What is it?!
 

Question - one of my 1971 164’s has a centre console with a strange black VDO unit fitted. It has an earth feed and light, it’s bigger than a clock but actually has nil inside except black. It’s not been opened hence I know nil has been removed but any ideas what it is or it’s supposed to do? Picture here - it’s filthy yes as it’s how I found the car but in process of sorting out now....

I'm by no means certain, Tony, but IIRC a Swedish friend's home market '72 144 once had an accessory rev counter mounted in that position. Might yours be provision for one (with the electrical connections)?

Regards, John.

Thanks John, that would be a nice addition if I could find a 6 cyl unit! Will keep eyes out.

I seem to recall when new it was a clock fitted in that position the small knurled button was used to press and twist to set the time.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=...AAAAAdAAAAABAz

Most likely a clock as per the car in the link. My old 145 had a clock in the same location.

Enlarging the image it looks like someone has played what is quite a neat trick of applying some black window tint film over it then using a brighter bulb to illuminate the clock so it's not noticeable at first until the bulb is on (usually with ignition so may have a blown bulb) at which point the tint film becomes more or less transparent, revealing the time.

To explain that with a couple of pics :

https://i.postimg.cc/qqqrLQDz/IMG-20...-213708856.jpg

Is it a mirror? :thinking:


https://i.postimg.cc/bY5fPxF9/IMG-20...-213648551.jpg

Nope, it's a clock! :thumbs_up:

That's done with silver-reflective window tint film. I also have some guages i bought from Chinabay that appear black until powered up, again just black window tint film.

https://i.postimg.cc/FKXG25N9/IMG_20..._211307086.jpg
Off ^^^^^

https://i.postimg.cc/3JWLGFtH/IMG_20..._211111624.jpg
On ^^^^^

I might be wrong but when i enlarged the pic of your mystery item, i'm fairly sure i made out the shadow of a pair of hands at the "5 to 4" or "20 past 11" positions - could have been shadows or something though so don't quote me on that!

My first reaction was a clock but having cleaned it up and even taken it out there’s nil there except an empty, sealed VDO case with no part number. On the back are three slotted holes which look like could have had something fitted then rotated to lock, but then as the front is sealed I don’t see how that would work as a clock or anything else. Later I will take off the tray and photo it again. Strange one. It’s also bigger than the spare Volvo VDO clock that I thought would fit there.

Here’s a few photos - I’ve also found a green feed wire now that was tucked away. Will check that on diagram later. You can see the three slots on the back that look like something should be there. Although it’s larger than I expected for a Volvo clock perhaps someone in the last 50 years has skilfully opened it up, removed clock, removed dial (I see no paint over) and left the case there.

In that case i'd measure the hole and fit a tacho :

https://www.europaspares.com/catalog.../category/356/

https://www.europaspares.com/catalog.../category/356/

First is 80mm and second is 100mm diameter, both should be in keeping with the OE Volvo instruments (similar font on the dial), i'm guessing one or the other should fit straight in. Also guessing i'd say at some point the oiginal console was broken/damaged so a previous owner replaced it with whataver guage that was originally, found the guage didn't work and covered it over after stripping it just to stop things falling through the hole.

Certainly looks like it was originally a clock! :thumbs_up: