Hi,

I've got a 1978 Volvo 343 which I'm currently doing a load of welding on. The dash panel where the speedo goes has had a later panel crudely hacked in and I'd like to put this back to the original.

I know this is a difficult panel to get - haven't found any on Ebay. Just I think it would be nice to put this car back to stock as there's not many of the original Mk1 300 series Volvos around now!

Wayne

Hi mate.
Love to see some pics of the car. I have an early one but not as early as a 78.
Cheers Mark.

Hi Mark,

As soon as I've got it rolling I'll be posting pics, don't worry!

At the moment it's in someone's back yard sandwiched between a brick wall, an old chicken coop full of rubbish and a *yack* *spit* Mk4 Ford Escort.

Welcome to the forum! Well done on rescuing what's by now a very rare car.

It makes a difference when in '78 the car was built. If you're lucky, and it's a '79 "model year" car (from about September '78 on) it'll have an instrument panel which was fitted to cars up to around 1982. You might find one of those fairly easily.

The earliest instrument panel (MY 76 to MY78) (the ones with the voltmeter) are a lot more difficult to get hold of. If you don't mind reading your speed in kilometres, you might get lucky in Holland?

Cheers

Tom

trabitom99 wrote:If you're lucky, and it's a '79 "model year" car (from about September '78 on) it'll have an instrument panel which was fitted to cars up to around 1982. You might find one of those fairly easily.

As per this stylee:

Hi Wayne, good to see you made it here.... from what I gather it's the same as macplaxtons pic. Good luck on the hunt! !:)

Not that clear, but the only one I could find of the orangey type.

macplaxton wrote:Not that clear, but the only one I could find of the orangey type.

That's the one, well done ... More DAF-style than Volvo-style.

Tom

trabitom99 wrote:Welcome to the forum! Well done on rescuing what's by now a very rare car.

It makes a difference when in '78 the car was built. If you're lucky, and it's a '79 "model year" car (from about September '78 on) it'll have an instrument panel which was fitted to cars up to around 1982. You might find one of those fairly easily.

The earliest instrument panel (MY 76 to MY78) (the ones with the voltmeter) are a lot more difficult to get hold of. If you don't mind reading your speed in kilometres, you might get lucky in Holland?

Cheers

Tom

WOW! Everyone's so helpful here. This is fantastic!

I've had another look and the general layout and trim, plus the steering wheel look more like they're from the later 79-82 model year version (even though it was registered in December 1978!?) so it looks like the later one is correct.

You're right about the orangy dash fonts being DAF-like as they remind me of a DAF lorry speedo.

BTW - last person who suggested I "might get lucky in Holland" ended up trying to take me to the cheap end of the red light district. Hmm.....

Wayne D wrote:I've had another look and the general layout and trim, plus the steering wheel look more like they're from the later 79-82 model year version (even though it was registered in December 1978!?) so it looks like the later one is correct.

That sounds right ... The '79 model year goes from September '78 to August '79 so your car will have the more common (and in my view, prettier) dash.

Wayne D wrote:BTW - last person who suggested I "might get lucky in Holland" ended up trying to take me to the cheap end of the red light district. Hmm.....

Cheers

Tom

Wayne D wrote:
BTW - last person who suggested I "might get lucky in Holland" ended up trying to take me to the cheap end of the red light district. Hmm.....

Theres an Expensive end !??

volvosneverdie wrote:

Wayne D wrote:
BTW - last person who suggested I "might get lucky in Holland" ended up trying to take me to the cheap end of the red light district. Hmm.....

Theres an Expensive end !??

Dunno about that but there's certainly a "bargain bucket" end - in every sense of the word, apparently!

Wayne D wrote:

volvosneverdie wrote:

Wayne D wrote:
BTW - last person who suggested I "might get lucky in Holland" ended up trying to take me to the cheap end of the red light district. Hmm.....

Theres an Expensive end !??

Dunno about that but there's certainly a "bargain bucket" end - in every sense of the word, apparently!

MMMmmmmm.... finger li................. no, im not gonna go there.

Hi mate.
I have the one you want spare.
I hope this car makes it back on the road.
Cheers Mark.

MCHUDD wrote:Hi mate.
I have the one you want spare.
I hope this car makes it back on the road.
Cheers Mark.

^Spirit of the 300 community right there. MCHUDD with another crucial save.
Good on you dude.