Vanden Plas Maestro Digital (Talking) Dash

This was my friend's 1983 A reg Vanden Plas Maestro, in Oporto Red.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Vanden
• Plas
• Austin
• Maestro
• Talking
• Digital
• Dash
• Digidash

[vandenplas84]

wow, good to find a dashboard that still works after 20 years.

[SteveW170]

Yeah, the car was a minter with 30-odd thousand miles on it.

[Spac8]

Wow, that's fantastic!

My want for one has increased even more!

Thank you,

Jack.

[SteveW170]

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...

[robindwelthuth]

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.

[piehead1977]

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.

[quarkwrok]

@tris7 Funny that you used to see plenty around up until about 10 years ago long after all the Astra Mk1's and Escorts Mk2's had disappeared off the roads, even though they sold many times more Fords and Vauxhalls. The Maestro was was far too far ahead in design fir its time. People were buying Mk 1 Fiesta's, CX's and Cavaliers for chrissakes!

[quarkwrok]

@bummegood Yeh but I bet you're just guessing and never even drove one let alone owned one. The C reg s/h one I used to thrash about was much better than that heap of Clio crap I replaced it with.

[quarkwrok]

@whitbyjet65 Because it was British. If it had been German or from Toshiba every Delboy would have wet themselves.

[tris7]

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.

[bummegood]

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!

[raylyd]

nice i love that talking dash like kitt cool thing shame they dont do that to new cars.

[KitCloudkickerUK]

@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

[paulhunter123]

is this for real?

[MetroMartin]

@clemsontigers95 the digital dash Maestro's were from 1983 only, so you are right :)

[djh29971]

'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... :)