if it would be correct for the 67-1/2. Attached is a picture of the one mentioned, which is the 2nd style
Keith

[Gordy]

Thanks for the pics. My console is like the one Opelbits pictured except where that one has slots at the upper edge, mine has holes that aren't cut to slots.

Keith, that is an interesting panel with the gages being offset...don't think I've ever seen one like that. (Nice fog light in that pic too!)

[opelspyder]

Its funny how many differences there are with the parts from 67-69 on the kadetts. Your 67-1/2 fog lights are different than the 68-70 models. The mountings on the lights themselves changed in 68, yours will have a pivot with stud, whereas the later was a stud on a ball socket type mount. The 3 gauge pod I showed was an early 69, then the went with the 4 inch plastic one that was pretty popular. I saw your style once where someone cut a big hole in the lower section for an extra gauge....not surewhat type of gauge, but I hadto look hard to see if it was factory or not. I sold all that stuff to a member in NC.
Keith

[Gordy]

Well that large expanse of prime interior metal space was crying to have someone add something to it....gages, toggle switches, or a tape deck what have you. After 40 years of previous owners it's not surprising that so few consoles made it thru without being cut or drilled into somewhere along the line.
I think, as I said, the answer to mine which had the speaker holes drilled into it, is to just cover it with a nice thin piece of metal that gets painted and the gage holes drilled out, and it should look like new.
I will post before and after pics.

[Gordy]

Found a nice fix for my console that some PO had drilled a 100 little holes in to mount a speaker behind, at least until I can find a nice original one.
Rather than steel, I took ABS plastic and cut it to fit. Then with a drill and a dremmel cut the gage holes thru the plastic. I'm pretty happy with the way it's turning out. The ABS plastic is real easy to work with.