Autotmeter gauges
 

When did Autometer gauges first become more prevalent in street machines? I usually think of them as coming into prominence in the 80's but didn't know if they were around earlier than that. What were some of their earlier gauges like (Tradition Chrome series, etc.)?

Tachs came out late 60's.

2 5/8 gauge (now called Sport Comp) that we are familiar with came out in 1973 (oil and water) Fuel pressure and vacuum right after.

Early ones have a fat bezel and different face

I will show pics later tonight.

Thanks. I bought an old road race Cosworth Vega back in the late 90's that had Autometers in it with a chrome bezels and red pointers but got varying reports when it was originally constructed. I have some similar ones in my '73 Nova that I'm trying to keep "day two" and wanted to know if they were appropriate.

The Auto Meter chrome bezel which looked like Stewart Warner came out late 70's. Autometeer made industrial gauges since the 40's/50's and started making automotive tachs late 60's. Came out in 1969. Their first automotive gauge was these below which came out in 1973.
1970's had a fat bezel and early lettering/ logo. Fuel pressure has no safety warning on the gauge face about not to use gauge inside car. Modern day equivalent 2 5/8 have a thin knife edge skinny bezel and say Sport Comp on them. Modern day vacuum only has a black and white face.

Rare to see the early ones nos. Mostly used and the aluminum bezels are dented to heck or beat up by racers

New style am. Knife edge skinny bezel and added sport comp lettering

Very nice early Autometers there! I had no idea their earliest designs looked a lot like the Sport Comps of today. Thanks for posting those pics.