[thews]

I have a 69 350 HO convertible 4-speed posi that came in Palladium Silver with a black interior and black top. My first GTO had a red interior and I loved it. Regarding value, what hit would I take if I went with red over the original black? My thoughts are that if a potential buyer (assuming I went to sell it) had a real objection, the cost of switching the interior color is only about $1200. Thoughts?


PS - For reference (I love this car color combo):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Ca...m=162103861987

[Tim john]

In my opinion I would change it to the color you desire, it is not that expensive to change back to factory original considering the overall value of the vehicle. Tim john---

[thews]

Originally Posted by Tim john

In my opinion I would change it to the color you desire, it is not that expensive to change back to factory original considering the overall value of the vehicle. Tim john---

Thanks.. I agree. It sucks that I already have the black seat covers and the back seat is already done in new black, but I think I need red. If I sell the car, I'll just include the original door panels and new seat covers.

[Captainofiron]

Originally Posted by thews

Thanks.. I agree. It sucks that I already have the black seat covers and the back seat is already done in new black, but I think I need red. If I sell the car, I'll just include the original door panels and new seat covers.

I think that is the best course of action.

Its your car, life is too short not to get what you want.

[Interceptor]

Consider a mix. My GTO was all red inside, too much for me. So I stuck with mostly red but changed the carpet and console to black. If you do it right, the look is perfect.

And of course, keep the stuff you change so the next guy can change it back.

[steve v]

Agreed, do what puts a smile on your face. The next buyer may prefer you color choice also!

[Gator67]

If I were in your position, I would change it to the color I like. Black, white and silver cars look awesome with a red interior! I have never regretted changing the interior color of my Linden Green '67 GTO from black to parchment...not for one second.

[TedRamAirII]

Do it. Its YOUR car. I don't worry about "value". Whenever a new owner takes over, its going to be like he wants it, too. Now if it was a "historical" type car, that's another thing, but I don't think your car is in that category.

[north]

I agree that you should set it up the way you want and properly done conversions to other original color combinations shouldn't materially hurt values short of really big value cars.

However changing an interior color is a big job; seats, seat backs, headrests, door and quarter panels, armrests, dashpad, dash bezel, dash board (metal part), cowl (requires removing windshield), ashtray and glove box, rear view mirror, sunvisors, pillar pads, windlace, kick panels, rug, console, steering column and maybe seat belts and steering wheel. Lots of work and if not done properly you will be dealing with peeling bits of red vinyl paint forever.

If originality isn't paramount to you maybe Interceptors idea is good, like a factory parchment interior you could do just the side trim panels and seats in red and leave the rest black. The factory did this with red interiors in the 70's and later.

[frankyboy455]

Originally Posted by north

However changing an interior color is a big job; seats, seat backs, headrests, door and quarter panels, armrests, dashpad, dash bezel, dash board (metal part), cowl (requires removing windshield), ashtray and glove box, rear view mirror, sunvisors, pillar pads, windlace, kick panels, rug, console, steering column and maybe seat belts and steering wheel. Lots of work and if not done properly you will be dealing with peeling bits of red vinyl paint forever.

I thought the same thing. I'm pretty sure it would cost way more than $1200.

[Interceptor]

Something like this:

[rexs73gto]

I changed the interior to black in my 68 Bird from gold on a green car & it cost me about $ 800.00 then, about 6 years ago & that was with everything in black from the gold. It was so much better I just couldn't live with that goldish green interior another day. Never looked back & didn't hurt it any when I sold it. In fact I think I got more because it was black.

[thews]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

Something like this:

That's a beautiful interior. Are those new GTO seats?

My first Pontiac was a 70 455 HO GTO HT 4-speed (I was 16). It was white with a red interior, which is why I fell in love with red. You just don't see interiors like those anymore. Everything was bright red... everything. I do like the combos of different colors though and yours works well. A lot of the Trans AM's had funky different color seats and carpet/door combos.

[Shiny]

I think I sent you this awesome pic I pulled off the web because I remembered your bond with the red interior of your white GTO.

We both also have a shared experience with Sammy Hagar's song "Red". As he said, "There's no substitute for red."

That Camaro looks pretty amazing.

It all adds up.

You want red.

Red.

[Interceptor]

Originally Posted by thews

Are those new GTO seats?

Yes. Best investment ever.

At first I wanted to lose the red interior, thought it was gaudy. But as I added the black it grew on me. It's nice to have something different nowadays in the sea of beige, greys, and black.

Easiest things to change independently are the seats. Most old cars need carpet anyways, so once you change all of that it's easy to go back but you've still changed the flavour of the whole car.

Once you get into the dash, side panels, headliner etc you have to go all the way. Every. Single. Part...

[nytrainer]

Originally Posted by thews

I have a 69 350 HO convertible 4-speed posi that came in Palladium Silver with a black interior and black top. My first GTO had a red interior and I loved it. Regarding value, what hit would I take if I went with red over the original black? My thoughts are that if a potential buyer (assuming I went to sell it) had a real objection, the cost of switching the interior color is only about $1200. Thoughts?


PS - For reference (I love this car color combo):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Ca...m=162103861987

Does it have original drivetrain? My 68 350 HO convertible 4 speed Safe-T-Trac Lemans (they only made 176 of them) is white, white top and white (pearl) interior. I'd love to have a red interior but I decided to keep it original as it has it's original drivetrain. If it didn't have that I'd change it. I'd think your car is very rare too. Neither car will bring GTO (or 400 Firebird) money (nor did it cost GTO or 400 Firebird money) but they stand out in a sea of regular 68 Leman's and Firebirds. Something to think about as far as keeping it original.

[thews]

Originally Posted by nytrainer

Does it have original drivetrain? My 68 350 HO convertible 4 speed Safe-T-Trac Lemans (they only made 176 of them) is white, white top and white (pearl) interior. I'd love to have a red interior but I decided to keep it original as it has it's original drivetrain. If it didn't have that I'd change it. I'd think your car is very rare too. Neither car will bring GTO (or 400 Firebird) money (nor did it cost GTO or 400 Firebird money) but they stand out in a sea of regular 68 Leman's and Firebirds. Something to think about as far as keeping it original.

The car doesn't have the original drivetrain, but it is a numbers matching 69 WN 350 engine and M20 transmission with the original posi rear.

I have some good news for you. I used to pull parts from the local Pick-A-Part in California in the 80's and 90's. I came across a 68 Lemans hard top that was white with a red interior and it was beautiful. I took the door panels, kick panels, armrests, sun visors and seat belts. I sold the seat belts, bit I still have the rest of it. I'll sell it to you for $50 plus shipping. PM me if you want it.

[maxepr]

Don't do it you know better

[marxjunk]

everything red works on ya after awhile..i like it..but find Silver with blue is more pleasing when driving...

theres a lot of research on color and mood...and red is an agitator

[gtobird]

I have a 68 Bird (convert) with the deluxe interior and I wanted to convert it to red. My first 68 bird had a red deluxe interior from the factory and I wanted this one to look the same. Anyway, I bought the PUI red deluxe interior long ago. Then I bought the repop red door panels and rear arm rest covers, etc. None of it matched. I didn't give up. I went to SMS in Portland and bought the last of the original GM red comfort weave material they had, then had it stitched up locally. Fortunately, it matches the new deluxe door panels pretty well. The rest of the (non seating area) vinyl and kickpanels I will dye to match. I bought 3 quarts of the SEM vinyl dye in the colors I needed to mix an exact match to the rest of the vinyl. All told, I'm guessing this cost me around $2500 (lost track and don't really want to know at this point). I also bought a used set of red seat belts. I got lucky on those.

OJ