65 Dart factory tach

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azaustin

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Does anyone know if Mopar offered any factory or dealer-approved tachometers for the 235HP Dart engines? I’m pretty sure they didn’t, but would just like to know for sure. My original 1965 Dart Go-Go (4 speed) had an RAC tach mounted on the dash between the steering wheel and the pillar. It was a very clean installation that never gave any problems, although I’m not sure how accurate it was. It was on the car when I bought it off a used car lot in September of 1966.
 
Yes they did . it is the exact same unit used in the Barracuda Formula S for 1965 . It mounts in the dash to the left of the instrument cluster. I parted out a 65 Dart GT with a commando 273 and a factory tach
 
This is the correct factory tach. 65'
65 Tach.jpg
 
I see a console tach listed in the 66 accessory catalog but it doesn't say any particular model. @65dartcharger might be able to help. He is a 65 Dart expert.
 
There is no mention of a tachometer anywhere in the 65 Dodge Dealer Showroom Album or in my 65 Dealer’s order form pad nor is it mentioned or shown in the 65 Parts Catalogue in the accessories or electrical section.
 
Here's some interior pics. The Dodge cluster looks completely different than the Cuda. One thing though , Some Cars of the same model offered in the USA had different builds in Canada so valientwagonguy could have come across one of these. . I've seen unrestored 67 Cuda's in Canada with no letters on the front upper grill support. Also, the Plymouth emblem on some trunk lids but not others. Never say never when it comes to Mopars!

!965 Dodge Dart GT Cluster

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTGdxyNW9lsy2jpgAhGCFbYypCyptrbnbQNtg&usqp=CAU.jpg



1965 Barracuda Formula S Cluster.
used-1965-plymouth-barracuda-barracudaformulass2doorcoupe-10029-19654388-2-1024.jpg
 
I have thought several times about putting a Barracuda tach in one of my cars but just couldn’t figure out how to make it look right. I will set an RAC tach I bought (similar to the one on my high school car) on the dash of my convertible and post a photo so you can see how it looked. Thanks for all the responses.
 
Here's some interior pics. The Dodge cluster looks completely different than the Cuda. One thing though , Some Cars of the same model offered in the USA had different builds in Canada so valientwagonguy could have come across one of these. . I've seen unrestored 67 Cuda's in Canada with no letters on the front upper grill support. Also, the Plymouth emblem on some trunk lids but not others. Never say never when it comes to Mopars!

!965 Dodge Dart GT Cluster

View attachment 1715708109


1965 Barracuda Formula S Cluster.
View attachment 1715708110
I'm thinking now that the previous owner used a 65 barracuda S dash in that Dart I parted .It was a factory install for sure with a factory cut hole but the guy raced it and it had a 66 and up 4 speed trans in it. I'll see if I can dig out a photo.I parted this out in the 90's so. Bought it for the 273/235 4 speed it had.It was in a front end crash so it was parts to me.
 
I am using a 66 Barracuda dash in my 65 Dart wagon with the original intent was to use the 66 cluster as it had a tach AND oil pressure gauge. A Dakota Digital conversion will be used with the original 66 Barracuda bezel
 
Yes they did . it is the exact same unit used in the Barracuda Formula S for 1965 . It mounts in the dash to the left of the instrument cluster. I parted out a 65 Dart GT with a commando 273 and a factory tach
Could you describe how it was mounted? I’m assuming above the switches unless there was some kind of mounting plate
 
With my 41 years in early A-body and most of that into 1965 Darts I have never seen of a factory mounted tach from factory. I have heard of many ideas that the factory mounted them never got any pictures of it even if I rasked for pictures. But in that Chrysler had cut hole in the plastic to make space for the tach, it would be very time consuming. I find it hard to believe that Chrysler had done that procedure of adding this item. It's more likely that they added in on the floor console for the automatic tranny or on the floor console for the manual transmission cars and it was done by the dealership instead.
 
Could you describe how it was mounted? I’m assuming above the switches unless there was some kind of mounting plate

On the 65 Barracuda it was mounted below the headlight/wiper switches. There was no mounting plate behind the hole in the dash - the front bezel sort if acted like a mounting plate
 
Ok, here’s the picture I promised. It took me a while to find the tach in my parts stash. I’m just holding it in the approximate position that my original tach was mounted. After looking at it, I’m pretty sure that this tach is larger that the RAC my high school car had. It may also have had a black crinkle finish cup, but I’m not sure. After reading all the posts, I tend to agree with Ulf. However, my car’s tach installation was very neatly done and looked like it was born there. Like this one, it had a 120 degree sweep. It was illuminated, which made it very easy to see at night. Like many tachs back in the day, it had a slight problem with ballistic overshoot. I didn’t know about that back then and often worried that I had over-revved my engine. If anyone out there knows of a smaller RAC like this one that’s available, I’d appreciate hearing from you. The tach in the picture is 3 1/8”. I think the tach in my car was around 2 3/4”

Ulf, the picture you see on the wall to my left is a blown-up copy of the brochure I got from you many years ago. I keep it there to keep me motivated.

Thanks again for all the replies and discussion.

0217E481-FCF7-4495-B10D-92E208126CCE.jpeg
 
This was the best place I could find. I didn't want to put it in the dash or drill a hole in the console.

100_4680 (1).JPG
 
I had forgotten what the ‘66 consoles for the 4-speeds looked liked. Kind of a preview of some of the later consoles. Looks nice.
 
66 was the first year for the coffin style A body console. The top plate was silver with a black stripe.
 
I wasn’t sure, and it was kind of hard to tell from the angle in the picture. My ‘65 convertible has a little more of a console than my 4-speed ‘65 coupe, and I think it looks nice. Of course, when I was 17, the console would have been a bit of an obstacle on dates, and in my coupe, which was a 4-speed, the little plate on the floor wasn’t. Just sayin’.:)
 
THe coffin console was new for 66 and the top plates were silver with a black center stripe. I believe in 68 those plates were wood grained.
 
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