an overhead console attaches to the interior roof of a motor vehicle and provides various features including a retractable compartment for sunglasses or the like that with a damper mechanism for protecting the sunglasses when the compartment is opened . another compartment is used to hold a remote control unit for a garage door opener . the control unit compartment permits the remote unit to be used by pressing a pushbutton on the compartment lid which activates a pushbutton on the unit . a reading / map lamp assembly is houseable in the console and includes a plastic bellows for retracting and aiming a lamp head over a 360 ° range . the lamp beam width is optionally controllable by a secondary bellows mounted on the lamp head . a dual - sided access compartment permits the vehicle driver or a passenger to gain access to a common compartment . the dual - sided compartment includes a pair of pivot / latch rod assemblies that work in a complementary manner such either assembly can act as a release latch permitting the compartment to hinge open about the remaining assembly . the console optionally includes a panel for mounting instruments such as a clock , a compass , and the like .