Less parts to manage.

Then why not black for all? Why offer so many stripe combos, etc. Seems like a paradox of sorts, no?

Of coarse, but look at cars today with very few interior color options and exterior colors.

Color-keyed carpeting (black with 4-speed tranmission. Did they send out a memo announcing the availability of colored carpets for 4 speeds?

Thats my car in the OP attachment. Color keyed all the way. My B5 4 speed convertible had blue dash, with b7 carpet. Also a 4 speed. The B5 car has an SPD of 801 and the F8 car has a SPD of 518 FYI

Does the B5 car have a console?

My point is that your explanation doesn't do it for me - all do respect, of course.

If Chrysler had an interest in simplifying production, they would have offered black caroet for all and that's it.

Of course, logic isn't always 100% when it comes to cars back in the day, so who knows?

No console in the B5 Car Rm27h9g101409 or my dads b5 Rm27h9g101404