EvilHorace wrote:It's probably oil pressure and water temp. Two very critical guages when and if there are also no "idiot lights" which was usually the case when guages were used (rarely both).
As for fuel, people manage to run out of gas when the guage is in a good location and even with a low fuel light too. Hiding that guage isn't good either.
Back in the 60s, things like "guage packages" were often optional and that's why they had bad locations in that era. Who'd want that now?
My dad has a 1972 Duster 340 (bought it new). I consider this one of the last muscle cars before the emmissions rules took effect. He has the following guages on the dash: Speedometer, Water, gas and charge. The other space is occupied by idiot lights for the oil and brake. The car had an AM radio with 1 speaker. Bench seats, automatic (at that time insurance was too much for the manual), no air, and a Full Size Spare tire.
True muscle cars were pretty much just an engine and chassis. They weren't build for comfort or for features. The muscle car era died in 72-73 with the new EPA regulations. I like the new Mustang, Challenger, and Camaro. However, I wish the auto industry would stop calling them muscle cars. We can never re-live that era due to current safety and epa regulations.
My point is: The American auto industry needs to quit trying to recapture the glory days. Move forward. Again I like the new Camaro, Mustang and Challenger. However, I'd rather have seen the next evolution from the previous generation of the Camaro and Mustang than the retro looks. Cars are getting "boxy" again.
I always wanted Dodge to take the previous generation Avenger and stick a 340 block in it with RWD. But no, Chrysler would rather make cars that no one can afford like the Prowler, Viper, and Challenger.