Smiths or SW

[PDUB]

Dan,

On the 289 Stewart Warner 5-smaller gauges, what typically came on the car? I have seen oil temp, oil pressure, water temp, current, and fuel. Is this correct?

Thanks


___________

[GWL]

From Original AC Ace and Cobra by Rinsey Mills, 1990

"Apart from the first one or two cars which used 2.6 Ace 5" main instruments, both the speedometer and rev counter were of 4" diameter, the former being calibrated to 160mph and the latter to 10,000rpm. These dials were manufactured by Smiths, as were all the gauges fitted to cars with COB and COX chassis numbers and US specification cars CSX 2000 to 2200. The exceptions were quite a number of CSX cars fitted with a Rotunda revolution counter manufactured by Faria. From chassis number CSX 2201, US cars were fitted with Stewart Warner gauges as a matter of course, but some earlier CSX cars may have had the Smiths equipment replaced by Stewart Warner items at the Shelby factory (or vise versa by American owner who preferred Smiths instruments)."

So as you can see it can get a bit confusing when you see a CSX car and it has xxx gauges.

Dan,

This is also interesting about the clock on the Stewart Warner gauged cars.

"The lower gauge was an electric clock, which was normally by Smiths but a number of the cars with Stewart Warner equipment used a totally inappropriate clock from the 1962 Ford Galaxie."

"Above the clock were the petrol gauge (left) and the oil pressure gauge (right), reading to 100psi. Above these, from the left, were the ammeter, oil temperature and water temperature gauges."

Short answer to your question: Yes!

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by PDUB

Dan,
On the 289 Stewart Warner 5-smaller gauges, what typically came on the car? I have seen oil temp, oil pressure, water temp, current, and fuel. Is this correct?

Correct. Decades ago it was common to find the clock owner replaced with some other gauge. Fuel pressure gauges were common. The one situation that always made me smile was when I came across an altimeter in the clock position.

When examining any Cobra/427 Cobra/AC 289 Sports bear in mind that these are some of the most bashed and modified cars off all time by their owners. A box stock Cobra/427 Cobra/AC 289 Sports is about as common percentage wise as a virgin 1932 Ford roadster.

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by GWL

From Original AC Ace and Cobra by Rinsey Mills, 1990

Dan,
This is also interesting about the clock on the Stewart Warner gauged cars.

[i]"The lower gauge was an electric clock, which was normally by Smiths but a number of the cars with Stewart Warner equipment used a totally inappropriate clock from the 1962 Ford Galaxie."

I have a copy of that book. I have copies of the more significant books. In this case the author states an opinion "totally inappropriate clock from the 1962 Ford Galaxie" and not a fact. Such positions are opinions. One of my opinions is that it was inappropriate for AC Cars to paint a new Cobra any shade of green as I don't care for any finish on any car that is green. That is just an opinion though.

[GWL]

Originally Posted by Dan Case

In this case the author states an opinion "totally inappropriate clock from the 1962 Ford Galaxie" and not a fact. Such positions are opinions. One of my opinions is that it was inappropriate for AC Cars to paint a new Cobra any shade of green as I don't care for any finish on any car that is green. That is just an opinion though.

Yes, he is stating an opinion.

That sentence, however, is hard for me to understand. Is Rinsey trying to say that some of the cars supplied with the Stewart Warner gauges were also supplied with Smiths clocks instead of the Ford clocks?

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by GWL

Yes, he is stating an opinion.

That sentence, however, is hard for me to understand. Is Rinsey trying to say that some of the cars supplied with the Stewart Warner gauges were also supplied with Smiths clocks instead of the Ford clocks?

No, I believe he was trying to describe the fact that the cars prior to CSX2201 had gauges supplied by AC that were all Smiths. When the change was made to SW gauges it included a Ford clock.

[PDUB]

Thanks guys!

[Riverside racer]

I`ve yet to see or read a reference stating that the FIA`s had a 2 1/16 ammeter. All Fia`s had S.W. 2 5/8 with 3 3/8 speedo Tachs varied both in size and make. If that was because of availability problems or drivers choice I`m not sure?
Ross

[Riverside racer]

My interpretation of Rinseys "inappropiate" is that if SW gauges fitted then an SW clock should be part of the package. Not a Mix & match. ie Smiths set included a Smiths clock
Ross

[wfbowen]

As a former owner of CSX2201 (back in the late 60's) I can verify that the car always had SW gauges.
Bill

[xb-60]

Anybody know what clock was fitted on the 289 cars with Smiths gages?
The bezel seems to scale at about 60mm or 2 3/8" OD. Is a Smiths clock in this size available?
Cheers,
Glen

[Murky781]

On a lot of the original 289's (Slab Sides) it was a clock from a 1962 Ford Galaxie. Some used Smiths, but I'm looking for one now to keep a built original.

[xb-60]

The clock in this picture is a Smiths, I think.
It scales out at larger than a standard 2" gage.
Any ideas where these came from?



Cheers,
Glen

[LMH]

Not 100% sure Glen but I think that's a Smiths clock from a Sunbeam.
60mm face I think. That would make it Smiths model CE.2194/08. (I've been doing a little clock research)
My guess is that clock replaced the original Smiths clock at some point in the cars life. Also note the Lucas switches. Is that a COX car?
Larry

[xb-60]

Thanks for that Larry. 60mm bezel was my estimate, but haven't seen them anywhere. Do you know where the best place is to look?
The car is an early CSX. Bottom left corner of the pic is ol' Shel's knee.
Cheers,
Glen

[xb-60]

Duplicated post, don't know how...

[LMH]

Hey Glen
This morning, I was looking at some dash pics I have of 2142 and there's the same clock! Now I'm thinking some Cobra's used the same clock as some Sunbeams.
More research!
Larry

[xb-60]

Larry - here's a pic of another early Cobra, with the same Smiths clock. So it's not only Sunbeam, but also other Rootes Group cars - Hillman, Humber, Singer and no doubt some others too - that used this clock, so it shouldn't be too hard for me to find a good one. Thanks for your information!



Cheers,
Glen

[LMH]

Nice job Glen! Yeah, finding one shouldn't be too hard. That part number in my previous post is correct, so maybe a search with that may yield something. Let me know what you find.
Larry