I’m undertaking my first interior make-over…I have a 97 firebird, when I purchased it brand new years ago I was the only person with one in my area…it was nice…I stood out…now…they are friggen everywhere with ppl buying them as used cars and such. So…here’s what I’m planning on to stand out (mods are planned for the exterior and engine, already has a kick butt entertainment/audio system, interior is just my project right now)…y’all have more experience than I…so please lemme know if I’m going to put it all together and cry…my vision for it, it looks nice…but I’m getting nervous as I progress…I want it classy – not trashy

3 tone – White, Black, Gray all material will be soft durable leather (if its not plastic/paintable, its going to be leather, I want uniform same material/color all the way)
Seats; white outer, gray inner, with the firebird logo embroidered in black on the front seats
Headliner; white with gray middle (outlining the bulge) with the Pontiac emblem OUTLINE embroidered (2 bent diamonds in black with the a silver shimmer in the middle)
Carpet; White (hehe, scary, dirty, have $100 custom floor mats in the mail) with a 1.5 inch black outline all the way around (by door frame and around console and in front of back seat)
Doors; Gray leather insert and the rest painted with the wonderful Krylon Fusion in white and gray
Dash/console/steering; Black leather on top portion of dash, then white the rest of the way with gray accents (like on the air vents and stuff) and a white and gray steering wheel cover
Trim/Panels; all black (mainly so I don’t have to mess with the speaker panels)

Ok…now you know…be gentle…
Suggestions are welcome!! Please please please

-Sena

ok ppls....a little input /would/ be nice

i just talked to one local upholster and she thinks i'm totally wacko for doing what i want to do and shot everything i want done (besides the seats and door panels) right out the window...

so please...tell me what in the world is wrong with what i want, don't think of money as an issue...just the use of leather where i want it and design...some suggestions would be nice :/

please

-sena

Alright, here's my take on the upholster lady. I was looking around awhile ago for upholstery shops. Everyone down there said I was nuts for certain parts...you can't do suede they said, can't recover the dash in anything, can't do anything besides fabric on the headliner. So I got ticked off, and went to a shop in seattle a friend up there had his done at. I saw several cars that were had complete interiors done there, all very very nice. and they could and would do all of it. headliner in nova-suede, dash in it, leather, etc....they can do it. and I saw there work...very nice. Now I didn't get it done, cuz I can't afford it, lol...but the point is, it's your vision. If you want the whole damn interior in vinyal, leather or suede? go ahead. I mean, I had pictures of this stuff done to show the shops, and they told me it couldn't be done. So I kept looking until I found a shop willing to deal with a complete custom interior, not just seat re-wrapping, etc. I assume thats what you are looking for too, so keep looking until you find someone willing to work with you and not working against you, weather you keep this design idea or decide to change it (personally, I'm not a fan of grey, of course, it could be the fact virtually my entire interior is currently grey in stock form.)

yeah...so true...
well...i started on painting the inside...krylon fusion paint works wonderful!! although they don't make a color i need, and am having to use another type...my only issue is the dash, after spending 4 hours trying to figure out what is holding it in (air bag?? wiring harness??)...i've decided to paint it while its still in the car...it will be interesting :/
I will worry more about the headliner, flooring, and seats after I take her in for the new audio system...since i've started...there is no turning back..should be completely done in a month (all but the dash is painted, but need some miscellaneous accessories) *crosses fingers*
thanks for your input :)
-sena

No Problem...good luck with your project.

Sounds interesting, but what color is the outside of the car? Had to tell whether the interior scheme would "fit" or not.

Not sure I'd go ape-stuff on the headliner -- that might be a lot of $$$ for something no one looks at.

My nephew loves his (1989) T/A, spends lots of money on it.... but keeps it bone-stock in appearance, even spent more on a new OEM steering wheel than a nice aftermarket one would have cost. Eh, it's his choice. OTOH, a fe tasteful mods might be nice. Oh, BTW, he did pick up a nice set of seats out of a 2000 T/A, they bolted right in, even the rear seats. Nice; you'd never know they didn't come with the car.

are you going to be putting inwhite faced gauges?? If you are where did you find them. I cant find any gauges for the 97 firebird with the digital odometer!

I have searched EVERYWHERE for white face gauges...can't find a darned one to fit a '97. But I'm not holding out hope, somewhere there are some, and I'll be sure to post it if I find 'em.
The outside of the car is white. Was going to do a diff color with a wild paint job...but decided to keep the outside simple.
The audio system check-up is on hold, paid for, but on hold...i want to make sure the paint is all nice and bonded before I take it in for them to chip up. So this weekend if the upholstery shop is open (4th of July weekend) we're going in to talk with 'em, they seemed really nice on the phone and told me we'll sit in the car, I'll point to what I want, and they'll tell me if they'll do it, or what my options are. Which is cool...considering the last shop almost had me in tears.
The headrest...well...thinking about taking out the embroidery...but keeping it 2 tone. I think alot depends on my mood at the upholster hehe)
Heh, i have to changer her up some...too many ppl around here have one now, and the only for me to stand out is to crank up the bass...
now...more searching for the white face gauges...i really do search for these things everday...its hard to beleive that somehow '97's where left out of it. its like a consipiracy hehe
-Sena

I found these check them out http://www.macewenmotorsports.com/overlay-kits-instrument-cluster-1993-2002-firebird.html