Back in 4-2009, I did some research and came up with the following results.
1. This is from the book,
Original AC Ace & Cobra by Rinsey Mills, 1990
2. From my conversation with Chuck Gutky of Cobra Restorations
and others.
CSX2000 to 2200 - Smith Gauges
Large gauges – 4” (100mm)
Small gauges – 2 – 1/16” (52mm)
From 2201 onto 427 cars - Stewart Warner
Large gauges – 3 – ½”
Small gauges – 2 – 1/8”
427 Cars – Smith gauges
Large gauges 4” (100mm)
Small gauges – 2 – 1/16” (52mm)
FIA Cars – fitted with Stewart Warner gauges at 2 – 5/8” for
oil pressure and
oil temperature and a 2 – 1/16” Ammeter-I do not know about the large gauge or gauges
The first one or two cars from AC possibly came with 5" gauges. Quote from Rinsey Mills book:
“Apart from the first one or two cars which used 2.6 Ace 5” main instruments, both the speedometer and rev counter were of 4” diameter.”
What also makes it a bit confusing is the fact that you could change to what ever gauges you wanted after you got the car but I also think, for some items, you could order what you wanted. I remember reading that there are different tails lights in the same series because you could order it that way. Two separate lights vs one.
The clock, from Rinsey Mills:
"The lower gauge was an electric clock, which was normally by Smiths but a number of the cars with Stewart Warner equipment used a totally inappropriate clock form the 1962 Ford Galaxie"
I'm going to guess that the cars with Stewart Warner gauges came into the US without any gauges at all and were finished here with the American SW gauges. With no SW clocks they found some from Ford in the '62 Galaxie style.
It will be interesting to see what the new Rinsey Mills book has to say about the cars. It has been put off for a while now. It is too bad that more original information is not out there as some of the original guys that put these cars together are still living.