Vintage Car Parts: Classic Tachometer

A classic tachometer is a part that is a must-have for any muscle car restoration. A tachometer is an instrument used to measure the revolutions per minute, or RPMs, of a motor. In the automotive world a tachometer helps you to keep a close eye on the health of your engine and transmission.

History

The first tachometers were only available on professional race cars prior to the 1950s. These simple tools allowed the driver of the vehicle to "see" whether the engine of his car was running at optimum performance, rather than "hear" it. The noise from the exhaust system and the other cars were simply too loud for the driver to hear his own engine, and these classic car parts offered a visual solution.

In the 1950s, tachometers became important hot rod accessories and were common on muscle cars. These types of cars were likely to be driven fast or raced by their owners, and a tachometer was a very useful visual indication of the RPMs the car was running.

Benefit

A tachometer on a hot rod could allow a driver to take the vehicle all the way to the red line before changing gears. This ability added speed to the vehicle while reducing the damage to both the motor and transmission by crossing the red line into overworking the motor.

If your classic car has a tachometer that doesn't work, there are several places you can send it to for repairs. There are also places that will make a custom classic tachometer for your car.

Classic tachometers are of various styles. A few companies make them in chrome to provide a historic look, while the others make them in analog style. You can choose one depending on what you're looking for.