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KICKSTART R-Sport Gauges Replica Mass Production

L

Linm126

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2025
Hi everyone.

The R-Sport gauges (image below) for 240 and 140 had been out of production for a very long time. A used set cost more than 1500USD now. The old style cable driven speedometer also doesn't fit the later car with VSS. Most of the people with 240 today have a LH2.4 or converted to LH2.4. The old R-Sport gauges won't meet today's demand anymore.

Here is the KICKSTART project for reproduction the old R-Sport gauges.

I'm trying to find a manufacturer and Replicate the R-Sport gauges with modern technology but the same look.

Gauges to be replicated:

Bracket that fit the 85+ 240
Speedometer (will read VSS, or receiving signal from GPS, let me know in comments.)
Tachometer (will read crank sensor signal as it used to be)
Temperature gauge ( for both water and oil)
Oil pressure gauge ( compatible with VDO sender unit)
Turbo gauge (vacuum line or digital sensor, let me know in comments)
Fuel level gauge (read from stock sender)
Voltage gauge
Ambient temperature gauge

Any other gauge you want to add to this project please let me know.

Gauge technology
Analog?
Digital?

The warning lights and turn indicator.
Fits 86+ (or more? not sure if possible, please comment)
I want to add a set separate turn indicator instead of the old R-Sport gauge using only one indicator light.

Wiring and connector.
Fit 86+ (or more? let me know if this is possible)

Lighting
Back light like modern gauges or side light illumination like the old ones.
I would prefer the back light.

Needle color
Glowing red?
Silver?

The gauge will be in standalone units and could be install separately into 240 gauge pod.

Do we want to make the gauge face changeable?

Do want to add any dual gauge (image show below) for more information can be shown in the 240 limited gauge pods?

How likely you would buy a set if this successfully go in production?

Would you join this project if it's published on Crowdfunding platform?



Please let me know what you think.
You are welcome to upload gauge face design here.




rallyeset200.jpgMOCOPOTG_Gauge.jpgs-l400.png
 
And most importantly, everything in a very reasonable price.
Please let me know what's your expecting price range.
 
Linm126 said:
And most importantly, everything in a very reasonable price.
Please let me know what's your expecting price range.
Click to expand...
no kickstart link

I think you’re going to find out that the market is smaller than you think

And that $1500 is a good price for a restored cluster


Make this
W

Thread 'Volvo 240 Digital Dash Retrofit'

I've been working on a digital dash project on and off for a few years now with varying degrees of intensity. It's a little fuzzy as to why I started doing this. It was probably a combination of work projects using embedded linux + Qt so I wanted to learn more about both and a lack of 240 tachometers in the local junkyard. This thread will be as much for me to log some of the design decisions that I'm rapidly forgetting as well as hopefully helping someone in the future who wants to do something similar. I haven't been great about taking pictures about every little piece of the project...
  • Like
 
Last edited:

Volvo 240 Digital Dash Retrofit

I've been working on a digital dash project on and off for a few years now with varying degrees of intensity. It's a little fuzzy as to why I started doing this. It was probably a combination of work projects using embedded linux + Qt so I wanted to learn more about both and a lack of 240...
turbobricks.com turbobricks.com
 
R-sport clusters don't fit in 240s after 80. You need to swap the entire dashboard to use this cluster and those dashes are slowly becoming just as rare as the cluster. More and more people are swapping later dashes into earlier cars to use the 81+ cluster or 85+ speedo with an LH2.4 conversion. There's infinitely more demand for an 81+ cluster with modern electronics.
 
Jack said:
no kickstart link

I think you’re going to find out that the market is smaller than you think

And that $1500 is a good price for a restored cluster


Make this
W

Thread 'Volvo 240 Digital Dash Retrofit'

I've been working on a digital dash project on and off for a few years now with varying degrees of intensity. It's a little fuzzy as to why I started doing this. It was probably a combination of work projects using embedded linux + Qt so I wanted to learn more about both and a lack of 240 tachometers in the local junkyard. This thread will be as much for me to log some of the design decisions that I'm rapidly forgetting as well as hopefully helping someone in the future who wants to do something similar. I haven't been great about taking pictures about every little piece of the project...
  • Like
Click to expand...
1500 is ridiculous. I'm expecting to have a new set less than 800.
The calbe driven gauge won't fit and VSS car in the first place.

I have followed the digital retrofit for quite some time. It just doesn't fit and doesn't look good with other thing in the car in my opinion.

A lot of 52mm gauges are out of production for a long time. They are universal and can fit into the gauge pod on the right side. It's good for the people just want a extra gauge on the side.
 
Radtap said:
R-sport clusters don't fit in 240s after 80. You need to swap the entire dashboard to use this cluster and those dashes are slowly becoming just as rare as the cluster. More and more people are swapping later dashes into earlier cars to use the 81+ cluster or 85+ speedo with an LH2.4 conversion. There's infinitely more demand for an 81+ cluster with modern electronics.
Click to expand...
Yes. The goal here is use 81+ bracket as a base. And a speedometer can read the VSS signal. There were people already done the bracket using 3D printing.

I have a 1980 242gt . I'm also doing the dash swap and LH 2.4 swap.
 
Keep in mind that a good set of six gauges off the shelf is around $600. Custom stuff on top of that will balloon the price quickly.

You'll also need the circuitry to condition the VSS input to the speedo and output it for the ECU.
 
Just make a mounting board that looks like the R sport cluster, then have people buy the gauges from SpeedHut. You can almost replicate the look of an R-sport gauge with their standard stuff (I think they will even allow customer faces to make it exact?). But the larger gauges are slightly larger than the originals of the R sport cluster. This is what my plan was prior to going to a CAN networked dash.
 
The amount of work and time it takes me to restore a full set of the original gt gauges really makes it difficult to price them below like $900. The last full cluster I purchased that needed a full restoration and had no circuit board was about half of that. Its also taken a ton of trial and error + practice to make them as good as I feel that I can now. I can really only do these as a passion project and not for any sort of profit, its just too much work and the market is small. I've looked into using other 52mm gauges, and like others have said - quality = $$$ and it seems to build a decent set it would cost around $800 + also. I don't think it would be impossible to build a good replica but Id be surprised if ends up being significantly less $ when its all said and done.
 
rearwheelpeel said:
The amount of work and time it takes me to restore a full set of the original gt gauges really makes it difficult to price them below like $900. The last full cluster I purchased that needed a full restoration and had no circuit board was about half of that. It’s also taken a ton of trial and error + practice to make them as good as I feel that I can now. I can really only do these as a passion project and not for any sort of profit, it’s just too much work and the market is small. I've looked into using other 52mm gauges, and like others have said - quality = $$$ and it seems to build a decent set it would cost around $800 + also. I don't think it would be impossible to build a good replica but Id be surprised if ends up being significantly less $ when it’s all said and done.
Click to expand...
I can do it for 14.99
 
GTJordan said:
Just make a mounting board that looks like the R sport cluster, then have people buy the gauges from SpeedHut. You can almost replicate the look of an R-sport gauge with their standard stuff (I think they will even allow customer faces to make it exact?). But the larger gauges are slightly larger than the originals of the R sport cluster. This is what my plan was prior to going to a CAN networked dash.
Click to expand...
The original tach and speedo are 80mm instead of the more common 85. The only manufacturer that still makes 80mm gauges is Smiths.
 
GTJordan said:
Just make a mounting board that looks like the R sport cluster, then have people buy the gauges from SpeedHut. You can almost replicate the look of an R-sport gauge with their standard stuff (I think they will even allow customer faces to make it exact?). But the larger gauges are slightly larger than the originals of the R sport cluster. This is what my plan was prior to going to a CAN networked dash.
Click to expand...
This.
 
rearwheelpeel said:
The amount of work and time it takes me to restore a full set of the original gt gauges really makes it difficult to price them below like $900. The last full cluster I purchased that needed a full restoration and had no circuit board was about half of that. Its also taken a ton of trial and error + practice to make them as good as I feel that I can now. I can really only do these as a passion project and not for any sort of profit, its just too much work and the market is small. I've looked into using other 52mm gauges, and like others have said - quality = $$$ and it seems to build a decent set it would cost around $800 + also. I don't think it would be impossible to build a good replica but Id be surprised if ends up being significantly less $ when its all said and done.
Click to expand...
A full set of gauges from VDO which build for construction vehicle, boat and RV is well below 800.
 
GTJordan said:
Just make a mounting board that looks like the R sport cluster, then have people buy the gauges from SpeedHut. You can almost replicate the look of an R-sport gauge with their standard stuff (I think they will even allow customer faces to make it exact?). But the larger gauges are slightly larger than the originals of the R sport cluster. This is what my plan was prior to going to a CAN networked dash.
Click to expand...
Good point. A mounting board with warning lights sounds like a good idea.
I think speedhut is overpriced tho.
 
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