Time to spruce the interior and front section, need suggestions, ideas !

Go for a one-color interior and (looking at new Ferraris and Lambos use) suede. The senter part of your chair could be stitched like a Koenigsegg/ Zonda/ Nurcielago's interior.

Photo of a Lambo.

F430

quote:

F430

THAT is one ugly, plain interior.

When you mention a stainless and billet theme, the Spyker comes to mind. A little OTT but I think a variant could work in a Pantera on a more subtle approach.

Agreed the F430 is no better than a stock Pantera interior.

Julian

Agree on the look of the Ferrari. Just used to show the fabric.
ALSO agree on the Spyker. That interior is pure sex. Has the same pattern that I like that you see on the Lambo. Wery retro. Especially do I like the Spykers gear-lever.

quote:

Agreed the F430 is no better than a stock Pantera interior.

In fact, I think our poor old cars' interiors look better than the F430.

Interiors are intensly personal. I don't personally care for the metallic inserts now popular, because in our Nevada where the sun shines a lot, the metal gets hot enough to cause 2nd degree burns on human skin.... black leather is also too warm for women in shorts. Maybe in Canada or such cooler places it would be OK.

I wonder whether just a few changes would be sufficient to improve the overall feel of the car for you - a shorter shifter and a new steering wheel are my initial thoughts to update things. If you change everything else but not those two items, I wonder if you'd feel it still seemed dated inside.

Found this website with interior shots from 50 high-end autos...

http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/10...uxury-cars-interior/

Brushed steel highlights when used judiciously can really complement the leather. Moving some of the switches down onto the console behind the shifter instead of having an ashtray also appeals to me, but that may be impractical depending on arm length, the engine hump, type of switches desired, and whether you rest your arm there when you're at 'cruising' speed.

This should be an interesting thread, keep us posted as you progress and gather ideas!

Hrmm, thanks so far. one interior that I do like is the one in DavidB 's pantera, to me it looks nice and modern.
the diamond stitching doesn't do it for me, sorry, and the Spyker is too much bling.The f430, while plain there are things I like about it, ( not sure which !)although, for some reason the black suade, i have a feeling will look dirty ? I could be wrong ! please tell me I am wrong !
Also any tips on what to do in the front boot ??

Thanks

quote:

one interior that I do like is the one in DavidB 's pantera, to me it looks nice and modern.

Agreed that David managed to perfectly capture the essence of the Pantera interior in an updated and modern look.

Julian

Yes he sure did. It is clean/ functional and modern looking, to someone who did not know, they could think it is a lateish model car's std interior.
That is what I want ! but don't want to offend him by copying !

can't i just 'take a mould !!':P

Go ahead and copy all you want. It's flattering.

I looked at hundreds of interiors and cherry picked them all. I stole ideas for switches, gauges, seats, leathers, trim, consoles and electronics from dozens of vendors and owners - from Vettes to Volvos.

I spent a year making my selection but just make sure YOU make the decisions. Don't let some interior shop start until you "sit in the car and mock it up over and over in cardboard until it fits you perfectly."

quote:

Also any tips on what to do in the front boot ??

After doing my rear bay with Diamond Liners truck bed coating, I've thought doing the front trunk in the same treatment might be practical. No need to worry about tearing or cutting the carpet, no need to worry too much about some brake fluid spilling.

I'm most likely going to do both sides of my trunk tub with the coating somewhere down the road, too.

Larry

Yes, David's interior is fantastic.

I also agree that it captures the essence of a DeTomaso with a style that is both updated and "classey" in a car deserving of such an interior.

He is a real gentleman and it appears he is prepared to share the details with you.

BTW - It looks even better "in the flesh" !

B.G.

Great discusison. I am planning a similar project and have been compiling pix of various interiors that I like. That said, nothing can come close to seeing some interior mods in person.

I have had the honor of sitting in David Berman's cat ... and it is, indeed, tastefully modern and beautiful.

There is another cat in the Tempe area that I looked at, which was equally gorgeous. Some pix to follow ...

I like the two-tone look of these seats, although I would steer away from the red.

I like this new use of space under the front hood ...

I would have to see this speaker set up in person ... but it does look like a good use of space.

Here's a few I like.

Another...

One more...

Hi V8capri,

2 things ...

One I love the tag line adoptive parents

Two I noticed the dual quad setup are you running the 351C? If you are... where did you get the intake? I have been looking for one for a very long time, I can get a tunnel ram but I want a low profile, also did you have to cut the back bonnet?

Three as for the interior... mine is factory except for the ashtray which holds the NOS switches. I too am looking for an upgrade but I may go with woodgrain because of the weather here in Florida.

Joe #6656

quote:

Originally posted by Joe 1974 L #6656:
Hi V8capri,

2 things ...

One I love the tag line adoptive parents

Two I noticed the dual quad setup are you running the 351C? If you are... where did you get the intake? I have been looking for one for a very long time, I can get a tunnel ram but I want a low profile, also did you have to cut the back bonnet?

Three as for the interior... mine is factory except for the ashtray which holds the NOS switches. I too am looking for an upgrade but I may go with woodgrain because of the weather here in Florida.

Joe #6656

haha Thanks, Well I figured you don't really 'own' a pantera, they more own you ! plus you are really more of a caretaker of the vehicle !
The ram I used is a weiand one. it is not low profile. I wanted it up high, so the person behind you can see the carbs, and see the linkages working, that is why i also mounted them accross, not inline. that way they look fatter. yes you cant see out your rear vision mirror, but life is all about what is ahead !not what is behind you !!
I did cut the rear hatch, just a small part of it.
You could modify the plenum so the carbs sit lower ( i think marlin Jack did this) Also Cain ( an aussie brand) may also do a lower one.
I do not regret doing the rams because even with the bonnet open it still looks good !
see below.

I had woodgrain, but it didn't blend with the black theme of the car.

quote:

Originally posted by v8capri:

Also any tips on what to do in the front boot ??

Thanks

Or just cover the front:
http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=6692

Another idea for the front in the link...you can tell I like her clean .
http://www.poca.com/index.php/...g2_imageViewsIndex=1

Last one looked good! Match carpet to carpet in cabin.

yeah that last one looks nice, it could be the way the front goes. although was thinking of enclosingthe brakes and clutch and leaving the m/cyl lid protruding, as I can't remove it all and polish it.
Umm on that last pic, i don't see how the front boot lid latches to the body ? is there a trick i don't know about ?

sister car to the brown brown/tan Pantera....Recaro seats re-done look and feel great, but would benefit from the flatter with the 'mesh' pattern headrests, my head is already nearly touching the windshield!

hrmm, sorry Dave, your interior is winning so far !
I think a charcoal leather seat all one colour with silver / chrome stitching, same with the dash pad, like Dave's and leave the stainless dash facia.
will do the horizontal gauges and radio, can't do that in stainless, so maybe leather faced as well as console etc.
I suppose the doortrims will have to match.
Just means the whole interior will be black charcoal with silver stitching ?? what do you think ?
Also I notice many panteras have the same steering wheel as mine. are they common ? mine needs a freshen, but i think a billet wheel will be out of place ? what do you think ? still open to any suggestions !!

Well it is now booked in.The only think is I have a new dash panel, the one that sits the radio horizontally.like the pic from 'on the juice' 9 posts up ( thanks BTW) see that blank spot at the bottom, I don't know if i like that.
I could keep my brand new single din radio in the std horizontal radio spot, and have the blank space, or put a cheapie double din unit in and put the switches down there, that would also allow me to put 5 or 6 switches in instead.
any suggestions to put in the blank spot ?

You could do lots worse than follow David's lead. His is the nicest Pantera interior I've ever seen first-hand.

As far as the space at the bottom of the console goes, I don't know about you but reaching back for my camera or cell phone is a pain. I would have an opening there for them (or my wallet if I'm going somewhere further than my ass will tolerate sitting on it).

Good luck!

Mark

I too would like to see some new out of the box ideas for the interior. Might be worth a new thread by itself.

Could you show a photo of the dash as it is now with the stainless insert?