Original carpet for the elan

[stugilmour]

This supplier on Etsy might be a possibility. Looking around the same material seems to be available on eBay from different vendors.

Is this the ‘front running’ candidate that folks reference when they talk about good carpet material available in the US? Here in Canada I find the eBay international shipping program a really easy way to purchase stuff from the US because all the taxes and import charges are clearly stated up front, the tracking is very reliable, and they generally include PayPal for easy payment. Just a thought for the folks in the UK.

https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/upholstery ... =754736615

Automotive loop Carpet Detroit (By the yard 40 inches wide)

Description
sold by the yard 36x40, more than one yard will be in a continuous roll. Detroit Loop Carpet 40" Wide Classic 60's & 70's Look! Loop 40" 100% nylon Pile, Latex Backed, 40" Wide, 12 oz. per sq. yd. Made in the U.S.A.
this carpet is mostly use for any kind of car, also classic cars, trunks, door trims, and carpet kits. manageable for easy installation

[mark030358]

I ordered some of that stuff from the USA when I rebuilt an s4, it looks terrible. There is a thread somewhere of the loop pile I used, looked 95% accurate.
Cheers

Just found it..
viewtopic.php?f=36&t=24739&hilit=Loop+pile+carpet

[fatboyoz]

Hi All,
Here is a recent PM I have had with Phil Birch in regard to the carpet I used during my S4 restoration.
He suggested I post it here to put all carpet information together.
I believe the shipping costs are quite reasonable.
Cheers,
Colin.


Re: Carpet
Sent: 16 Nov 2022 01:22 pm
From: fatboyoz
To: philbirch
Hi Phil,
Have found the carpet information you are seeking.
Spoke to Rachael of Knox Auto Carpets in Melbourne Victoria. The product is their Classic Loop, viewable under the Extras drop down menu.
She also mentioned that it is a replica of what was known as 20/80 blend, and that their company is the only one in the world making this carpet.
They will ship any where in the world.
Here is the url,
https://knoxautocarpets.com.au/classic- ... -metres-1/

Cheers,
Colin.

[philbirch]

Hi Colin really appreciate you doing this for our little community.

Regards Phil Birch

[alanr]

Yes that is the company in Oz who make the best replica Black Loop pile carpet but I suggest you do serious research into final shipping costs and remember there wiil be Import duty and also VAT will also be applicable.
How true I don't know but Sue Miller recounts the story of one of her customers saying that it was very expensive to import sufficient carpet to do a car, shipping and vat etc, to get it here in the UK from Oz.
Bulky stuff carpet.
My suggestion which I think would be a more cost effective solution than buying individually from Oz would be a group bulk buy and then get someone (Sue maybe?)to make up the carpet sets according to what we need?

Alan.

Edit. Just spoken to Sue and she says that she is no longer making carpets sets herself due to arthritis so wouldn't be able to help in making sets up. She can only suggest searching out local car trimmers.

[philbirch]

Hi everyone I’ve requested a sample from America and they have agreed to post it to me, when it arrives I’ll do a comparison and let you all know my opinion. We can then post around different members for an overall view.

Phil

[alanr]

Good one Phil,
We will await your verdict on the qualiity.

Alan

[philbirch]

Hi everyone as you know I requested a sample from America they asked for address but since then I’ve I’ve heard nothing so I sent a second request which they never responded to, no acknowledgment I’ll wait and see what happens, but it doesn’t look promising

Phil

[RichardHawkins]

Gentlemen,

Reference my post on page 1. Newton Commercials supplied carpet to me, so they should be able to help. The carpet was I think 4m wide. I also bought carpet from a company in Melbourne (can’t remember the name, am in hospital and can’t check) and had huge difficulty with transport costs, more than the carpet. Australia Post was comparatively cheap but would not handle the size of package. I am a bit slow and dim at times, the solution was simple, cut carpet in two and send two parcels.

With respect to why I bought from two suppliers, the carpet in my car was different on the door cards (loop pile) and the floor (classic loop pile). My boot had no carpet at all so I bought enough loop pile to do boot as well.

Sue Miller is close to Newton Commercials, and may have a better relationship with the company than my experience. Perhaps Sue could ask Newton Commercials on our behalf who their supplier was.

Hope this helps,

Richard Hawkins

[alanr]

Just a heads up, in the quest to find this carpet in the uk
Aldridge trimming say on their website they do 'black loop' pile so in a vain hope I called and asked them last week to send me a sample. About a year ago I got a sample before from them but you never know things may have changed...!
What they have sent is labelled 'Box weave' and whilst it is a loop pile it is not the right stuff at all being very shiny and short weave.

Alan

[stugilmour]

…What they have sent is labelled 'Box weave' and whilst it is a loop pile it is not the right stuff at all being very shiny and short weave.

Alan

Alan, is the Box Weave you received from Aldridge the same as the October 2022 sample I posted earlier? Just curious. The rep labeled my sample as ‘Black Loop Pile Carpet’, which is perhaps a more accurate description of the material? Unfortunately they didn’t include a product code on my sample.

I am going ahead with a new Plus 2 interior carpet set and door cards from Aldridge using this material. Just got tracking notification that the required steel door card top rails were received by Aldridge today. I packed my rails in a 36” cardboard mailing tube and sent them Canada Post.

Aldridge are going to include a 1/2 metre of vinyl so I can match the covering on the dash panel side covers. Should be a big improvement, but unfortunately not an exact match to stock. At least the carpet and door card material will match. Probably not going to bother with recovering the rear seat side panels in the new vinyl; the replacement vinyl is a flat finish rather than the rather glossy grained stock stuff.

Still debating with myself on seeing if Aldridge has a pre sewn four rod headliner available for the Plus 2. Mine is unfortunately installed rather poorly due to the sunroof. I am planning to have the windshield out at some point so might be the ideal time to take a second shot at the headliner. Figuring there wouldn’t be additional shipping if a headliner is packed with the door cards.

I will post photos when I receive the stuff.

Stu in Canada

[alanr]

Hi Stu,
See pic below from Aldridge. I asked for a sample of their 'Black loop pile' carpet and this is what I have received. As you can see clearly labelled 'Boxweave'. It looks the same to me as the sample you have received labelled 'Loopile'?
Compared to the old original carpet that I have in my +2S130 it is just not the same carpet..Not long enough loops and it has a shiny finish to it.
I am sure it would do the job just fine but it is not the black loop pile I am looking for. Maybe I am just being too fussy!

Alan

[snowyelan]

It just occurred to me that we may be talking about different types of 'lotus oe' carpet. The Aldridge sample appears very similar to the 'yourautotrim' that I used, but it definitely wasn't a shorter loop than the original carpet on my 69S4 doors. Did the +2's possibly use a different/higher quality carpet than elans?

[stugilmour]

Agree the samples look the same.

I think it is great folks want to keep their cars as original as possible. In my case that ship has kinda sailed, but I sure admire a nicely restored example.

At this point I just want the car to run well and be evocative of the era rather than exact. The Plus 2 is uncommon enough here that ours is rarely closely scrutinized. That said IIRC last spring we had five Plus 2’s at the All British Field Meet in Vancouver.

That’s why I am trying to up my game a bit, but still being realistic on what I will achieve.

Cheers

[trw99]

It’s my belief that the stock carpet fades to brown only when continually exposed to UV.

My Sprint has been garaged all of its 50 years and the carpet remains quite black.

Tim