Interior color change - light to dark

[Gretz]

My interior is a combo of black, brown, and tan. The champagne/tan carpet needs to be replaced. The brown dash has significant cracks that need to fixed or the dash replaced. I've read a fair amount on here about dying the interior leather.

I'd really like to go for more racy/modern look. Since the carpet has to be replaced, I could easily switch to gray or black. Since the dash needs repair, seems changing the color to black at the same time wouldn't cost much more. (I understand the windshield has to come out to remove the dash). The headliner is brown too and could use replacement but isn't atrocious. The rest of the interior panels are in good shape, just not a color I prefer. I will likely replace the seats with black Recaros and keep the current seats for the next owner. I assume I could use RS door panels or dye the ones I currently have?

Anyway, can anyone else give their input on undertaking a similar process? I've found other threads but nothing comprehensive. Here's a pic of my current interior for comparison:

[Andy Somogyi]

I’m also looking at refreshing my interior. I’m going to be respraying my car, so the dash has to come out. I’m thinking about covering it in some leather.

My dash sort of cracked, but not horrible. My headliner is shot though and has some bad mildew on it, and is pretty rotted, it just falls apart when you touch it.




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[jlex]

You may find out that all black is too dark of a change for you & may not like it.
Go black, but use plaid material on the seats.

[Gretz]

I just returned from talking to an auto upholstery guy. He has been doing auto upholstery for over two decades, specifically dying leather and other interior fabrics.

He took a look at the interior and told me that it would be difficult to dye the very light colored sections black. He said he could do it and they would use all kinds of chemicals to prep each panel and that it would look pretty good initially. But he said he wouldn't warranty the work because it would very likely not last. I know that reports from the folks here on Pelican say that the results are pretty good and do seem to last. But this guy had a lot of knowledge and was essentially turning away my business because he didn't want to see me disappointed. He also wasn't trying to sell me some alternative.

So, I suppose my other options are:

1. Replace the door cards with RS cards, and then have other sections (like the rear) re-wrapped in black vinyl. I didn't discuss this with the upholstery guy so I'm not sure how much this would likely cost.

2. Purchase used take-off pieces from folks in the for-sale forum.

3. Stick with the current basic color scheme and try to add some more modern race touches and/or some flair. I haven't seen many race/competition style interiors that were based on brown or tan. Perhaps you guys have some ideas/examples of race/modern interiors that were brown/tan? Here's one that doesn't quite fit the bill but I do like it:



and Jlex, I agree that I might dislike a totally black/dark interior, although I've had them on other cars (and do currently on a 2017 Z06) and have liked it. But this car is older and has a different feel, so that's part of the reason I'm entertaining keeping the lighter interior. Point taken, and thanks.

Any photos of people with similar interiors who simply changed to black Recaros, such as the Recaro Sportster CS? I suppose with dark seats? With the right colored floormats/carpet I could see it working.

[AG81]

^
I saw the OP and started to make a recommendation...... Then I saw what Gretz posted above.
It is exactly the path I would take. I would go a step farther and do the dash insert and maybe skip the diamond on the floor but definitely black on the floors. The tartan will tie the dash and the floor together. I would also do the door panels...Partially. It's a great look with a new steering wheel.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Gretz

and then have other sections (like the rear) re-wrapped in black vinyl. I didn't discuss this with the upholstery guy so I'm not sure how much this would likely cost.

Leatherique/Color-Plus. Not confident your pro is steering you straight.

One guy says no and you fold?

[Andy Somogyi]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Leatherique/Color-Plus. Not confident your pro is steering you straight.



One guy says no and you fold?

Have you thought about wrapping in leather?

With the exception of the dash, all the interior pieces looks super simple to leather wrap.

What I’m toying with is taking my dash and seats to an interior guy to leather-ize, and buying some of the same lot of leather and covering all the simple stuff like door cards, garnishes, etc myself


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[SonnyAK]

I'm not a huge fan of your current interior combo and at first I was thinking, yeah go for the change to the dark...then I saw the post br Gretz! That looks great and I would suggest an insert plaid that is even a more vivid and striking color clash. Different is cool, unique and not boring on these cars!

[petrolblue83911]

I have the exact same color Interior and last year turned a set of black sport seats into tan using the color plus system mentioned above, I think I documented it here, as well. I think changing to black would be easier, so I’d say you can do it , but long term will it be less durable? That’s hard to say. So far my seats look perfect but it’s only been about 10 months and one driving season

[Gretz]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Leatherique/Color-Plus. Not confident your pro is steering you straight.

One guy says no and you fold?

Nope. I still have calls in to two other guys to get their opinions. Even if it only lasts a few years, if the cost is low enough it may be worth it anyway.

And I may just do it myself. My only issue is that I live in a condo so I don’t have anywhere great that I can spray/dye the panels and leave them to dry. Trying to figure out a solution to that.

And leather/vinyl wrapping the panels may still be a decent option too. I’m going to explore that as well.

I do like the option of adding color/tartan etc. I actually kinda like the diamond stitched floor mats. I’ve never seen anything like that for sale. Is that likely custom made or can these be bought off the shelf?

[petrolblue83911]

Pics

[Gretz]

Originally Posted by petrolblue83911

I have the exact same color Interior and last year turned a set of black sport seats into tan using the color plus system mentioned above, I think I documented it here, as well.

Thanks, brother. I’ll check out your thread. Did you leave the rest of the interior unchanged and add black seats? I will check your thread for the finished photos.

[drcoastline]

I would be of the camp that says if you are going to completely change your interior why not sell your interior as a whole package. Why ruin a perfectly good interior? Then either buy what you want in the color you want or have it made?

Pulled this from my stash of pics.

[MADC]

I had a very similar interior to yours in my SC except my seats were a tan leather/cloth combo and were completely roached so I needed to do seats either way. I also wasn't a fan of the black/brown tan combo, so went complete black/gray. Although I love the tan and plaid combo above and may do tartan seat inserts in the future.

I'll give ballparks prices from memory- my apologies for any inaccuracies.
Dash- redone in leather- @ $900 Classic 9,
RS door card @$450 installed myself
RS style carpet @$450 installed myself
Headliner @$800 parts and local labor installed (wasn't willing to do but
should have tried)
Seats @$1000 seat covers and local labor installed
Prototipo I had @200
Door tops, Rear shelf, rear corners (non wear areas I dyed black from Brown with SEM interior dye, look great @$50 1 can prep, 2 cans Dye Ive dyed seats in the past and in my humble experience going light to dark does not work well or last.
That puts me at @3850, I spent a lot of time and a little money deleting console, and I'm sure I'm forgetting something but call it @$4000 and a fair bit of time to completely transform and interior.
Hope this helps

MADC

[AG81]

This was quoted at $15,973 to $18,117.

I did it myself and it took several months.......

From this:



To this:






It can be done.....

[Andy Somogyi]

That looks freaking great

You got a link on how you did it?

Where did you get the embossed basket weave leather?

Did you make the seat covers yourself?

Originally Posted by AG81

This was quoted at $15,973 to $18,117.



I did it myself and it took several months.......



It can be done.....

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[AG81]

Originally Posted by Andy Somogyi

That looks freaking great

You got a link on how you did it?

Where did you get the embossed basket weave leather?

Did you make the seat covers yourself?

Andy I made the seat patterns from covers on the existing seats...... I then hired a guy to sew it together......

I made the door panels from scratch using 3/32" plywood. Patterns were from my existing door panels. Hardware from Rennline and TMI.

Moved the radio myself. Delete panel from Rennline. Bought the blank and cut my own holes.

Carpets are Daytona weave. I bought a roll and made my own patterns from existing carpets. Hired a guy to bind them where needed. I furnished the binding.

Seats are from Classic Touring Seats. I bought the cheapest fabric covered model I wanted. Stripped the seats and made patterns.

Back side panels I had recovered. I furnished the material.

Seats
Materials: Smooth -------------- enduratex - Visions - color: Debutante
Basketweave--------- enduratex - Woven Hues - color: Wine Luster

Door Panel
Basketweave--------- enduratex - Woven Hues - color: Wine Luster

Carpets: Daytona Weave - Black with wine colored bindings.

I don't do this for a living. I just love cars and have done it before. The 911 is a simple interior. Get a game plan together. Establish a budget.

I have a lot of time in this build. A lot. Total cost with front seats and parts purchased from Rennline (pedals,tack mats, door goodies)....$7,900.00.

That includes the dash back date.

More about my car here-------> https://youtu.be/x5FlDWmeiMY

[Andy Somogyi]

That's what I love to hear man, people figuring things out on their own and just doing it!

Looks freaking great.

I'm a mechanical engineer in my day job, I develop lab test equipment, but I do love cars, and fabricating everything myself for my build.

I've never done much with interiors before through. Well, I put in a headliner on my VW Type3, and of course welded seat brackets in other cars and that sort of stuff, but never covered seats or a dash.

That's a great idea of just make the pattern yourself, and have someone stitch it. I wonder, maybe I can make the pattern, and send it to my mom, and have her sew it up, she knows how to sew.

Originally Posted by AG81

Andy I made the seat patterns from covers on the existing seats...... I then hired a guy to sew it together......

I made the door panels from scratch using 3/32" plywood. Patterns were from my existing door panels. Hardware from Rennline and TMI.

Moved the radio myself. Delete panel from Rennline. Bought the blank and cut my own holes.

Carpets are Daytona weave. I bought a roll and made my own patterns from existing carpets. Hired a guy to bind them where needed. I furnished the binding.

Seats are from Classic Touring Seats. I bought the cheapest fabric covered model I wanted. Stripped the seats and made patterns.

Back side panels I had recovered. I furnished the material.

Seats
Materials: Smooth -------------- enduratex - Visions - color: Debutante
Basketweave--------- enduratex - Woven Hues - color: Wine Luster

Door Panel
Basketweave--------- enduratex - Woven Hues - color: Wine Luster

Carpets: Daytona Weave - Black with wine colored bindings.

I don't do this for a living. I just love cars and have done it before. The 911 is a simple interior. Get a game plan together. Establish a budget.

I have a lot of time in this build. A lot. Total cost with front seats and parts purchased from Rennline (pedals,tack mats, door goodies)....$7,900.00.

That includes the dash back date.

More about my car here-------> https://youtu.be/x5FlDWmeiMY

[AG81]

Originally Posted by Andy Somogyi

I'm a mechanical engineer in my day job.

^
I'm a Structural engineer.... (37 years)

If I can do this you can too.

[Gretz]

Wow guys- you’re giving me some great ideas. One of my biggest issues is lack of space to work. I may have to rent a garage or some warehouse space to tear everything apart so I can tackle the interior.

I still have to consult some other folks on the dye. I agree that on the non-wear areas it seems like it would be fine and if I can do it all myself, even better. If it needs to be re-done in a couple years, no worries.

Please keep posting pics and information for inspiration!