The Dashboard

In most cars the dashboard gives insight into the designer's intended character of the motorcar.  From the aggressive styling of supercars through to the bland, safety theme of family cars, a quick glimpse at the dashboard is often a window to the car's soul.  

Yet the classic Mercedes SL motorcars were crafted not as characters but as objets d'art.  And while the materials and conventional layouts of the day were used, the dashboard designs of the 190SL, 280SL and 300SL defy a character label. 

The dashboards of these models were the result of synergy from the fusion of Mercedes' technical achievements and artistic perfection.

Even the 300SL dashboard, a car that leapt from the race track to the road in less than a year, balances form and function.  

The circular lines on the dial-face of the speedometer subtly introduce a depth and dimension to the instrument. Note the vertical lines on the central cluster to the left which cleverly separate the array of analogue indicators.

The anthracite colour lets the instruments lift off the dashboard while the tan leather give a warmth to the cabin.  The image is both chic and tastefully understated. The chromed air vents, seemingly too prominent while viewed up close (above) melt into the overall image (below).

Knurled chrome strips separate the environmental comfort adjustments and in-car entertainment visually  - and through touch.  

Designing and creating a dashboard that refined rather than defined the car was surely the objective of those visionaries all those years ago.  Through meticulous attention to detail we at Hemmels ensure the artistry and engineering of these classics are faithfully preserved.