Case study · Restoration · Obsolete parts

Reviving a full set of obsolete dashboard knobs for a stalled restoration.

The owner's restoration had stopped on a set of four cracked interior knobs, with no aftermarket supply and the OEM part long discontinued. We reproduced the full set from the one surviving original and had the restoration back on schedule inside 8 working days.

3D-printed circular dashboard part from a classic-car restoration by 3D Printing Express
4
units printed (full set)
£65
per unit
8
working days, start to shipped
N/A
OEM stock available
The challenge

No aftermarket supply, OEM long discontinued.

The owner's restoration had stopped dead on a set of four cracked interior dashboard knobs. There was no aftermarket supply and the original manufacturer's part had been discontinued for years, so there was no part to buy at any price. One single knob had survived unbroken.

How we did it

One surviving original in, a full matched set out.

He posted us the one surviving unbroken original. We scanned it, reproduced the full set in ABS with a colour-matched spray finish, and returned the original to him tracked. The restoration was back on schedule inside 8 working days, start to shipped.

The result

Back on schedule inside 8 working days.

A full matched set of four, reproduced from a single survivor, colour-matched and shipped inside eight working days, with the irreplaceable original returned tracked.

Written and reviewed by the 3D Printing Express team · co-founders & product design engineers, 3D Printing Express
ONE WORKSHOP · NAMED ENGINEERS · UK-SHIPPED

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