Students of the marque enjoy finding exceptions to the run of the mill
production stuff, more than just about anything else.
This Heritage Certificate black interior was ordered IN HOUSE by BMC's own
publicity department.
As this department's job was to sell cars, they could order anything they
wanted. Maybe the photographer thought black seats would set off the model's
red dress better than red seats would, who knows.
Doesn't mean this is a license to now do anything the restorer wants, because
hey, publicity could have ordered anything.
Somewhere in the historical timeline, in 1956-7, a group of factory people in
suits and white lab coats got together, squinted at the samples, discussed the
current American interior schemes, and deliberately decided "No, we will not
carry on the black interiors from the 100 for the red cars for the new 6
cylinder model", and stuck to this decision for nearly five years and
thousands of cars produced.
Lets encourage restorers to stick to the club's mandate and preserve the
marque as it actually looked when produced.
Peter
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