In a message dated 11/17/2014 12:29:45 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
mcperdue@GMAIL.COM writes:

I should  be getting my van back from the painter next week and I've
been thinking of  all those parts that are going to look so drab
against the new paint. The  dash is, of course, the biggest and most
visible. Does anybody know a way  to get the dash to look like new
again, and to hopefully stay that way for  a while? I'm not really
interested in that high-gloss Armor-All look . .  .

The funny thing is, I was thinking about this and wondered if  anybody
had ever put liquid shoe polish on their dash? Would this work, or  be
bad for the dash? My gut's telling me that it should go the way of  all
crazy ideas, but I just don't know what the dash material is and  what
chemicals could hurt it or not. Oh, I also want to treat  the
instrument panel cover.

you didn't say if you had a brown or black dash.    anyway  armor all and
lexoil make low-luster protectants for the vinyl , not just high  gloss wet
look. .    i would not paint the vinyl, unless  your dash is already ruined
and you have nothing to lose.  you  could use vinyl paint, but it will never
be a direct match to the brown  color.