Trivial question: What other cars used reverse speedos?

[SunDude]

Just wondering...

Other than the original 427 competition and S/C Cobras, are there any other cars which have used reverse-wound speedometers, whether from Smiths or another company?

I can't think of any myself...

[dcdoug]

I assume the AC Ace Bristol at least?

[SunDude]

I don't think so. The original 260/289 Cobras were very closely based on the AC Ace, and they used normal Stewart Warner gauges. I think the reverse-wind speedo made its first appearance on the 427 comp cars in 1965. And most of the 427 roadsters with the street dash would've used normal wound speedos.

[KevinW]

A quick flick through Simon Taylor's book 'AC Heritage' suggests that only the 427 S/Cs had the reverse wind speedo.

289s were also fitted with smiths or SW gauges but not the reverse wind item.

[m5extc]

I have read numerous theories on why they were equipped with reverse speedos, but does anyone know the real reason behind it?

Andrei

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by m5extc

I have read numerous theories on why they were equipped with reverse speedos, but does anyone know the real reason behind it?

Andrei

Maybe Carroll got a great deal buying defects and just figured, "What the he!!, people will learn to read them backwards."

[Jim Maxwell]

Many street 427 Cobras came with the reverse speedo. A quick look through my photos shows them in CSX 3240, 3288, and 3346, all three being unrestored very original cars.

[SunDude]

Yes I've noticed that too, Jim.

I read somewhere that it was common for British sports cars to use reverse-wind speedos, but for the life of me I can't think of one (other than the CSX3000-series Cobras).

Can anyone think of any other cars that used 'em?

It seems bizarre that a gauge supplier would've tooled up to produce reverse-wind speedos for the Cobras only, which were produced in such small numbers.

[strictlypersonl]

I seem to remember that some early Jag XKs used them, but I couldn't confirm that using the interweb... Or maybe the MK8 or MK9.

[fastraxsg]

In Rinsey Mills book "Original AC Ace and Cobra", page 91, he wrote: " An anti-clockwise speedometer is fitted to the S/C and some early road 427's." From the same book and all the photos included, it appears that all Ace's, Acera's and early Cobras were fitted with standard speedo's. Of the early Cobra's, a couple used 5" speedos from the 2.6 Ace but then switched to 4" normal speedos from Smiths. "From chassis CSX 2201, US cars were fitted with Stewart Warner gauges as a matter of course..."
Of note is the fact that he says the SW speedo and tach were 3.5 " in diameter. (page 75-76. However, in all the books I have read, there has never been a "reason" given for using a reverse speedo. Maybe some one should contact Shel and ask him.

[JBo]

perhaps for RHD cars they were not "reversed"?