On your dashboard

[Gob]

[dgs49]

Unverified origin of the word, "dashboard."

In horse-driven wagons, debris flying up from the hooves of the horses was not an issue unless the horses were moving at a fast pace, i.e., "dashing." A board was mountedat the front of the passenger compartment to catch the flying debris when the horse was running. A "dash-board."

[Crackpot]

Uhh Gob that's an instrument cluster.

[Gob]

That's an illustration of all the different symbols you may or may not find on a dashboard.

I had always wondered what the speed limiter light was. It comes on frequently when I'm trying to hammer the works car!

[Sean]

Yep, that's what my dash looks like alright. Do you think it's time for a service?

[Crackpot]

Nope still an instrument cluster. Even those whacked out Brits who insist on calling the hood "the bonnet" agree with me on that one

[MajGenl.Meade]

Well bonnet makes more sense than calling the boot a 'trunk'. Everyone knows that either bonnet or hood may be the highest item but the one at the opposite end of the spectrum is more likely a boot than the trunk (which is of course anatomically located between the bonnet/hood and the boots)

But you're right - that's not a dashboard (or fascia) despite what Wiki says.

This is a dashboard - the big woody thing* that runs from one side of the vehicle to the other



Tell that to kids today and they doaaaan't believe ye.

Meade

*most often these days is made of a more tinny sounding material

[Econoline]

There appears to be a fine old instrument cluster *ON* that fine old dashboard.

dash·board... [dash-bawrd, -bohrd]
noun
1.... (in an automobile or similar vehicle) a panel beneath the front window having various gauges and accessories for the use of the driver; instrument panel.
2.... a board or panel at the front of an open carriage or the like to protect the occupants from mud or dirt cast up by the hoofs of the animals drawing the vehicle.
Origin:
1840–50; dash + board

[Guinevere]

And it's an instrument panel, anyway.

[Sue U]

This is a dashboard - the big woody thing* that runs from one side of the vehicle to the other

Your pic is flopped.

[Crackpot]

That would be the deck lid Meade it covers the trunk.

The instrument panel contains the instrument cluster.
The dashboard is the metal piece that separates the engine compartment from the interior.

[Rick]

I thought that was the fire wall...

[Crackpot]

those two are pretty much interchangable though firewall has fallen out of favor.

[Sean]

It's like that Meatloaf song, "Paradise by the Instrument Cluster Light"...

[Econoline]

So--by CP's definition--these vehicles doesn't have a dashboard?

Or these?

Or these?

Or these?

Or this?

[Crackpot]

To tell you the truth I'm not sure. it's been a while since I've worked in structures and I've never worked on a non front engined vehicle. I suspect it would be "grandfathered in" on rear engined vehicles that have the "trunk" in the front. I forgot what was what in under cab vehicles (like vans and such) I wan't to think the engine access panel from inside the vehicle was called the "firewall" but my memory is foggy. As for vehicles with out a front compartment of any sort I'd imagine innermost steel panel of the front end structure is still considered the "dash"

[Guinevere]

It's like that Meatloaf song, "Paradise by the Instrument Cluster Light"...

That made me spit!

[Econoline]

Yes, the instrument panel contains the instrument cluster; I agree with that. But the dashboard is the thingee immediately below the windshield which contains the instrument panel (and usually some other stuff). The firewall is the thingee below the dashboard which separates the passenger compartment from the engine compartment in a front-engine vehicle, or the thingee behind the seats which separates the passenger compartment from the engine compartment in a rear-engine vehicle. At least that's the way I've always understood it.

[Crackpot]

what can I say you've understood wrong. . strictly speaking the "Dash Panel (Board)" hasn't existed since the fender came into vogue. the name just carried over but then again the last time a true dash Panel was used there wasn't such thing as an instrument panel. (Seriously you ever look inside a stock model T? Looks even more dangerous than a circa 1950 entirely metal I/P)

I don't know if I can convince you otherwise All I can say is 15 years ago when I was working on Lower Body Structures one of the parts we were responsible for was "Panel, Dash" and 5 years later when I was working in the I/P group I was working on that thing you're insisting on calling the Dashboard. (BTW boards went out with wood)

[MajGenl.Meade]

Oh stop! You're both right.....

dash·board (dshbôrd, -brd)
n.
A panel under the windshield of a vehicle, containing indicator dials, compartments, and sometimes control instruments.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

dash·board noun \ˈdash-ˌbȯrd\
CloseStyle: MLA APA ChicagoDefinition of DASHBOARD
1: a screen on the front of a usually horse-drawn vehicle to intercept water, mud, or snow
2: a panel extending across the interior of a vehicle (as an automobile) below the windshield and usually containing instruments and controls
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dashboard

A dashboard (also called dash, instrument panel, or fascia) is a control panel placed in front of the driver of an automobile, housing instrumentation and controls for operation of the vehicle.

The word originally applied to a barrier of wood or leather fixed at the front of a horse-drawn carriage or sleigh to protect the driver from mud or other debris "dashed" (thrown) up by the wheels and horses' hooves

Items located on the dashboard at first included the steering wheel and the instrument cluster. The instrument cluster pictured to the right contains gauges such as a speedometer, tachometer, odometer and fuel gauge, and indicators such as gearshift position, seat belt warning light, parking-brake-engagement warning light and an engine-malfunction light. There may also be indicators for low fuel, low oil pressure, low tire pressure and faults in the airbag (SRS) system. Heating and ventilation controls and vents, lighting controls, audio equipment and automotive navigation systems are also mounted on the dashboard.

The top of a dashboard may contain vents for the heating and air conditioning system and speakers for an audio system. A glove compartment is commonly located on the passenger's side. There may also be an ashtray and a cigarette lighter which can provide a power outlet for other low-voltage appliances

Wiki. Hmm that word "on" is a bit indicative, what?

Meade