We have been making the solid rubber dash tops for many years now and yes they will not crack, but the materials costs have gone up significantly. We are doing our best to hold our prices down, but we will have to raise them eventually (Currently $650 full retail).

The way the factory made the OEM dashes is MUCH cheaper. It uses a less dense foam (that also is not self skinning) and has the vinyl stretched over the low density foam. This is why they all crack at the same points.

We have already committed to making the tooling and have a projected release date of late July early August. We are projecting that we can sell these full retail at $495, and like always we will do a group buy with a significant discount. While I hate to throw this out there before we have everything worked out I felt it important to note that there are pending. I know George always says this is such a small market to make parts for that 2 people making the same parts makes it more difficult, but you the consumer will benefit here.

Significantly.

So with the knowledge that these are forth coming I'm posting and if you are interested (we are looking in the low $300 range for these). Let me know here. Like always if I can do better I do pass it on.

Thanks all
PS We will have the solid rubber re run in about 20 days. We are currently doing them up now. It's unfortunately why we had to raise the retail to $650 as the material went up again.

Thanks! So good to have choices.

Mine is cracked, you've got my money.

I’ll take two. Thanks

How would you judge installation difficulty with this new one? Same, different?

Mark
I am in for one
Thank you !

I will take one

"The way the factory made the OEM dashes is MUCH cheaper. It uses a less dense foam (that also is not self skinning) and has the vinyl stretched over the low density foam. This is why they all crack at the same points."

My dash is original & it hasn't cracked yet.

Put me down for one.

Only way I could afford one. Thanks Mikey

thats because you live in "off the map"? - a place where the sun does not shine?

------

30 years ago all the cars that came in to aus from cali had cracked dashes even then.
i had a car from chicago - no cracks in dash.
i think they called that spot of light in the sky that shone through the white haze in summer the sun. i'm fairly sure they were mistaken and it was venus magnified by humidity.

When I got mine in 1982 the dash was cracked. I bought a dash cover. But I do live under the sun.

Put me down for one please

Dang, they look great!
BUT
there is an even smaller market looking for help....the "early version"
Would you be able to do them, with the slight modifications required.

From unobtanium crack free dash cover a few years ago to three new offerings now?

- 914rubber, rubber dash
- 914rubber, OEM like dash
- and this one? http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=358616

We need more 914s...

Great timing, just starting to tear my dash out. Count me in for one. BTW - lower dash knee pad would help too (lol).

Thanks!!!

DaveB

I’m definitely in for one.

no - there is an even smaller market.
rhd 914s. but its too late to save us.

i don't think our dashes down here crack - being fibreglass simulacrums.
(i used a bigger word than @Emerygt350 ? - its your fault i learned it in america).
fibreglass then skinned in vinyl. a bit like the old 911 dashboard tops.

this dash project of 914 rubber is i think seriously good.
i've never heard of anyone reproducing dashboards like this except some dude in south africa who started making them for VW type 3s. he is probably dead now.
they were rhd too and he got flooded with demands from the USA for mirror versions.

good work by 914 rubber. buy em.

but ---------? remember. keep it out of the sun.
VW type3 dashboards exploded in australia while the cars were still under warranty.
like - 6 months out of the showroom.

Id put them as the same effort. The attachment points are still a pain to get to either way.

When I mentioned they are destined to crack, it is more of a commentary on the built in design flaws. Mainly that the low density foam has a different density than the top vinyl. Being black it will absorb a significant amount of heat, and at a different rate of expansion than the substrate. Over time this becomes fatiguing to the surface material. It’s not a matter of UV degradation, but differences in density of material.

This is proven in that they all crack in the same points where stress is concentrated.

Yes it is possible to have a OEM dash not cracked, but it would be because the dash hasn’t been through these cycles as often. Dash covers are a good way to protect them, and I may just start making a one to sell with.

Please put me down for one also!

+1

I would be in for one!

I have one of the rubber ones (no installed yet).

Is there a reason why I should be interested in this new version? Better finish, closer to stock look?

I was under the impression the original reproduction (rubber from what I understand) was a great replacement part.

Not sure I understand the purpose of this new version.

And who's producing it? 914Rubber, AA, a third party for either or both? AA has come out with the same product at the same time for double the price of 914Rubber. There must be something I am not getting here...

I'd be down for one of the new cheaper ones, still interested in the door panels you had a GB on, but I'm not sure if I got in early enough for that.

I can vouch for the 914Rubber part. It's a great bit that's well worth the money spent.

So I'm a bit confused as to the purpose of these two new options, and why the few vendors/producers we have are inter-competing in this limited marketspace.

Clearly, I don't understand the business aspects of 914 parts market, but it seems to me, as an owner/customer, that I'd really prefer to see vendors focusing on producing parts we still can't get, versus offering three versions of the same part.

I fear we're evolving (de-volving?) into the silly 911 concourse mindset...where guys in silly hats and jackets are checking for Q-tip cleaning marks on the door edges...if we're jumping that shark here, then maybe that offer to swap for a clean Boxster S isn't such a bad idea.

Just my thoughts...and fears.

Which one between this new one and the rubber one is more accurate to the factory texture?

Should be the new one since it’s vinyl, not textured rubber.

I agree with not creating the same part x 3 but in this case, vendor b is coming up with a similar or same part for half the price of vendor aa. So in this case, a competitive market is beneficial to the consumer, at least short term. Who knows what might happen to supply and demand in the future.

Count me in for one!! Also can't wait for the door panels to be available.

1 for me

I suspect something else is going on behind the scenes. We may find out sometime.

I will take on as well. Thanks

I would like to be on the list for 1 dash

Thanks

I would like one thanks

That is a really good price for a OEM reproduction of such a high dollar part typically…

I only wish it would work on my car!

One please.
Thanks

Please put me down for one. Thanks

treemn, I used to cruise Main and Klamath ave. back in the late 70's in my '72. I once had three chicks sitting up on the roll bar while cruising bumper to bumper with my buddy. Got pulled over by a cop, tho, who said "Get those girls down off there!"

I need one for Elwood please. 1970 914-6.

Clay

Put me down for one.

One for me please.

Add my name to the list.
Thanks for improving the product and lowering the costs.

Will these fit a 1970 model car?

Yes they will. We slightly modified the underside that is not exposed to allow them to mount with the clearance needed to open the glove box. Same as the solid rubber we already make.

Great to see another alternative—and it sounds to me like the situation is as laid out in the first post: Had a product for this, but have been watching the price go up significantly and developed another alternative.

Timing with AA's offering of an "exact match" replacement for the OE dash is interesting, but anyone who has been developing a product like this would want to answer the emergence of a similar product before they got theirs to market.

To be honest, I am more interested in this product than the heavier rubber one, if only because the next new dash pad my 914 gets is very likely the last one given how little sun the car sees. Color me very interested, pending close-up pics of the surface/grain.

I'd take one if it will fit a 1970.

I would like one as well.

john

+1 for me

+1 for me, thanks

+1 for me.

I'm in