3D printing has changed classic car restoration. Parts that haven't been made for 40 years – trim clips, speaker grills, side vents – can now be designed and produced in small batches. But a lot of people have seen a cheap printed part warp on a dashboard, and ask the obvious question: is it strong enough?
The answer depends almost entirely on the material.
How hot does a car get?
Testing by Arizona State University found that after an hour parked in the sun, the dashboard reached about 69°C, the steering wheel 53°C and the seats 51°C. Other studies have measured dashboards above 90°C. In an Australian summer, a dark dash in full sun regularly passes 80°C.
So any part that lives on or near the dash needs to stay stiff well above 80°C, and resist UV through the glass.
Why standard PLA doesn't belong in a car
PLA is the most common 3D printing plastic because it's cheap and easy to print. But it starts to soften at around 55–60°C. On a sunny dash, a PLA part can sag or warp in a single afternoon. That's where printed parts get their bad name.
The materials we use
ASA
ASA (acrylonitrile styrene acrylate) was developed as a weather-resistant alternative to ABS, and is used for car mirror housings and exterior trim. It has a glass transition temperature of about 98°C and much better UV resistance than ABS, so it doesn't yellow or go brittle in the sun. We use it for parts that see direct sun, like dash-top speaker grills and exterior side vents.
ASA-CF
ASA reinforced with chopped carbon fibre. It's stiffer and more dimensionally stable than plain ASA, with a matte finish that looks close to factory textured plastic. Good for parts that need to hold their shape under load.
PLA-HT
High-temperature PLA is a modified PLA designed to handle far more heat than standard PLA, while printing fine detail cleanly. It suits interior parts that stay out of direct sun, where crisp detail matters more than maximum heat resistance.
The material for each part is listed on its product page.
Designed to fit, not just printed
Material is only half of it. Each of our parts is measured and designed in CAD to fit the factory mounting points, test-fitted on real cars, and adjusted until it fits properly. Wall thickness and print orientation are chosen so the part is strongest where it takes load – for example, around screw holes and clips.
When 3D printing makes sense
- Parts that are no longer made, such as Commodore and Holden interior trims
- Low-volume parts where tooling for injection moulding would cost tens of thousands
- Custom parts, like our custom-text side vents or the GTS dash pilot light cluster
It's not the right choice for everything. Structural, safety-critical and under-bonnet parts near the exhaust need metal or specialist materials.
Popular 3D printed parts
- VB–VL Commodore door handle surrounds
- VB–VL console screw covers
- HQ–WB GTS side vents
- LandCruiser 60 Series handbrake button
- Car keychains
Browse the full 3D-printed range. Need a part that isn't listed? Send us the details – if it's no longer made, we may be able to design it.