I am starting this thread because I have not found much in my searches but no doubt it will not be a new question. My newly acquired C6 is black on black, a very popular combination. The black body is lovely when clean and polished, of course very difficult to keep clean. Many question the pre C7 interiors but I do not find it such a problem. I must admit, as a 2008 I would like a little contrasting colors without getting carried away. During my search I find many stick-on options which I must question. The specialists I have consulted have offered to recover seats at a heavy price but not willing to touch dash as the heat would damage any new coverings which would be glued on ior the doors because they are now only plastic and new fabric would be tricky. They are happy to redo the seats, and steering wheel at a rather healthy price. In the end I would be better off buying a C7, but that is not my plan.

Two questions - Do small modifications to the interior have a negative effect on value and resale of a C6 and does anyone have any suggestions on what creates the best and acceptable contrasting colors.

 

Small mods won't affect value. I would ot trust any upholstery shop that says they can't upholster doors and dashboards and such due to heat.

​​​​​@jabcat is our resident "wrap everything in leather and alcantara" expert. There's a shop on eBay that sells just about every piece for the interior in whatever combo of leather, alcantara, stitching, etc that you could want.

As long as you didn't go nuts with colors, I think you could upgrade parts as big as the doors and nobody would bay an eye if it was done well.

 

You might want to check these out as way to add a little color.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...at-covers.html

 

Any personalization or modification you make is very personal, so it is possible it can effect resale unless the things you do are reversible if someone ever decided to put the car back to stock or take it in a different direction. Some things can't be reversed and require hard negotiation and/or compromise on price. An often used rule of thumb is, "Mods don't add value". Chances are the money you put into it you'll never get back out of it, so bear that in mind.

For example, I have over $50K into my 2011 Grand Sport now after only paying $38,500.00 for it in 2011. I added APR aero (over $4K); paint correction, paint protection, paint touch up, ceramic tint, tinted side markers and tail lights, Grand Sport heritage stripes, and professional ceramic coating ($6K); Morimoto headlights on order custom painted to the color of the car (over $1500); custom 10" screen (Max-DIN) to swap out the factory nav head unit and HVAC controls ($1500); Lloyd's mats front and rear (~$500); Windrestrictor custom etched with lighting kit ($600). I just picked up a set of OEM ZR1 wheels that I will wrap with Michelin runflats (~$3500). I plan to order a custom steering wheel from RFE designs along with Alacantra shift and e-brake boots (~$1500). Hell, I may even throw on a supercharger at some point, so who knows (~$10K+).

So my advice is to not worry about the resale. Treat it like a Harley and make it your own.

 

If you're going to keep it for awhile do whatever you want. If you think you can change it and people will be all over it and want it, think again. There aren't many people like Chip Foose. My car had changes to the interior such as the plastics and console cover. Also in the engine bay. I couldn't wait to get it back to stock. Most people want to change things for themselves in my opinion

 

If you want to save a bunch of money, I would encourage you to learn how to do upgrades yourself. The interior of the C6 is very easy to take apart. Replacing worn seat skins is not that difficult, and new skins can be had from several vendors pretty inexpensively.

I've removed the entire interior including the dash. While it seems daunting at first, it's really just nuts/bolts/screws/clips.

I covered most of the interior of my previous Grand Sport with pre-cut leather pieces from JF Customs on Ebay (out of England), and I've done the same in my Z06 with Alcantara fabric. I measured, cut, and covered the interior pieces with Alcantara myself (not pre-cut).


Pre-cut stitched leather from JF Customs


Custom full leather seat skins from Ridies.



Custom steering wheel and carbon fiber gauge surround from RFE Design

Real carbon fiber radio bezel from RFE Design

Real carbon fiber gauge surround from RFE design

Real carbon fiber window switch surround from RFE Design

Real carbon fiber passenger vent from RFE Design

seat bolt covers covered in Alcantara (color 9002)

Seat power button cover in Alcantara

Door lock surround covered in Alcantara


B-pillar covers in Alcantara

Center console base in Alcantara

Other interior trim pieces covered in Alcantara.

 

"If you want to save a bunch of money, I would encourage you to learn how to do upgrades yourself. The interior of the C6 is very easy to take apart. Replacing worn seat skins is not that difficult, and new skins can be had from several vendors pretty inexpensively".

The c6 seat covers are basically just slip on. A few hog rings and maybe a few staples. It's a lot easier if you take the seats out, a 15 minute job with a convertible.
You can get good custom vinyl covers for $300+ or real leather for $700+.
Remember, most oem "leather" seat covers are a mixture of "leather" and vinyl, AND, the "leather is spray colored with a vinyl paint. So, even with "leather", you're still sitting on a vinyl coating. It's very hard, or impossible, to tell the difference between the leather and the vinyl parts.
I just had a '09 drivers seat bottom repaired. $250 for just 2 middle seams that had ripped, and the leather inserts had to be replaced.. $600 quotes from 3 other shops. I came real close to getting a whole custom set of good quality vinyl. Most any color, etc. that you'd like.

 

I've got a few pieces from rfe with a few more on the way. Excessive Alcantara on these cars or any cars gives them a 90s Buick feel that I don't feel. Plenty of options out there to bring the car up to date. Most recent pic i have. Rfe shipping parts soon. Updates coming. Car started as on 07 with the silver everywhere. That's changed and 0% chance of my leather dash peeling because I don't have one instead of 100% from those that do

 

If you are worried about resale value leave it alone. You will never get your money back when you sell it for things that you have done. Some folks are purists and won’t even consider a car that has been modded unless it can be reversed.

I don’t think I have ever owned a car or truck that I have not made my own. I don’t worry about resale and honestly don’t worry about whether someone else’s likes it or not.

Mod it and enjoy.

 

Lot's of nice cars and helpful comments. Thanks every one.

 

Jealousy of leather dashes is an ugly look.

 

if the gm leather dashes didn't do what they do you'd be absolutely correct. I would have purchased one from ebay long ago. I've tried to get something custom done. Shops say they will and then when I try to setup an appointment they back out because of the airbag. The only options are factory bound to peel and precut kits that are too loud for my taste. Guess I'm destined not to have one, but the search continues.

 

If you want one, buy one off eBay then either pull the leather (should come up easy ) and reattach it with stronger adhesive, or have an auto upholstery shop do the same.

Mine is going on 3 years post-repair without any issues

 

currently searching. Found one that was in decent shape. Someone purchased it about 5 seconds before I was able to. 😆 🤣. I keep an open eye on ebay and a few salvage yards I've dealt with. Anything our there right now is in absolutely horrible shape. Looking for one with no issues(they don't exist) or one with more minor issues that's on the early stages of separating.

 

If you’re concerned with resale, another thing to consider RE wrapping interior parts with leather, Alcantara, etc. is to buy used parts to wrap rather than customizing your car’s original ones. Plenty of used parts sources out there.

 

That's not a bad idea. Thanks. Actually my goal is not to replace the entire interior, just to give some contrast to the Black on Black and maybe dress it up just a little.

 

I only changed or modified interior parts that I didn’t like for the way they looked. Didn’t like the all black GM leather seats so I installed these myself as they gave the interior some color and also grip your backside much better when tossing the vette around. Wanted a little more power and had it supercharged which I’ve enjoyed. I could not care less about resale as modding the car has given me great pleasure. I worked on a budget (not loaded like some) so I did things as I could afford them. Obviously it’s your car so do what makes you happy... life is short!

 

That's a great looking interior. I seriously doubt that that would lower your value.

 

Thanks for the kinds words... most appreciated. I bought the covers from a place in Oklahoma that’s no longer in business but imo they made a great product. Super nice leather. Installed them myself and the fit and finish was perfect including where the areas are for the side aidbags. Was a bit of project in that I’d never done that type of work before. I documented everything with pictures and instructions on how I did all the work as I couldn’t find anything detailed on the net. That was about 8 years ago but the pictures are recent... Thanks

 

It's personal taste. I like carbon-fiber trim, but not excessively. Do what you want unless you have a super-rare collectible.