The ALPESA company was a spin-off from Dixson in the early 1980s. The Hood Tachometer division did not fit so well into the concept of the company and therefore, Dixson decided to outsource this area. However, the division was not sold; ALPESA was founded at the exact same address as Dixson Inc. at the Grand Junction in Colorado.
 

The inner part from the Hood Tachometer has been completely redesigned. The only thing was retained was the outer Tachometer case.

Two versions of the Tricolor HT/x7 was produced. The most common edition with a white speed pointer and a very limited edition with a red speed pointer.

Basically the ALPESA was sold with an unprinted front cover, in the box there were always the stickers with the Mopar or Ford logo, which could be attached to the front cover.

 

The electronic components were designed and developed from scratch and included a new switch to regulate the tachometer for use with 4, 6 and 8 cylinder engines.

The lighting was now a part in the inner housing, a small light bulb on the left an one on the right side. The speed scale plate was now translucent and gave a completely new type of lighting.

 

S T R A N D I X

When Dixson Inc. was taken over by the AMETEK group in 1995, Dixson (ALPESA) sold the Hood Tachometer division including all production tools, drawings and patents to a new owner named STRANDIX. Ametek was not interested in the Hood Tachometer division because it did not fit into their company concept.

Strandix continued the production Hood Tachometer. They made minor changes on the Tricolor edition only. The booklet was also retained.

The distribution was handled over the most common automotive dealers and large mall chains such as JC Penney, JC Whitney or Sears.

Standix reintroduced the legendary HT/x7 with the original black and white speed scale. It was an easy enhancement, the only new product was a black-white speed scale plate. The rest from Tricolor was not changed.

Unfortunately, this 2nd edition was very limited, because the distribution was not successful. Most people ordered the Tricolor for his Ford's. People believed the original Ford Hood Tachometer comes with the Tricolor speed scale plate, which was a mistake.

This new edition from HT/x7 was available with the Mopar (Pentastar) logo or with the Ford logo on the Front Plate.