Be it vibrant or muted, colour can inject personality and warmth into the car interior so let’s bring it back, says Jens Meiners
Around 20 to 30 years ago, colours in automotive interiors went out of fashion. It was a slow, step-by-step disappearance. Well into the 1980s, you could anything from an Audi 80 to a Buick Le Sabre or a Mercedes-Benz S-Class with interiors that were not just clad in a dull black, grey and beige, but could also be clad in red, brown, blue or green fabrics and leather. And back then, the door panels and dashboard typically matched the seats. Driver and passengers were immersed in colour, in contrast or total harmony with the exterior colour.
I feel nostalgic about colourful interiors, and I believe many heritage cars need specific colours to look and feel just right. Such as a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, most impressive with a silver exterior and red interior, a classic Maserati with an exterior in blue chiaro and a cream interior – or, my personal favourite, pre-facelift Lancia Gamma Coupé with blue velours and cream-colored seatbacks (coincidentally, I want velours to make a comeback). For a future classic, haven’t you admired the Lexus LC 500 with the three-tone interior in blue, white and orange?
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