Once upon a time I was a "keep it stock" kind of owner...
And as a keep-it-stock person, it is extremely hard to keep everything stock when stock parts and material are not readily available. For example, I have an black '82 with beige interior. It came with corn-row carpet and I'd love to replace it with original style corn-row. But what one of our suppliers sold me as corn-row was not the least but like the original.
Having replaced interiors with kits from suppliers, I can tell you some kits are not exactly like original either.
So then I tried another way. Some items I take to an upholstery shop
and some I slave over myself. This does allow you considerable room for imagination and, especially if the guy at the upholstery shop buys into what you are after, it can be pretty fun. The comments have been very positive about the last two interiors, more so than the 'stock' look, so I would say this way has worked out well. Oh, and surprise, it is cheaper.
Drop me an e-mail and I'll send you a few pictures and maybe you consider the same approach.
-Jerry Lee Phillips
North Texas
jerryleephillips@yahoo.com
'82 Fiat spider- black w/ beige interior
stock (except for cruise control, cloth top & window tinting)
'81 Fiat Spider- white w/ ruby (browner than burgandy, redder than maroon) interior.
'76 Fiat 124 Spider tomato red with black interior- stock inteior except the seats.
Any and all input welcome.