Re-upholstering the center console lid...

[PeterP11c]

Concur. Raven interior fits Scorpio the best.

[Ed Lijewski]

Totally dependent on exterior color.

YMMV

[john keefe]

Really nice interior, Ed. Seats look perfect. The brown grows on you, but its visually complimentary to the/my chestnut metallic exterior so you don't mind after a while. But, an unusual shade of brown, even for the '80s. Ever consider changing the upper dash color, or swapping to a raven one? I've considered dyeing mine to black, just to cut down glare. But since there's nothing else black in the interior, not sure how it would look.

[Ed Lijewski]

My '88 is also Chestnut Brown, Spice Brown leather goes well with it.

The Spice Brown leather is for Brits what Raven leather is for Yanks (greener grass....)

Yeah, glare off the dash at certain times of day and year is occasionally bothersome, a black guest towel on it calms it down.

When I feel a ravenish urge I drive my black '89.


YMMV

[Bob Weir]

I really like the Spice Brown, especially with the dark brown piping. Rather than dying the [very rare] Spice Brown, may I suggest swapping a complete Raven / Black interior. There're lots of those around.

[Ed Lijewski]

With the Scorpio leather talk here, I just lightly massaged Posh Spice And Poe Raven with Mequiar's Leather Care Wipes.

YMMV

[john keefe]

I like the raven as well. But, I was just wondering about swapping the upper dash. On the other hand, that's a good amount of time and labor just to do that, and I'd probably be asking myself at that point, "Why not change the whole interior." Then again, I'd be left with a lot of brown leather and door cards.

Exhausting enough just thinking about swapping from Tibbe keys to double-cut key locks

[Ed Lijewski]

Upper dash R&R is ~ 30 minutes. BTDT a few times. Lower is much more work.

YMMV

[Ed Lijewski]

I have a Raven interior.

20160718_125447_zpsggaxfuq1.jpg

YMMV

[PeterP11c]

But, it is not leather. . Pardon me, it looks like home furniture. Commenting on the previous post: upper dash can be taken out in 10 minutes flat. Lower dash takes hours, especially with central console.

[Ed Lijewski]

Yet you couldn't R&R the heater core without posting for moral support...

YMMV

[john keefe]

Wow, that looks like its all in really nice condition.

[brokencase]

With the Scorpio leather talk here, I just lightly massaged Posh Spice And Poe Raven with Mequiar's Leather Care Wipes.
YMMV

I still haven't found anything that softens hardened automotive leather. To clarify, it's not the leather itself that hardens, but the surface coating that hardens up. It is my understanding that most leather restoration involves sanding off this coating and re-painting the leather.

Has anyone here ever attempted that?

[PeterP11c]

I saw some clips on Youtube with leather restoration products and techniques. Laughable to say the least. Ageing process affects the entire depth of the leather and sanding off won't help. Chemical reactions involving breakdown of molecules are irreversible, thus breaking and peeling occurs. Cleaning and moisturizing works as long as the leather stays intact, then it's time to replace it anyway. Good luck with sanding but be mindful of the risks involved.

[Ed Lijewski]

With the Scorpio leather talk here, I just lightly massaged Posh Spice And Poe Raven with Mequiar's Leather Care Wipes.
YMMV

I still haven't found anything that softens hardened automotive leather. To clarify, it's not the leather itself that hardens, but the surface coating that hardens up. It is my understanding that most leather restoration involves sanding off this coating and re-painting the leather.

Has anyone here ever attempted that?

Leatherique's two-step process supposedly works to bring some suppleness back. A few Merkats have used it...Bart Dyshuk and possibly Ron Hofmann Sr. inter alia...and were satisfied with the results. Expensive though.

YMMV