Just like the 1929 Ford Roadster dashboard redesign, the same principles were applied to tweaking the original 1932 Ford Roadster dashboard design to house an Auburn instrument panel.  After the layout drawings were finalized and we were happy with the flow and lines, we set about building the hammer form / press tool jig from stock steel.  Again, the objective was to part press the body of the dashboard with a 50-ton press, then complete it by jig chasing and defining to the hammer form.  The nice part about this dashboard is that we were able to make the dash out of one piece of material.

Checkout the photos below of this custom designed roadster auburn dashboard panel.  The dash bolts right into an original roadster body or any quality reproduction body in a simple 15 minute installation using only a screwdriver to aid installation.

 

This is an original style Ford roadster dashboard.

 

My custom designed Ford dash (bottom) versus the original (top).

Custom 1932 auburn dashboard fitted into a Ford Roadster

My handmade custom Auburn dashboard panel fitted into a 1932 Ford Roadster.

 

Bolts in just like the original.

 

End detail of the custom 1932 dashboard.

 

At the Grand National Roadster Show at the SoCal Speedshop LA booth. This is the Auburn instrument panel fitted in.

 

Overall view of the custom 1932 roadster dashboard with the instrument panel.

For more information on how this auburn was created, check out the series of posts on the making of a custom aluminum dashboard to fit into any 1929 Ford Roadster. Click here for part one on the concept, part two on the jig and fixtures, and part three on the installation.

Other custom Ford work includes an aluminum 1932 radiator shell and Bonneville-style grille insert.  To compliment the classic style of the radiator shell, we decided to build some custom panel work.