Dash vents
- Thread starter Brett Proctor
- Start date
letterman7
Honorary Admin
One of the great mysteries of this car. If those are yours, they are worth damn near gold, as they have been made of unobtanium for years. They probably came from a UK based car, something a dime a dozen, but as of yet nobody has been able to identify them.
ydeardorff
New member
letterman7
Honorary Admin
I've got that photo posted on the UK forum. We'll see if anyone spots what they are!ydeardorff
New member
You know that gun sight styled vent, is bugging me. Ive seen that before ( and no it wasn't on my car*pbpbpbp!*)
Im thinking its from a classic car 60's or 70's
But I had a brain storm just now. I wonder how difficult it would be to use computer fans? they run off of 12 volts. Hmm this idea might offer some fruit! whom knows....
Im thinking its from a classic car 60's or 70's
But I had a brain storm just now. I wonder how difficult it would be to use computer fans? they run off of 12 volts. Hmm this idea might offer some fruit! whom knows....
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
Thanks guys for the help
Maybe this will help.
I found out that the rear license plate light came from a 60's era airstream trailer(ordered a new one). And the tail lights(Butlers England 1857 is stamped on them) are from a company that I think is now out of buisness in the UK called Bedford. I think from the 60's era all so(those are a collectors item over in the UK and Autralia and hard to come by I've found) If you can find one
I need at least the light bulb sockets for that. I don't know what happen to them but when I got the car they were gone.
I know I could replace the vents with other vents but the holes are cut for this size (3"dia) and the newer vents that i've found are smaller.
This project is turning out to be a challange. It was suppose to be a simple restore. I cann't believe that my car was the only one that came with these vents. I ordered a build manual from sterling maybe that will have something in it.
I've searched some UK sites but no luck.
If I have to I suppose I could fix the ones that don't work. I just thought it would be easier to replace them. I thought wrong
Maybe this will help.
I found out that the rear license plate light came from a 60's era airstream trailer(ordered a new one). And the tail lights(Butlers England 1857 is stamped on them) are from a company that I think is now out of buisness in the UK called Bedford. I think from the 60's era all so(those are a collectors item over in the UK and Autralia and hard to come by I've found) If you can find one
I need at least the light bulb sockets for that. I don't know what happen to them but when I got the car they were gone.
I know I could replace the vents with other vents but the holes are cut for this size (3"dia) and the newer vents that i've found are smaller.
This project is turning out to be a challange. It was suppose to be a simple restore. I cann't believe that my car was the only one that came with these vents. I ordered a build manual from sterling maybe that will have something in it.
I've searched some UK sites but no luck.
If I have to I suppose I could fix the ones that don't work. I just thought it would be easier to replace them. I thought wrong
letterman7
Honorary Admin
Almost all the early cars had those vents. Later cars with the straight dash went to the more common rectangular vents found on lots of cars. If I don't have any luck finding the donor vehicle, try Miata or Ford flap style vents. The hose connection is smaller, but the surround is large enough to cover the overall hole itself. Some clever gluing with some pvc pipe can make a snug fit. The rear lights (bi-color) are indeed Bedford. I've got a couple spares here and am always looking for more. They show from time to time on eBay.uk . I don't have the light bulb sockets for them though, but I think any of the replacement sockets can be made to work. They're just simple plug and twist - check your local FLAPS for those.
Never assume anything on kit cars that are 30 years old. As you've found, accessory parts are impossible to find. Many of us have small stockpiles of stuff we've come across over the years, so don't hesitate to ask. Remember, too, that each car was usually built by it's original owner, so what's in your car may not be in someone elses. Very few cars were "factory", but they are out there!
Never assume anything on kit cars that are 30 years old. As you've found, accessory parts are impossible to find. Many of us have small stockpiles of stuff we've come across over the years, so don't hesitate to ask. Remember, too, that each car was usually built by it's original owner, so what's in your car may not be in someone elses. Very few cars were "factory", but they are out there!
letterman7
Honorary Admin
Well, got a partial response. The topside vents, the cheesegraters, are from a UK Mk1 Ford Escort, early '70's vintage as I suspected. There is some debate on the center eyeball - it too comes from a Ford, but we're still trying to find which one. The model one fellow suggested doesn't have the square surround, but that doesn't mean it was a composite of two types of vents...
ydeardorff
New member
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
Thanks letterman7 that sure looks like them.
Now its finding someone here in the states that have them.
Thanks Again
Brett
Now its finding someone here in the states that have them.
Thanks Again
Brett
letterman7
Honorary Admin
Nice. Interesting to see that Ford used the vents universally in their cars. I guess it still happens today. But... what is the square base from?
ydeardorff
New member
Im looking,
It reminds me of a gauge surround from a car.
Worse case, it looks like a simple enough part to make via a vacuum former, if needed.
It reminds me of a gauge surround from a car.
Worse case, it looks like a simple enough part to make via a vacuum former, if needed.
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
I was thinking(that can be dangerous)
Didn't ford own lotus??
Maybe thats where the other vent came from. One of their cars.
Didn't ford own lotus??
Maybe thats where the other vent came from. One of their cars.
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
I haven't had any luck trying to find out where that other vent came from.
I've repaired and located the replacements for the other vents but the center vent eludes me.
Plus through all this I was wondering is there a section on this forum that has a list of what parts came from what donor car. Maybe as we find where the parts came from a list could be made. I'm finding out that all the parts on my sterling are from UK vehicals.
Just a thought.
Thanks for the help
Brett
I've repaired and located the replacements for the other vents but the center vent eludes me.
Plus through all this I was wondering is there a section on this forum that has a list of what parts came from what donor car. Maybe as we find where the parts came from a list could be made. I'm finding out that all the parts on my sterling are from UK vehicals.
Just a thought.
Thanks for the help
Brett
letterman7
Honorary Admin
Weellll... uh, yeah. The Sterling is a Nova (UK origin) clone, so 99% of the parts will be from UK style cars. It wasn't until a few years into the production that the taillights came from TR7's and a couple of modifications were made for the US market. But no, there isn't a list of donor cars since there really isn't an "official" source. Donor cars were whatever were popular when the production was happening. And builders other than factory cars (and there weren't many) would source their own parts. Due to that, spare parts are now very hard to find that are "OEM" to the car, hence most people modifying and making due with what's available now. In 30 years, the cycle will repeat if the cars are still around!
The riffled ones came from an alfa romeo
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
I ended up making a new dash using different vents but thanks anyway. I will no longer need the OEM vents that are in the picture so I'm going to sell them when I get around to it.
Brett
Brett
Brett Proctor
Well-known member
I think I've solved the mystery of what vehicle the center vent came from.
Jensen Intercepter
Bezel is different but the vent looks real close to what I have
The company went out of buisness in 1976 I think, which would make their parts available for the sterling of that era
Brett
So did I win anything
I still have all of the original vents that came with the car. One of these days I'll have to get rid of them because I don't need them for my new dash and they're just collecting dust.
Jensen Intercepter
Bezel is different but the vent looks real close to what I have
The company went out of buisness in 1976 I think, which would make their parts available for the sterling of that era
Brett
So did I win anything
I still have all of the original vents that came with the car. One of these days I'll have to get rid of them because I don't need them for my new dash and they're just collecting dust.