Changing the color of the interior. Good or bad idea?

If you are going to only show the car for the "heck of it" then you won't be in any shows that really count these things. So change away.

Also it would be FAR easier to resell it with a new interior of a different color than with one that is worn out. You will always find a buyer. 5% of us car about originality and the other 95% care about condition and will pay for that alone.

 

A Mondial cab with 51K miles is a car you buy to drive and enjoy with passengers. I wouldn't worry about its future show value, as long as it's safe and reliable, and you like looking at it and driving it.

You're correct that you won't be able match the old leather, and my advice, if you think this car is a keeper, would be to have the entire interior redone from the same hides. (I did this on my 328, which is tan.) IMO, it looks worse to have a 'partially restored' interior than a naturally worn one. If it's not torn or plywood-hard, you can take the cheap route and re-dye the leather, which will freshen the color. Used car dealers do this on older cars, and it's a useful trick to defer a costly restoration: most buyers don't know the difference.

If you want a properly restored interior, add about $5K-$8K for the interior job. I wouldn't put that kind of money into this car, however I can vouch that it will transform the car.

As far as original colors, that's interesting. My car has been judged numerous times, and I don't recall the FCA judges asking whether the colors were original (although they did check the paint code label under the rear decklid). For the Classiche program, I would guess you'd never be able to get your car certified. How much does that matter? Jury's out...

 

Just drive the car and enjoy it. Personally, I like white/red and I'm a fan of originality. But I would not worry about the interior color and shows. Your car would probably lose points for the painted bumpers and imitation wheels anyway. So just go to the show and have fun. I've seen lots of people take their cars to shows even though they are not 100% original. Sure they probably aren't going to win an award, but if they had fun thats what matters.

Best regards,
Dino

 

Why do rossa interiors wear so badly?

I considered changing my rossa interior to tan, but it would have been quite a huge undertaking and, after a little time, I grew to love the color. (It's more burgundy than red in real life.) If you're interested in re-dyeing the interior, I would say "go for it" if it makes you happy. Or, if you don't mind a tan interior, someone in FerrariAds is selling the interior out of his Mondial.

 

when I bought my 308qv it had new leather(tan)which is orginal color but the last owner put red carpet instead of tan but was ok for me its all fresh and it looks euro to me at least and I didn't have to put any $$$$$$$$$$$$ in to it,I don't think you could hurt the resale on it there's always someone out there like me who doesn't want to fuss with the interior

 

That's my point exactly. The majority of buyers are more interested in a car they DON'T need to spend $$$ on when they buy it. I can count on one hand how many people I know personally that want a concours car only and I have been involved with Ferrari for 27 years.

 

.. to answer the "bad wearing" question - these cars use Connoly leather - same as in Jags, Bentley's and various other Euro cars. The hides are "dyed" only on the surface, so you start seeing cracking / bending etc pretty early in the game. A lot of American car companies dye through the leather, or vinyl.. so when you cut it, or wear on it, it's red or grey or whatever color all the way through.

.. Just the nature of the beast.