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Classic Mustang Upholstery & Carpet Colors | Styles & Options

February 19, 2020

How to choose an upholstery and carpet color for your classic Mustang

We’re sure your classic Mustang has been through a lot since its heyday — revving up and down the streets, enduring hot summer rides and maybe even the occasional spill in the front seat. By this point, your interior may be in dire need of restoration. Whether you’re looking to revive your ‘Stang to its original glory or going for a more modern vibe, we have you covered.

With a variety of upholstery and carpet options to choose from, it can be challenging to narrow down your choices. But when you devise a plan and work with the right team of experts, it can be a breeze.

Top Flight Automotive will help you find the proper Mustang upholstery colors and carpet styles to fit your ride. Our experts will get your muscle car looking fresh and sleek with the right solutions.

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The Classic American Muscle Car

The muscle car era began in the 1950s and started to reach full popularity by the 1960s. While the true definition of a muscle car is a debated topic, most have the following features:

  • V8 engine
  • Two doors
  • Rear-wheel drive

Muscle cars were designed for drivers to rev up their engines and reach top speeds within seconds — something not often seen other than on the racetrack. They were high-performance vehicles used for straight-line drag racing and legal street use.

While the first models had limited horsepower, the cars quickly reached 355 HP by the time the late 1960s rolled around. From there, muscle cars continued to reach incredible strides through the next several decades.

High-performing pony cars, like the Ford Mustang series, also fall under the muscle car category. The first Ford muscle car to hit the pavement was in 1964. The first generation 1964 1/2 Mustang had a starting price of $2,368. Within the first day, about 22,000 were sold across America, and after 18 months, more than one million flew off the production line and onto the streets.

Throughout the first three generations, the classic Ford Mustangs included models, such as:

  • Boss 302
  • Boss 351
  • Boss 429
  • Cobra II
  • Cobra Jet
  • King Cobra
  • Mach 1
  • Mustang II
  • Shelby GT350
  • Shelby GT500

People went crazy over the powerful muscle cars that had more horsepower than they could imagine. At that time, there was little regulation over emissions standards and other vehicle components. Once the 1980s came, more restrictions influenced car manufacturing, but it didn’t halt the Mustang’s glorious evolution.

Classic muscle cars were iconic more than 50 years ago and continue with their legacy today.

Interior Upholstery and Lining for Early Model Mustangs

One of the biggest appeals of a classic American muscle car is it can be customized to your exact specifications. Personalization is why classics are well sought after by enthusiasts throughout the country. Classics make great restoration projects regardless if you’re sticking to the original specs or putting your own twist on an old favorite.

When you’re working on the interior, the right carpet and upholstery combination can elevate your entire project to the next level. A clean and custom lining will boost the image of your Mustang and its comfortability.

There are three options when restoring the carpet and upholstery of a classic like your ‘Stang:

  1. Restoring the interior to its stock version.
  2. Applying a restomod look that has modern features.
  3. Installing a complete replacement of the seats and carpeting.

Unless your seats are worn, unstable or broken, your DIY project will do well with an original restoration or restomod creation. If the frame structure and other components are severely damaged, you may need to replace the entire seat.

Working on your Ford Mustang is rewarding and satisfying when you see the final product come to life. However, planning is key when determining the color, material and style of the carpet and upholstery you want to work with.

Restoring Your Mustang’s Interior

The goal of an original restoration is to match the carpet and upholstery of your Mustang to the factory style and color that matches when it first rolled off the production line. An authentic restoration can revamp the look of your ‘Stang to an eye-catching yet original version.

Restoring a classic mustang interior

If you’re curious about the muscle car’s history or genuinely love the look of a classic, this is the best route to take.

However, it can be tricky to find the exact colors of the initial interior. Be cautious of the different factors that could have adversely affected your current upholstery and carpet over the years.

  • Spills
  • UV fading
  • Discoloration
  • Exposure to humidity
  • Cargo or pet damage

A lot can happen in the course of a few decades, so not everything will stay in pristine condition. If your Mustang was improperly stored, your upholstery and carpet might need a reboot. When you work with an experienced team of experts, you’ll be able to restore your interior to its prime condition.

Taking the Restomod Route

If you’re looking to reupholster the existing seats or swap the carpet in your 1996 Cobra or 1970 Boss, you also have the option to perform a restomod. A restomod is where you keep the original look of your car while adding modern twists.

Today’s seats are leagues above the thin foam versions from back in the day that didn’t deliver nearly enough backing or comfort. Because modern Mustangs have bolsters and impressive back support elements, you can opt for improved seating while still keeping the original color of the car.

A restomod will celebrate the look of your classic while giving you the enhanced features of a modern seat and lining — it’s the best of both worlds.

Choosing a Complete Redo

If you don’t want to restore the same look of your early model Mustang, or even keep some of the primary elements alive, you can replace your seats and carpeting with a completely different look. You can take the seats from a different generation of Mustang or the carpet color of another to form your own creation.

Some enthusiasts like the idea of a complete makeover because it gives you the freedom to design your own elements. However, this type of restoration is the most costly and doesn’t sustain the car’s originality. You may have to purchase a new seat and make other modern components work in your classic car.

No matter which road you take in your Mustang restoration project, you can create a renewed look to match the exact vibe you’re going for.

Mustang Upholstery Colors and Carpet Options for Each Generation

Because the upholstery and carpet elements are the first features you notice when you slide into a car, they are often dubbed two of the most significant parts of the interior. If either is worn, damaged or dirty, replacement may be your top priority. But, you can also redo your interior if you’re looking for a fresher feel.

There are thousands of combinations to choose from with different colors, materials and styles available for your classic Mustang. The first step is to determine which type of DIY restoration matches your ideas. Do you want to keep the authentic look of your ‘Stang or add a few modern pieces to the interior? From there, the experts can help you match all the specifics.

Classic Mustang Carpet Features

Many Classic Mustang interior color options available today match the originals

When Mustangs first hit the roads in 1964, there were only 10 original colors were available when it came to both the carpet and the lining of a car’s interior. Today, you can find many options that fit the original designs.

Mustang carpet colors for your first, second or third-generation Mustang range from thrilling bright shades to subtle deep hues — giving you the choice to customize or stick to its original design. Some Mustang carpet colors include:

  • Emberglo
  • Graphite
  • Ivy Gold
  • Maple
  • Maroon
  • Oxblood
  • Sandalwood
  • Smoke
  • Turquoise

Neutral colors are also in the lineup, like black, browns and white, along with blues and reds. You can even match your floor mats to your car’s carpet.

Classic Upholstery Colors for Ford Mustang

When it comes to upholstery colors, they range from your more basic shades, such as black and dark blue to maroon and aqua. There are several Mustang upholstery color and material combinations that give you a bit more spark than solid colors, including:

  • Black with a red stripe
  • Dark ivy gold with a dark ivy gold stripe
  • Emberglo with parchment
  • Nugget gold
  • Turquoise with white
  • White with red

Although the color wheel was quite diverse between the 1960s and 1970s, many earlier Mustang models had limited materials to work with when it came to upholstery. Back in the day, they had materials like Lambeth Cloth, Corinth Vinyl, Sebring Knit and Ruffino Cloth. Several fabric options were nylon, polyester, velvet and wool.

Today, you can choose to upgrade your muscle car to your own specifications with upholstery, such as:

  • Fabric
  • Faux leather
  • Leather
  • Suede
  • Vinyl

Compared to a few decades ago, we have more comfortable upholstery materials and designs but limited colors for our current generation of Mustang interiors. We have moved from the fun and vibrant interiors to more sophisticated color schemes. However, you can still work with the more popular colors of your car’s time.

Popular Interior Color Combinations for Your Classic Mustang or Pony Car

Figuring out how to choose a Mustang interior for your classic comes down to what generation you have, as well as the goals of your restoration design.

The muscle car era was the beginning of extreme interior color sequences— nothing like what we see today. When you turn back the clock a few decades, you’ll see more colors, patterns, reversible upholstery and even swivel front seats. Bold colors were a massive hit among Mustang drivers, while today, we drive in more monochromatic shades of black, brown and grey.

Choosing an interior color for your classic Mustang

While there are a variety of colors available that you can mix and match, it’s important to know about your Mustang’s original interior:

  • First-Generation Mustangs (1964-1973): The first-gen’s interior was all about the flashy, loud and bright colors of the 1960s. ‘Stang owners loved to show off their muscle cars that embodied the psychedelia of that time. Fluorescent hues were quite popular like greens, blues, yellows and oranges.
  • Second-Generation Mustangs (1974-1978): During the later years of the first-generation, up until the end of the second-gen, the interior color combinations changed from the bright glow of the 1960s to more natural colors. The 1970s ignited a push toward Earth tones, such as darker green, brown, blue, copper, gold and bronze. The era saw a change toward sustainable vehicles as the government got more involved, hence why Earth colors were popular.
  • Third-Generation Mustangs (1979-1993): Classic third-generation Mustangs saw a leap of change toward traditional colors in the 1980s and early 1990s that we are accustomed to today. The interior shifted to more solid colors like black, red and white. Colors strayed from the flashy and Earth tones to more neutral vibes.

Several interior upholstery color combinations for classic Ford Mustangs included:

  • Parchment with red
  • Ivy gold and white
  • Parchment with emberglo
  • Turquoise and white
  • Parchment with blue
  • Black vinyl with black
  • Red vinyl with red
  • Parchment with ivy gold
  • Parchment with red luxury

Other popular color schemes were red with black, black with red, turquoise and blue seats or solid red or blue upholstery.

When you look back at the interior styles of cars more than 50 years ago, you’ll see more character, color sequences and patterns. The great thing about upgrading your muscle car’s upholstery is that you can take any of these classic looks and pair it with your choice of carpet color or keep the car’s authentic look.

Everything You Need for Your Classic Mustang Upgrade

Learning how to choose everything from your Mustang’s carpet color to upholstery colors, can be overwhelming. Top Flight Automotive is here to help.

We offer Mustang parts and accessories that meet or exceed the original specifications of your muscle car. Our top-quality restoration products help complete the perfect interior upgrades. Our interior solutions are made in the U.S. and often ship the same day as you place an order. We are passionate about the investments you make in your Mustang and value your dedication to your DIY. Our experts are here to guide you and make you feel excited about your restoration.

Shop Classic Mustang Generations

Top Flight Automotive has everything you need for your classic Mustang

Top Flight Automotive is part of the Extra Mile Brands family of companies with a combined experience of more than 40 years. Browse our carpettrim and seat cover products to perfect your restoration or reach out to us online for further support.

One comment on “Classic Mustang Upholstery & Carpet Colors | Styles & Options”

  1. Yoshiko Gevara says:

    March 11th, 2020 at 8:11 am (#)

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