[Gannu_1]

I did a Google search but couldn’t find a thread on the forums dedicated for dash clocks. Please merge the thread if there’s one!

Almost all the car manufacturers provide a clock in the dash sometimes referred to as the dash-clock. Some of them have it integrated within the stereo system, some others have it displayed in the secondary MID on the dash and some others provide a dedicated unit. Luxury car manufacturers go a step ahead (or back in time?) and offer analog clocks in an era when VR (think Oculus Rift), Google Glass and flexible displays have evolved! For instance, Mercedes Benz offers IWC clocks (IWC is regarded as the baap of high-end Swiss watchmakers; connoisseurs pit the Omega and Rolex at a distant next!) in their top-end cars and AMG variants, Bentley offers Breitling’s instruments in their Continental GT and Mulsanne and the list goes on.

Here is a compilation of some of the analog ones on the present day cars compiled from Google Images:

Lexus LS:


Infiniti M37:


Jaguar XJ Supercharged:


Bentley Continental GT:


Bentley Mulsanne:


VW Passat:


VW Passat CC:


Audi A8L:


Maserati GT convertible:


SL63 AMG:


RR Ghost Alpine Trial Centenary:


CLS63 AMG:


RR Wraith:


SL63 AMG:


Chrysler 300:


S65 AMG:


RR Phantom Coupé Aviator:


RR Phantom:


2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S:


2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante:


2012 Cadillac CTS:


W123 :


Ferrari 250 GTE:


Source: Google Image Search

Those analog clocks look so retro! I wonder why the regular manufacturers don't provide something like this instead of the digital variants. I mean how much more expensive can it be!

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to Tech Stuff. Thanks for sharing!

[tanwaramit]

The reasons why premium brands have analog watch is to have exclusive factor and having a big brand name brings oomph factor to the car. If they too have something like digital then their car dash would be too common with other cars in the market.

Talk about style, bringing personality.

I for one would prefer digital for its easy readability and less space to occupy.

Also I think Tata safari has analog clock on its dash.

[thumpingheart]

What a beautiful collection. I did always have a thing for analogue clocks in cars. The Maserati GT clock just made my jaw drop! Massive drool.

[saket77]

Very unique topic... to you.

And yes, I have always loved analogue formats over digital. Even I find the old mechanical speedo and RPM meters more fascinating than the new digital consoles. And the dash clocks you have posted - they are truly exotic.

Regards,
Saket

[ashphil]

Gannu_1,
Lovely collection of clocks on exotic automobiles.Analogue clocks are so much more beautiful to look at though the digital ones may be easier to read.Thank you or putting this thread together.
Regards,
Ashok

[KrishD]

Our Desi boy Safari/ Safari Storme also sports an analogue clock....! Looks nice there too

[jkdas]

Originally Posted by KrishD

Our Desi boy Safari/ Safari Storme also sports an analogue clock....! Looks nice there too

Haha exactly! That too should be here.

I dint know that few cars had IWC !

[SmartCat]

I prefer digital clocks.

With digital clocks, my brain processes the time in about 0.1 seconds. With analog clocks, my brain takes approximately 1.2 seconds to figure out the time - especially when those clocks have just 12, 3, 6 & 9 markings.

[interest]

The analog clocks sure look classy on the dash though i would agree that you have to look away from the road a lot longer to read time as compared to the digital clocks. However, most (not all) of these high end cars are chauffeur driven and hence the owner wouldnt have to worry about the extra second taken to read time.

[aniketi]

Great thread !!!

I was searching for clock in W123. Initially i thought this picture is misplaced here by mistake. Then i realized there is clock there !! Really worst placement for clock in the dash.

Few of the clocks are really classy. Looks really uber cool.

[joybhowmik]

I would have thought the placement of a full dial clock would reduce the scarce real-estate on the dash. This is because unlike the average cars , there's a lot more machinery requiring a lot more instrumentation and controls (buttons, stalks etc) on these high-end cars. It is really surprising that they still found space for a dash clock, that too in the center!

[cruze'ader]

A very nice thread indeed Gannu. Being a huge fan of watches myself, it makes me really envious on seeing some of the really cool and classy analog watches on some of the cars here.

While it is true that the retro analog clocks do add oodles of appeal to a car's character, I think manufacturers should keep in mind that this is supposed to add character to the car rather than providing a clock just for the sake of it. Some of the clocks listed here look excellent. While some look plain cheap and look more like an after-thought. This is completely personal opinion. Here is the list of cars which don't have decent retro clocks from the above pictures:
1. Infiniti M37
2. VW Passat
3. Audi A8L
4. Maserati GT
5. RR Wraith
6. Cadillac CTS

On the other hand, some of these timepieces are mouth-wateringly tasty like the Jaguar XJ and the Ghost. I feel that atleast the high end manufacturers should devote more time and money on a nice timepiece for their high end cars. For example, the one on the RR Wraith was so plain jane and an utter disappointment.

Thanks for writing-up this excellent thread!

[Santoshbhat]

Originally Posted by smartcat

With digital clocks, my brain processes the time in about 0.1 seconds. With analog clocks, my brain takes approximately 1.2 seconds to figure out the time - especially when those clocks have just 12, 3, 6 & 9 markings.

Really? For me its the other way round. My brain processes analog clocks quicker than digital ones. A digital clock just gives out some numbers and the brain needs to read it and interpret it, whereas an analog clock gives a 'picture' of the time.

Also I find it easier to work out how much time I've got before, say a fixed deadline, by just glancing at an analogue clock, whereas with a digital clock I need to do some math to work it out.

[speedmunster]

The one on the W123 looks awful. So are the ones in the older Fiat cars. They too came with clocks integrated in the instrument console.

Personally, I miss having a clock completely in the Fiesta as the clock was integrated in the company head unit, which was replaced with better ICE.