And this is how the british car industry fell. All that money pumped into projects like stupid talking dashboards and 'Phoenix' Group directors when buyers were primariliy interested in cars which didnt disolve in a light shower or look like something you might see on the set of downton abbey.
I liked the comment - still working after 20 years! Amazing any that worked after 20 minutes. A car that not only looked shit, driven shit, rotted quicker than a crock of shit - it spoke it to. And there is a reason why cars today don't talk - because the buying public don't want them to and you can't blame Cameron for that!
This video needs to be longer please! I remember the TV advertisment for the Meastro on the 1980's, it made you think that all Meastros had a talking dashboard I was dissappointed when we got our 1.3L which was good by the way, but it had the bog standard non talking dashboard!
They were actually quite a good car, my aunt still has her 1983 VDP with all the dashboard still working in mint condition. Always reminded me of Star Trek!
My uncles used to go off whenever it wanted, im sure it used to tell us to 'fasten belts' or something when we already had them on :') ahhh the 80s...
When i first heard and saw the Vanden plas talking dash it seemed impossibly futuristic, a brave new world. Unfortunately other car manufacturers didn't pick up the baton and run with it. Even Austin seemed to shy away. An idea too ahead of it's time? It seems so. Now the only thing like it in my car is the soothing beep beep beep when i fail to put my seatbelt in. A sad reflection on Cameron's big society.
I remember when i first saw and heard the Vanden Plas Talking Dash. It seemed impossibly futuristic, the dawn of a brave new world. Sadly, other car manufacturers didn't take up the baton and run with it. And even Austin seemed to shy away after being early champions. An idea just too ahead of it's time? It would seem so. Now the only thing like it in my car is the soothing beep beep beep when i fail to wear my seat belt. A sad reflection on Cameron's big society!!
I could sit and watch/listen to uploads of digital dashboards all day,and do.But on the topic of the great analogue cluster debate i have spent many a happy hour in my uncles 1993 ford fiesta knockin the hazard warning lights on and off.Thank the lord those techno-prats didnt get their hands on the dashboard of the one and only hot hatch in my opinion the sumptuous ford fiesta 1.3L.
I totally agree with carwrtr1. I also find it much easier to read a voice through my ears rather than look at an analog cluster. In many ways analog clusters have been a bane in my life.
Time.Trip Distance.Fuel Used. Instantaneous Fuel Consumption.Average Fuel Consumption.Absolutely smashing stuff from the voice recording experts at Austin.When i was a young lad i used to do a perfect mimic of the lady heard.Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.Gosh those were the days.Id often get a clip round the ear off my father though when id do it all the way from Chipping Sodbury to Greater Buttsniff!
My friend had one of these when we were young and when it was getting a bollocking she would say irratic fuel consumption , 1.6 twin choke webber always flooding lol , cheers
There's nothing wrong with a car that speaks to you; it's nice to have voice prompts. Why can't we have this in our cars today? This is "high tech," plus it's also modern, too, not to mention easier to read than an analog cluster.....
Yeah, it's a cool gadget. But they often broke and the voice synthesizer often had annoying glitches. But that one must have been made on a good day in Longbridge.
The car was way ahead of it's time. I was at school then but always wanted one. In later years I did get a Maestro 1600EFi vanden plas in a dark brown almost red colour. One of the most comfortable cars ever and really quiet too. It was a brilliant car! The diesel was like a tractor unfortunately, but the digital dashboards and talking cars put them ahead. Why can't they make quality cars now.
I did the same, retro fitted one into my M16 powered '89 Maestro along with the voice synth and fuel computer setup. In its own sweet way, that was a very cool car! I've still got several digi dashes, computers and relay kicking around in the garage aswell.
No problem. I have recordings from my friend's left hand drive German MG1600 (see other video) which has a similar digital dash, but speaks in four different languages. I might upload those, too...
And this is how the british car industry fell. All that money pumped into projects like stupid talking dashboards and 'Phoenix' Group directors when buyers were primariliy interested in cars which didnt disolve in a light shower or look like something you might see on the set of downton abbey.
tris7 3 days ago
I liked the comment - still working after 20 years! Amazing any that worked after 20 minutes. A car that not only looked shit, driven shit, rotted quicker than a crock of shit - it spoke it to. And there is a reason why cars today don't talk - because the buying public don't want them to and you can't blame Cameron for that!
bummegood 1 month ago
nice i love that talking dash like kitt cool thing shame they dont do that to new cars.
raylyd 1 month ago
is this for real?
paulhunter123 2 months ago
@paulhunter123 yes, these cars are quite rare now and are much sought after by collectors as they were the highest in the range of this model of car
KitCloudkickerUK 1 month ago
@clemsontigers95 the digital dash Maestro's were from 1983 only, so you are right :)
MetroMartin 2 months ago
'You have bought a car from Austin-Rover. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!' You would of thought it would of been in Brummie at least... :)
djh29971 2 months ago
This even got it's own little cameo on Brookside in 1983!
themanmaschine 4 months ago
People used to ridicule this when they came out but look at everyone now....with a talking sat nav stuck to their dashboard.
whitbyjet65 4 months ago 2
Why did cars have talking dash boards, then not have talking dash boards, to having talking dash boards again?
joelwarfe306 4 months ago
Sounds like Dr Crusher from Star Trek
trulymeparker 4 months ago
This video needs to be longer please! I remember the TV advertisment for the Meastro on the 1980's, it made you think that all Meastros had a talking dashboard I was dissappointed when we got our 1.3L which was good by the way, but it had the bog standard non talking dashboard!
MultiBandWagon 5 months ago
High spec for its day,does it argue or swear.
TheVx490 7 months ago
Does this unit use a sphencher unit for coupling the end cap resisters plates?
HuskerSeaofRed 7 months ago
amazes me that it actually works :-p
orlando318 7 months ago
They were actually quite a good car, my aunt still has her 1983 VDP with all the dashboard still working in mint condition. Always reminded me of Star Trek!
alantheskinhead 9 months ago
My uncles used to go off whenever it wanted, im sure it used to tell us to 'fasten belts' or something when we already had them on :') ahhh the 80s...
JordanEmonds 11 months ago
When i first heard and saw the Vanden plas talking dash it seemed impossibly futuristic, a brave new world. Unfortunately other car manufacturers didn't pick up the baton and run with it. Even Austin seemed to shy away. An idea too ahead of it's time? It seems so. Now the only thing like it in my car is the soothing beep beep beep when i fail to put my seatbelt in. A sad reflection on Cameron's big society.
robindwelthuth 11 months ago 7
@robindwelthuth
I remember in the 80's the Renault 25!
theskig 9 months ago
I remember when i first saw and heard the Vanden Plas Talking Dash. It seemed impossibly futuristic, the dawn of a brave new world. Sadly, other car manufacturers didn't take up the baton and run with it. And even Austin seemed to shy away after being early champions. An idea just too ahead of it's time? It would seem so. Now the only thing like it in my car is the soothing beep beep beep when i fail to wear my seat belt. A sad reflection on Cameron's big society!!
robindwelthuth 11 months ago
I could sit and watch/listen to uploads of digital dashboards all day,and do.But on the topic of the great analogue cluster debate i have spent many a happy hour in my uncles 1993 ford fiesta knockin the hazard warning lights on and off.Thank the lord those techno-prats didnt get their hands on the dashboard of the one and only hot hatch in my opinion the sumptuous ford fiesta 1.3L.
piehead1977 11 months ago 5
I totally agree with carwrtr1. I also find it much easier to read a voice through my ears rather than look at an analog cluster. In many ways analog clusters have been a bane in my life.
robindwelthuth 11 months ago
Time.Trip Distance.Fuel Used. Instantaneous Fuel Consumption.Average Fuel Consumption.Absolutely smashing stuff from the voice recording experts at Austin.When i was a young lad i used to do a perfect mimic of the lady heard.Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.Gosh those were the days.Id often get a clip round the ear off my father though when id do it all the way from Chipping Sodbury to Greater Buttsniff!
piehead1977 11 months ago 4
My friend had one of these when we were young and when it was getting a bollocking she would say irratic fuel consumption , 1.6 twin choke webber always flooding lol , cheers
deere38 1 year ago
sounds like a female version of speak an spell
jwhitt070 1 year ago
So this is where Knight Industries stole the technology for Kitt. They could've at least nicked her voice as well so it didn't sound so gay
monkeyboydai 1 year ago
Voiced by one Nicolette McKenzie...
fastcarspete 1 year ago
this is maybe cool, but why do we need this when blind people can't drive a car :/
umtipf 1 year ago
I have a Maestro VDP with the talking dash just like that, here in Seattle USA
rrshadow2 1 year ago
future was here but he left must have been something we said
taltigolt 1 year ago
hmm... onstar has a sexier voice... if its a girl
krazor8 1 year ago
There's nothing wrong with a car that speaks to you; it's nice to have voice prompts. Why can't we have this in our cars today? This is "high tech," plus it's also modern, too, not to mention easier to read than an analog cluster.....
carwrtr1 1 year ago 2
Yeah, it's a cool gadget. But they often broke and the voice synthesizer often had annoying glitches. But that one must have been made on a good day in Longbridge.
MrMoterKid 1 year ago
I had a 1988 Vanden Plas, I was very jealous/annoyed that the earlier models were digital and 'spoke'.
PurestSpirit 1 year ago
Cheers you have made my day!! I used to drive a A reg Meastro VDP in Opline green with working voice dash.... many thanks
Steve
celcomp 1 year ago
The car was way ahead of it's time. I was at school then but always wanted one. In later years I did get a Maestro 1600EFi vanden plas in a dark brown almost red colour. One of the most comfortable cars ever and really quiet too. It was a brilliant car! The diesel was like a tractor unfortunately, but the digital dashboards and talking cars put them ahead. Why can't they make quality cars now.
urbex2007 1 year ago
An absolute gem! The Maestro was a great car anyway but particularly with that digital dash. Reminds me of something Bang & Olufsen would have made.
SuperTabitha22 1 year ago
Wow! I really used to lust after one of those when I was a 13 year old lad :D
3500P5 1 year ago
jesus its knght rider
Japcarfan550 1 year ago
Splendido!! mi ricorda i miei 18 anni!!
motovinix71 2 years ago
the best one was 'handbrake -on'
Paintheshed 2 years ago
it sounds like stephen hawkins computer when it talks to you. i bet the talking dashboard i extremely rare now
jaggass 2 years ago
I got one of these dash's from the scrapper and re-fitted it to my montego, wished i still had all the bits it would go in my car now lol.
lezbriddon 2 years ago
I did the same, retro fitted one into my M16 powered '89 Maestro along with the voice synth and fuel computer setup. In its own sweet way, that was a very cool car! I've still got several digi dashes, computers and relay kicking around in the garage aswell.
charlieflint 2 years ago
Great!
spearmint123456 2 years ago
That must be quite annoying over long periods of time though.
kazimann 2 years ago
Fortunately, you can switch it off.
SD1fruitbat 2 years ago
wow, good to find a dashboard that still works after 20 years.
vandenplas84 2 years ago 5
Yeah, the car was a minter with 30-odd thousand miles on it.
SteveW170 2 years ago
Wow, that's fantastic!
My want for one has increased even more!
Thank you,
Jack.
Spac8 2 years ago
No problem. I have recordings from my friend's left hand drive German MG1600 (see other video) which has a similar digital dash, but speaks in four different languages. I might upload those, too...
SteveW170 2 years ago