Gauge bezels

[davidj]

Good morning,

My '66 s3 se has black bezels for the rev counter and speedo, but chrome bezels for the two smaller gauges. Strange they are different but they all look original....... Does anyone know if this is how the car was delivered? I would prefer chrome bezels for all the gauges, but would stick with black for the larger if this is correct.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[types26/36]

I believe only the S1 and maybe early S2 cars had black bezels but its a Lotus so anything is possible
Forgot to add I had a 67 S3 SE and it had chrome bezels.

[ericbushby]

Yes, Chrome bezels.
Auto electrical spares have them on ebay at £12.00 each
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3SE DHC

[davidj]

Chrome bezels and seals ordered. I wonder how they came to be different?

Cheers, David

[nomad]

I'm in just the opposite position. I have chrome bezel gauges that I managed to find for my S1 and want black. Electrical Spares only show chrome. My car was missing all the gauges when i acquired it. Don't know if the black was anodized or some other process more durable than paint but am looking for suggestions.

Kurt
26/3754

[lotusfan]

Kurt

Maybe too late but talk to davidj and do a swap?

Lotus Cortina, Elite and E-Type Jaguar have black bezels. They are normally made of brass so would be painted not anodised.

There are certainly people on e-bay UK who sell gauge glasses, O rings and bezels not sure if they do black ones.

IMHO black ones are nicest!!

[paddy]

Kurt,

I had the same problem and I asked JDO Instruments if they had original (secondhand) black bezels available to buy, which they did. At the time, at least, they were refurbishing gauges and replacing black with chrome, and retaining the removed black bezels. The ones I received were in perfect condition externally - the tabs were obviously bent, but all of them were there.

According to Google they appear to still be around.

Paddy

[nomad]

Thanks, Paddy. My restorer of choice in the US is Nisonger so I will give him a holler first.

Kurt

[cabc26b]

You can also paint them black yourself - I have taken a chrome bezel off , beed blasted it and painted it black . looks good and also lasts .

[nomad]

Thanks George, save me some time and sell me one of your S1's!

Kurt
26/3754