Finding the right gauges for the Le Mans Mini Marcos wasn't all too easy. I had just one photograph of the car's dashboard which dates back to 1975. This meant that things may have been changed up until then (as went for the steering wheel), but I decided it was the one to work from since there was nothing else to prove anything different. I received lots of help when I asked around what these gauges were exactly, with lots of people kindly providing possible answers. Eventually it was a matter of elimination and then they could all be named and so a proper search could be started. The Smiths gauges were fairly easy to find, although I did find out there are lots of small differences even there. The Veglia-Borletti rev counter proved to be quite a lot more difficult, and the same goes for the Jaeger oil temperature gauge, which I still do not have. Do contact me if you know of one!
The only picture I have of the car's dashboard was kindly provided to me by Michel Tasset. It dates back to 1975, when he owned it. The steering wheel here is not the one originally fitted to the car
Picture courtesy Michel Tasset
The same picture, now with the gauges numbered in able to identify them correctly (thanks to many!)
1. Smiths Mini Cooper 'S' speedometer in km/h
2. Smiths water temperature gauge
3. Veglia-Borletti rev counter
4. Smiths oil pressure gauge
5. Smiths fuel gauge
6. Jaeger oil temperature gauge
Picture courtesy Michel Tasset
Except for the number 6, I have all the correct gauges now. They are all restored and recalibrated, too.
The Veglia-Borletti rev counter proved to be very difficult to find, but eventually I got one from the US
Picture Jeroen Booij
When the rev counter arrived it unfortunately turned out to be broken. But I found a specialist who managed to restore it with a new print plate of his own design
Picture Jeroen Booij
The only one needed now is a Jaeger oil temperature gauge exactly like the one seen here
Picture source Leboncoin
Jaeger gauges were fitted to a number a French sports cars, but they were sold separately also, as proves this advertisement which dates back to 1965
Picture source Leboncoin
The speedo and oil press indicator you now have are Mini MK2 items and wouldn't have been on the Le Mans entry in '66 as the MK2 wasn't made yet. You need the pointed beazel oilpress indicator (like the one on your temp gauge) and speedo to be period correct.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much. I am aware of this but couldn't find the right bezels when we refurnished these (mind you - they came with satin black ones).
DeleteThe bezel is quite easy ; http://www.autoelectricalspares.co.uk/bezels-glass--seals-for-smiths--lucas--jaeger-gauges-68-c.asp
ReplyDeleteThe speedo however is a complete other item. The one you need would be SN4417/01,thats in KPH for a mk1.
Thank you!
ReplyDeleteNearest oil temp gauge I can find is:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.2040-parts.com/jaeger-water-temp-gauge-sender-panhard-citroen-peugeot-renault-free-post-i608505/
Have you tried these guys for the Mk1 type km/h speedo?
https://www.smiths-instruments.co.uk/mini
Another couple of places to try for the mk 1 km/h speedo:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.min-e-bitz.com//index.php?main_page=index&cPath=80
Picking the correct speedo is a nightmare:
http://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/eshop/index.php?main_page=page&id=83
Unfortunately Jeroen none of what you have is correct for the period. Where do you plan to fit the speedo? The speedo I see in the picture in the glovebox is 80mm. Your reproductiion Smiths mini speedo is 140mm and post 2010. Won’t fit. Also why have 2 fuel gauges unlikely.
ReplyDeleteThe bezels would be painted flat black. The Tacho you have is 70’s from a motorbike. If you plan on the one from the 65 advert then it is completely different. It was in a Renault gordini
Oil and fuel post date 66. Temp could be used but highly unlikely. You could contact me not sure why you didn’t. You may recall I am a mini Marcos owner and instrument maker that you have contacted in the past
Rodger, could you please contact me on jeroen at jeroenbooij dot com ?
DeleteI tend to agree with mr Howard above. It being a racecar it wouldn't have had electronic gauges but capilarry ones with full scale reading for oil and water temp. A speedo probably wasn't even fitted in it as a race car (as there is no need to know)and the RPM could have been a Smiths chronomatic one with a drive from the cam. A periode picture of the enginebay could give more insight into those used.The picture you used as reference shows the "boy racer" 70's install
ReplyDelete