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I have a light doeskin interior which I really like. I think most here like black, and I do too, but not so much in a C3. Love a modern black all leather interior in new sports cars, but it just looks old school and dated to we in the c3. Then there is the issue of the hot Florida sun.
However, What I really like is the classic tan / black combo Ferrari interior. I did that to a Fiero I had and it looked fantastic. I already have that look kinda going. with the doeskin, and the black trim panels, but it needs more black for that look. I'm thinking about replacing the dash with a black one, and adding a black wheel. My car will not ever be contest original, but I do want to keep it mainly stock, only changing things that would have been made it a nicer car from the factory. Is this too much change?
Is this look wrong for a older classic car? I would store the old dash and wheel so I could always go back.
Here's the look I like. Try to envision it in a 79 ( newer style C3 interior)
a few light interiors had darker dash pads. neutral is one. but they used dark green pad and door pulls. i am redoing my neutral interior med saddle, mainly because PO did most of it. probably doing dash black. advantage of black dash pad. sit in the sun and put a piece of white paper on your black dash. giant white square lit up on the windshield. dunno if i want gloss or flat or semi yet.
If you have a Ferrari, that's the correct interior.
I have a White on Red 80, and a Black on Oyster White 79. The Oyster is awesome. The 80 was changed to black by a PO, and I'm slowly changing it back. I'll keep the black dash, though.
Here is the best C3 interior I've found on the internet, that doesn't have red in it
I like black carpets. its the perfect compliment to the black console plate and gauges. And the perfect contrast to the tan, the seats will pop more and look cleaner.
check out pics of newer cars with tan/beige interior the black carpet really makes it pop.
Nice interiors! I truly think the black / light tan interiors stands out more than straight black. So far I don't think I've seen even one pic of a C3 with this combo.
Maybe I missed it, did you say what color your car’s exterior was? That would affect my comments.
I never really cared For the tan and black interiors before I bought my 308. Now I love it. It has black dash, console and steering wheel and also custom mats.
If you have a Ferrari, that's the correct interior.
I have a White on Red 80, and a Black on Oyster White 79. The Oyster is awesome. The 80 was changed to black by a PO, and I'm slowly changing it back. I'll keep the black dash, though.
Here is the best C3 interior I've found on the internet, that doesn't have red in it
Maybe I missed it, did you say what color your car’s exterior was? That would affect my comments.
I never really cared For the tan and black interiors before I bought my 308. Now I love it. It has black dash, console and steering wheel and also custom mats.
My car is a 79 candy apple red
Nice car. The 308 is my favorite F car, and yes that is the quintessential tan / black interior for me!
So anyway, I'm thinking everything Doeskin except for black , dash, wheel, and armrests. The light tan carpet is new and staying, but thinking about black carpeted floor mats.
Perhaps the dash could just stay doeskin, since it does have that black top cap, and I do see Ferrari's with 2 tone tan/ black dashes?
Maybe just make the upper dash pad and steering wheel black. Leave the side dash pads Doeskin. Black floor mats would do well with the lighter carpet...and keep the interior looking good, even if the black mats had some dirt in them.
You can recolor the upper dash pad with a good quality vinyl dye (not regular paint). And you can even do it IN PLACE with some creative masking and due care. Vinyl dye is easy to use. But I would NOT recommend any of the spray can dyes, except for SEM ColorCoat. I much prefer spraying liquid dye.
Ideally, the sheen of the black upper dash pad should match the satin black center gauge panel.
You do need to clean ALL the old coatings/protectants from the dash pad. It has to be squeaky clean and dry for vinyl dye to bond well with the plastic surface.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Jun 27, 2020 at 01:02 AM.
Maybe just make the upper dash pad and steering wheel black. Leave the side dash pads Doeskin. Black floor mats would do well with the lighter carpet...and keep the interior looking good, even if the black mats had some dirt in them.
You can recolor the upper dash pad with a good quality vinyl dye (not regular paint). And you can even do it IN PLACE with some creative masking and due care. Vinyl dye is easy to use. But I would NOT recommend any of the spray can dyes, except for SEM ColorCoat. I much prefer spraying liquid dye.
Ideally, the sheen of the black upper dash pad should match the satin black center gauge panel.
You do need to clean ALL the old coatings/protectants from the dash pad. It has to be squeaky clean and dry for vinyl dye to bond well with the plastic surface.
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Actually my dash top piece is already black from the factory, so I'm already there! Just leaves armrests, wheel, and mats. That all wouldn't cost much and is easy!
If your wheel is in good shape and it is leather wrapped or plastic, you can just use vinyl dye to recolor it, too. Just clean it really well. When completely dry, wipe the areas to be recolored with lacquer thinner (don't soak it; just use a cloth dampened with thinner to wipe all those surfaces well). Mask it off and shoot two covering coats on it. Let dry, then use a polymer protectant to seal it and protect from hand sweat, etc.
I put a smaller wheel in my '71 about 10 years ago. It was black leather wrapped. Still looks the same as it did the day I finished it.
Mr Wmacky, this is an old thread but wondered if you ever decided on colors. I have a 78 and want a lighter inside color like doeskin. Car will be crystal red metallic and was curious as to what details you left black,dash,door panel sections ,carpets? Thx
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Interior color customizing
