Thanks R, but here I am still stirring the pot - both photos are perfect examples of what unoriginal things can happen to a dashboard. One has the wrong (much later) switch panel,an unoriginal lamp, an extra instrument, an extra pull-push switch. The other earlier car has the magneto switch and the horn button removed and an unoriginal clock inserted. Who's to say the speedo with trip lever hasn't been added later? (Being an early version of the AC, there's every chance it may not have originally come with a speedo at all). Rant over. BTW - as I've cancelled my land-line home phone, you'll need to contact me on mobile 0435 582 294 (no texts please). Will probably phone you again before. Cheers to you and the Harem, Bill

Location: Euroa, Australia

Hi Bill,

I was (attempting) to make the same point.

Hi again R. I thought it was your aim - to demonstrate how many alterations can be made after leaving Longbridge - sorry I didn't thank you. Speedos are confusing to many, because for example Wyatt says "Feb-May 1924 - speedos first fitted". (For a start the Sports, produced in January-on, had them as standard). The inference is that all cars were so fitted - not so, they were only an option. Even in June '24 when the AC model appeared, the speedo was still only an option and there are still plenty of those earlier ACs running around minus the dial. Even in my time an owner who insisted on everything "original", against my advice, cut his dashboard and fitted one. In later years I'm sure someone, if not everyone, will maintain that it was there originally. The interesting thing - some ACs now fitted with speedos have them in slightly different positions which to me make the Longbridge-built claim slightly dubious! It was only in February 1925 that speedos became standard - exactly one year's production after the Wyatt-etc misleading reference. Hope this helps anyone restoring an early car. Cheers, Bill

Location: Euroa, Australia