Custom front center ash tray

[Michael O’Harran]

My resto mod is enduring on, and I’m taking a near original style and look for my 72’ Mach 1 and adding little features along the way.

The current project was the long center console center ashtray. After a restoration, it’s a wasted spot. So I added power quad windows and have front window crank switch handles as well as illuminated black flush mount switches for all 4. Where to put them? The ashtray allows for room to slide the cover shut so the can’t be seen, but central to bothe driver and passenger and right at the designed tips of your fingers. In a black car at night they illuminate to be seen.

The 4 switches fit in the ashtray with minimal switch trim shaving to create a singular row. T bottom of the ashtray was cut off and a piece of metal welded on top, the cut to fit the bank of switches factory snug. The will be smoothed and painted before done but this was that build. Just a little update.

 

[Sheriff41]

That's an excellent repurposing of the ash tray -- very clever!

 

[1973 Mach-1]

That's very well done!
I repurposed my ashtray to control one aspect of my music listening. Aside from being able to listen to the 8-Track or radio, I can stream music from my phone using a Bluetooth receiver I got from Radio Shack (when they still existed). The diamond shaped thing is the receiver, and the switch powers it up, as well as the amp in the rear. (I hid that under the package tray). The ashtray door slides shut to conceal it all.

 

[Michael O’Harran]

That's very well done!
I repurposed my ashtray to control one aspect of my music listening. Aside from being able to listen to the 8-Track or radio, I can stream music from my phone using a Bluetooth receiver I got from Radio Shack (when they still existed). The diamond shaped thing is the receiver, and the switch powers it up, as well as the amp in the rear. (I hid that under the package tray). The ashtray door slides shut to conceal it all.
View attachment 73582

Thanks. Same to you. I think we all mostly want the original look but someof us want more while keeping that look as close as possible. Ashtrays are wasted space now a days so any repurpose of them is great.