David Brown Automotive is a British manufacturer of limited production cars based in Silverstone, England. The company was founded in Coventry in 2013 by British businessman David Brown to create modern interpretations of classic vehicles. Its first model, the Speedback GT was launched in 2014, subsequently followed by Mini Remastered and eMastered by David Brown Automotive.
CAI have worked with the design team at David Brown Automotive to create gauges that faithfully recreate the look and feel of the original Mini Instrumentation. We are in a unique position to have the tooling for the original gauges along with the expertise and knowledge which enables us to create gauges that will integrate with modern systems and either ICE or EV drive.
In 2019, we were approached by David Brown Automotive to design and manufacture a new speedometer for their brand new classic Mini project; Mini Remastered. A classic Mini redesigned with modern technology and luxury hand-finished materials but retaining the classic styling of the 60’s icon.
The speedometer design was based on the classic Mini Cooper digital gauge; a 140mm gauge with magnolia dial, black print and black pointer, featuring 4 warning lights. Additional ISO symbols illustrating the fuel and brake warning lights were added at the brand’s request, which alongside other elements, such as typography, made the dials completely unique to David Brown Automotive.
Subsequent instruments designed for Mini Remastered included a water temperature gauge and an 8oooRPM tachometer. Instruments with an optional black finish were also developed to offer the end customer more choice in the customisation process of their vehicle.
Following the success of Mini Remastered , CAI were commissioned to produce a set of electric gauges for their newest venture; eMastered by David Brown Automotive. The hand-built electric Mini combines the looks of the original classic Mini, but has been remastered and electrified to feature zero-emissions along with a quiet, smooth but powerful powertrain.
The first set of gauges we designed consisted of a 140mm magnolia electric speedometer, a 52mm magnolia motor temperature gauge and the classic magnolia 52mm Mini time clock. Subsequent designs included black dials with white print, and a range of both MPH and KMH speedometer scales.
CAI continue to supply instruments to David Brown Automotive for both Mini Remastered and eMastered by David Brown Automotive, and look forward to working with the brand on future potential collaborations and projects.
For more information on CAI’s bespoke design capabilities please Contact Us or view our range of Classic Mini Gauges.