Herman tells me that today he refurbished his console compartment to improve its appearance and to reduce the clatter from loose objects inside.  This is an area I have overlooked in favor of other seemingly more pressing issues, like a front-end alignment, heater fix, vacuum leak, and so on (all fixed now!).  However, in comparing notes with Herman, it becomes apparent that we are confronted with different situations in this matter.  Read on.

Herman’s Console

Open and Closed Views – After Applying Naughahyde To The Lid, Inside and Out

Note the latch or button on the driver’s side of the lid near the forward edge. Ok?

My Console

Well, I have no such button or latch. Seems to be broken off.

Matter of fact, I have to use a coin or knifeblade or key to press inward to open the console lid’s latch:

Furthermore, I don’t have a flat tray like Herman, but a useless folding cassette tape affair instead.

Yes, it does appear that my latch has been broken off, but it is hard to get a good look at it tonight in near darkness. I can see that there seems to be some felt-like material on the underside of the lid, perhaps in pretty good shape.

Let’s pop out the ashtray and see if that gives me access to whatever needs to be done to remove my lid and tray — and maybe replace the cassette holders with a Herman-like flat tray. UPDATE: In the daylight, I could see that the cassette dividers were flimsy, flexible slivers of plastic that could be simply popped out, leaving a flat tray. Took all of four seconds!

Now I can see some screws and wiring for the ashtray light, so I know where to begin at another time, when the light is better and the timing is more opportune.

But before I leave for dinner, let’s look at my nasty shift lever/knob/cover while we’re at it.

Heck, if I am going to replace the shift knob and cover, maybe I should also get a replacement shifter and a short-throw shift kit from Only944.com, while I’m at it.

This morning, as is my custom when traveling with the family, I arise early for a little walkabout, camera in hand.  So I hear the roar of traffic and discover that a freeway immediately passes the rear of the motel, separated by a chain link fence.  Taking up position at a one of the few semi-clear, brush-free vantage points, I point toward the incoming.  To get some sense of movement, I use a fairly slow shutter, but not too slow as I am hand-holding and don’t have a stable position.

First, to give you a sense of place:

Then I spot an utterly lovely old Type 109 LandRover, in the fast lane, yet.

Oooohh, let’s have a closer look.

Gotta see this thing even closer …

Next up, is that possibly an old Austin Mini Countryman?

Let’s take a closer look on this one, too:

My god, I believe I might be seeing an old TR6.

Gotta get another peek at this.

Lots of Mercs in the traffic this morning, but this one looks particularly evil.

My battery is nearly exhausted at this point, and so is my compact flash card, but maybe I have enough for just one more.

Holy crap!  What a stunner this old Jag is.  And it’s a driver!

So there you have it.  The Brits rule the day.  Absolutely no Porsches were sighted in this outing.  Of course, the tarmac was rife with Hondas, Hyundais and the like.  Lots of me-too BMWs, too.  A good number of Audis.  Some ricers/tuner cars.   Many current gen Minis as well.  But what you see above were definitely the Autos of Interest for this morning.