1967 Corvette Dashboard - Black
Just in time for the holiday gift giving season comes something for the guy who doesn’t have a classic car sitting in the garage. While we may own the diecast model or the cool painting hung on a wall, until now we couldn’t experience what it was like to sit behind the wheel. Leave it to the guys at GMP to fix that with their series of 1/6 scale dashboards from some of the all time classics.
While curiously GMP didn’t choose any of its classic 1/18 or 1/24 models to fashion their first dashboards, they did choose worthy subjects, the 1965 Ford Mustang, 1955 Chevy Bel Air and the 1967 Corvette Sting Ray, the black version of the latter reviewed here. The models come sturdily packed in a gift-worthy box and include a micro owners manual, keys, tweezers and a card explaining how to handle your new model. More about that card in a minute.
The dash is beautiful with the classic seductive double arc construction sheathed on top in vynil-esque plastic on the top and center while the actual instrument panel has familiar wet look textured background. The instrument cluster features easily readable gauges with solid chrome bevels. There are also chrome accents framing the panel and glove compartment. I wish the instruments actually moved – seems a shame to have a Corvette speedometer and tach that show nothing but a zero. Install the three AAA batteries (you purchased separately) and watch the dials fire up by triggering the light switch.
The ignition keys actually work, if what you mean by work is they fit in the proper spaces. I found that a flat head jeweler’s screw driver actually was more practical to manipulate the glove box. But here’s where reading that instruction card would have been helpful. Being the ever confident reviewer, I zoomed by these instructions and immediately began to toggle, pull and switch every little knob (there are seven). Unfortunately one knob soon came tumbling out complete with its spring and upon reading the instructions that I learned that pulling something that should be turned can have damaging consequences. The moral of the story is this: read the card and use the tweezers – GMP put both in the package for a reason.
An amazing number of features do work and splendidly. The steering wheel actually feels pretty substantial as it turns, the signal shifter takes minimal effort to move but locks solidly from position to position – top to bottom and front to back. The hinges on the glove compartment work flawlessly and hold the door rigid. About the only things that don’t work are the radio presets and the hand brake. The articulated writing on the knob cuffs is perfect. Even details like the tire pressure sticker on the glove box interior are great fun.
As in all recent GMP items, the materials are first rate; the most obvious example of this is the steel spoke steering wheel, a corvette insignia enameled in the center and finger insets on the back. I’m certain the wheel itself is plastic but it has the look and feel of real wood. This is a well crafted piece, perfect for workers board with having a zen garden on the edge of his desk.
There’s even an optional business card holder to justify it’s place as a desk accessory. For those of us that had a childhood toy car dashboard, this piece has a similarly high fun quotient, especially during eternal conference calls. Trust me on that.
Now Santa, if we could convince Mr. Long to make one of these for a GTO…..
(11/25/2007)