chrisneu68olds

Hello folks,

I was snooping eBay killing some time today and ran into a nice '67 442 that had some nice interior pictures. I am gathering ideas for my own dream restore, trying to separate the "stuff" from Shinola, and getting some pictures to mull over and I saw something strange.



I am certainly NOT an Olds expert, maybe middle-of-the-road knowledge-wise, and I do recall that every stock tach that I have ever seen in a '67 442 was mounted on the center console (silly place for a tach in my opinion,) but then I saw this in-dash one. My immediate response is "pseudo-stock" but I have to admit it looks pretty darned good even matching the center needle cap to match the speedometer...and the screws in the tach face, and the clock below??

I also saw that another user on this group did install an aftermarket small faced tach where the clock should be and that one looked nice (https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...dash-tach.html),

but this one...I am really torn on if this is indeed factory or a darned good aftermarket.

Questions:

1. Is this indeed a stock gauge cluster that I just have not seen before?
2. If this is stock, has anyone else seen this?
3. Is this something that was maybe put into another GM car that someone put in this car?
4. If it is NOT stock, where can I get this setup?

I would appreciate any feedback that anyone can provide. I would contact the seller, but it is a dealership and I would not trust them completely. Google was useless on this as far as finding any info.

Thanks all!

RAMBOW

its stock.
It was the optional rally pac guage cluster.
Available in late 66, and all through 67.

In early 66 the factory optional tach was mounted on the left hand side of the dashpad in a little pod.

Only 65 had the console mounted tach

jensenracing77

1. yes
2, yes
3. no
4. i don't think they make a reproduction of this but i could be wrong. when and IF you find an original it will be $$$$

welcome to CO, i don't think i seen your beginning posts. if there is a reproduction made someone will post it soon.

jensenracing77

lol rambow... you beat me by 4 minutes

chrisneu68olds

Thanks very much guys!

I stand corrected Rambow, I thought that I had seen console mounted in '67 is some literature that I have, but I would have to look over it again to argue with ya.

Thanks Jensenracing77, I have to say that this forum is fantastic! I did put an opening newbie story when I joined that is an interesting read (https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...irst-olds.html) and now that I have more time and funds to do a restore, I look back at my first Olds and it just makes me want to go for it.

Heck, I don't even have a project car yet, but I am one of those people that likes to research everything before I start something like this. I have narrowed it down to 1965-1972 Cutlass/442, or maybe even something like a Delmont convertible...have not made my mind up yet.

jensenracing77

you may be thinking of the vacuum gauge. i think there were some console mounted vacuum gauges around that time.

chrisneu68olds

I think might be right. Looking over the limited literature that I have, it is kind of hard to tell. There is definitely a gauge there, but it could be vacuum.

67 442

Scroll to almost the bottom of this thread. Keith put a tach in his cluster, he did a pretty sweet job.

http://72.22.90.30/phpBB2/viewtopic....r=asc&start=45

chrisneu68olds

Yes I saw similar in the link when I posted. This may be a good alternative if I cannot find a stock one. I am not a 100% purist when it comes to these things (maybe 90%), but I like things to look about as stock as I can get. At least that is the plan which is floating inside my head.

I am very interested in a '67 because I have always loved that body style. The dream is to tick things off of an order sheet like I would have if I could have ordered one in late '66; disc brakes, tilt, cruise, air, maroon paint, black interior, axle choice, etc.

It is kind of a shame that you really can't order cars like that anymore.

chrisneu68olds

Oh...and thank you 67 442.

66-3X2 442

The U 16 dash mounted tach was available throughout the model year. The U 21 Rally Pac became available on May 15,1966. All 66 model cars that came with a console,automatic or standard had a vacuum gauge.

chrisneu68olds

Thanks 66. How did you find that information? Is it in a book somewhere?

66-3X2 442

\

I got it from over 30 years of experience. I have the factory bulletin showing the release date of the 66 U 21 Rally Pac. I have the salesmans guide showing the 66 options and I also have a book full of 66 info.

chrisneu68olds

Man I am impressed. The depth of knowledge here is fantastic! Thanks again 66.