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A Look at Some Wild 1980s Digital Dashboards

When the intent was to dazzle rather than provide good UX

By Rain Noe - August 25, 2021

in Cars | UX

Not too long ago, automotive interior designers had to integrate certain features into dashboards that would seem strange today: A keyed ignition switch, a cigarette lighter, an ashtray. They also didn't need to make space for modern mainstays like airbags and touchscreens, which gave them more real estate to play with.

That wasn't necessarily a good thing; in the '80s, everyone became infatuated with flashy "digital" displays, led by the Japanese and the Italians, as well as the production designers of the 1982 hit show "Knight Rider." The purpose of these dashboards was apparently to dazzle rather than design a manageable user experience. Here are some examples, in no particular order:

1985 Citroen BX Digit (designed by Marcello Gandini)

It is so strange to see how much negative space there is in the steering wheel. Not that you would, but there's enough space to reach through the wheel to get the key.

1987 Cadillac Eldorado

Are there enough buttons on the lower-center console?

1986 Toyota Soarer (Japanese-market progenitor of the Lexus SC)

The cigarette lighter's right next to the steering wheel, and just past it is the ashtray. The dream car for a chain smoker.

1979 Volvo Tundra concept car (also designed by Marcello Gandini)

How hilarious is it to see the "hi-tech" dash up top, and at the lower left, just above the clutch, a choke lever.

1985 Subaru Alcyone (Japanese market; U.S. version was called the XT Turbo)

The layout of the switches doesn't bother me, as it at least seems rational. What seems wildly irrational is the assymetrical steering wheel. It seems ideal for the driver who makes primarily right turns.

1984 Toyota Cressida

This is tied with the Citroen up top for "most negative steering wheel space."

1985 Mazda MX-03 concept

Maybe Mazda fell a little too in love with K.I.T.T., as they went with a yoke here. I do wonder what the thumb buttons were meant to do; Turbo Boost?

Toyota Celica GT-R (year unknown)

The weird trend of reminding you, via branding on the steering wheel, about a mechanical feature of the engine.

1987 Cadillac Allante (designed by Pininfarina)

The first in this line-up to go back to actual dials, but they tried to jazz them up by adding reticles and an ill-fitting digital readout on the right-hand dial.

1986 Oldsmobile(!) Incas concept (designed by Italdesign)

What can I say, except that cocaine was a very popular drug in the '80s.

Isuzu Impulse (year unknown)

As close to K.I.T.T. as they could get.

1982 Knight Industries Two Thousand

The dragon everyone was chasing.

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Comments

Matt Chin

3 years ago

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A functional benefit of a “digital dash” is the opportunity for color illuminated tachometer bar graph like in my buddy’s Nissan 200SX. The bar graph grows with revs and the last few bars are yellow and red, so you can see it change color in the corner of your eye and shift at just the right moment without having to actually look down.

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Scott Bennett

3 years ago

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Great post. My personal favorite is the Aston Martin Lagonda. CRT TV screen in the center (probably B&W), LED segmented number readouts just like a cash register, all surrounded by hand polished walnut burl. And another single spoke steering wheel...

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Naveed Ahmed

3 years ago

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I like the Oldsmobile Incas concept - looks like the control of a space fighter. Probably not too practical for a car though.

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Erk Trek

3 years ago

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What about the Vector W8? I think that started production around 1989...

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Erk Trek

3 years ago

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What about the Vector W8? I believe it start production in 1989..

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