There was a story I read some years ago that Ford had a computer program that wouldn’t allow them to order and build a car with odd looking interior and exterior color combinations. In the restoration business we are those computers.
When customers bring their cars to us, I sometimes find myself pushing back and negotiating with them on what I see as odd color combinations.
It seems as if most British car owners want a tan interior, regardless of the exterior color. I’m here to tell you, there are many colors that simply don’t go together. Silver cars with tan/brown toned interiors simply look hideous (at least to me.) But if you use a bright red leather interior in that car, they come alive when you open the door! Color choices can make or break a restoration.
My friend Bill Hall asked me to put together some thoughts on this for the program at the recent Motorcar Cavalcade in Southern Florida. When we talked about the content we agreed that when the right colors are used on a car, discerning car guys will know, that car looks perfect in that color.
Here’s the piece they published regarding my quote.
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