Geoff,
You indeed have a Factory V-8 style dash, although it has been modified
somewhat. The same style dash was used on the 1973-74 chrome bumper GT
V-8s, the 1975-76 rubber bumper V-8s, and the 1975-76 4-cylinder UK spec
Bs. There were some minor differences in the bracketry behind the dash
in the steering column area, but the dashes all looked the same from the
outside.
You are missing the plastic binnacle surround in the gauge area, a PO
has removed the panel lamp rheostat from between the tach and speedo and
sunk in the dual gauge there, as well as all the indicator lights. He
has indeed blanked off the original positions for the ignition and high
beam warning lights, and he also put the map light in the center of the
dash (original dashes had a blanking plug in this area). The ammeter is
an add-on, since he relocated the dual gauge to the center, he had room
to add one. No MGBs had ammeters as stock equipment (Abingdon didn't
want you to know how badly the Lucas system was malfunctioning!). At
least the hack job appears pretty sanitary, you may want to try to get a
new plastic binnacle from the UK to finish it off.
I have a 1974 Factory V-8 here in the States, and had to deal with a
hacked-up dash. I had to order a dash from the UK to replace the one
with big holes cut for extra switches, etc.
Cheers,
Paul Kile
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