Dashboard covers

[andy625uk]

Haven't posted on here for a while, mainly because my car was laid up over the winter. However we're now out and cruising again in the sunshine

I was thinking about buying a dash cover to protect the dash from the UV. My dash is in pretty good condition at the moment and I'd like it to stay that way. Does anyone have any experience of Coverking dash covers? Looking at this page https://coverking.com/search?page=4&q=Ford+thunderbird&type=product

They're the first company I've looked at but sound really good. Not sure whether I'd go for velour, polycarpet or carpet though.

 

[XR7-4.6]

IMO dash covers are the equivalent of car bras, they’re deliberately worse looking with the vague premise of “protection”, but who are you protecting it for exactly? I mean someone could throw a cover over a cracked dash and it would look the same as your car with a mint dash with the same cover, and all you’d be doing is helping that guy by normalizing the cover look even though you have the better dash! lol

Not to mention I have seldom come across 94-97s with cracked dashes, maybe an Arizona car stored outside you’ll see them but around here? (Which I think probably gets about as much sun as you) never, I’ve seen some heinous roached interiors at junkyards but few I didn’t think the dash wouldn’t be the one salvagable piece from. Ford switching the core from steel to plastic makes them way less susceptible to it than the older 89-93 dashes that are always cracked.

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

I'll post mine when I get back home. It's a black suede and I really like it. Iirc it was $30 on RA but who knows at this point.

 

[Irv]

If your goal is to protect the dash from UV damage, then 80+% VLT (visual light transmittance) window film on the windshield is the answer, but with an asterisk. It depends on the laws in your municipality, how strictly they're enforced, how much you care to abide by them in practice, and how much a business feels compelled to comply with them. Many shops here have no issue putting as low as 50% tint on your windshield with no questions asked, even though it's not legal.

Tinted vehicle windows: the law

Rules for tinted vehicle windows and what could happen if you break the rules

www.gov.uk

The rules for tinted front windscreens and front side windows depend on when the vehicle was first used. There are no rules for tinting the rear windscreen or rear passenger windows.

Vehicles first used on 1 April 1985 or later​

The front windscreen must let at least 75% of light through and the front side windows must let at least 70% of light through.

I recall that the stock windshield glass is about 82% VLT. If you really wish to be strictly abiding, then you'd have to find 90% VLT window film. In reality, nobody will think anything above 70% is tinted unless the installer did an extremely poor job with wrinkles, air bubbles, or lifted edges. However, some US states have comprehensive annual vehicle inspections where an inspector might check that out. Mine only does emissions, and only for cars made in the last 25 years.

 

[Kenz]

The original owner of my Firebird put in a dash cover, ran seat covers, and put blankets over the rear seats, and the rear deck. Because of that the interior still looks new. He took it all out when he sold it.
They are great for the protection, but I still don't understand driving around in a new at the time car with all that crap in it. Probably felt like being in an old pickup with an Indian quilt covering the seat.

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

This is mine. Got it probably 4 years ago. Brand is Dash Designs.

 

[andy625uk]

View attachment 11924View attachment 11925View attachment 11926
This is mine. Got it probably 4 years ago. Brand is Dash Designs.

Thanks for the pictures. That looks good.

 

[andy625uk]

Interesting comments guys. I'll have a think. Not so sure get away with any kind of tinting over here, but this is England - why am I worried about sun!

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Oh my, there's some nice leather stitching!

 

[Grog6]

Tint limits here are 35% on side windows,75 on the rear. I've seen troopers tell someone, "either you take it off, or we tow it and remove it for you." They handed him a razorblade. We have license and insurance checks, because so many people drive without either.