Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I want to replace the carpeted sections on my Plus 2 door panels but what was the original colour ?. Are these original, faded or replacements ?. I can always just use black but a bit of colour wouldn't go amiss, so what would they have been for a late '68 car with black interior ?.

The bottom section of the door trim, the carpet bit, was probably 'black loop pile carpet' the same as the rest of the carpeting as fitted on mine.
Wanting to keep mine as original as possible I have found that the original style black loop pile carpet is unobtainium in the UK anywhere, unless of course someone on here knows different?
You can get it in the USA or Oz but it expensive to ship to the UK.
The tufted carpet just doesn't look right to my eye!

Alan

Thanks Alan, so mine are just UV bleached, I should have known as the areas beneath the pull handle are still black.

Yes mine are a sort of UV bleached 'brown'. I have thought of using a black dye but haven't been brave enough to do it yet!

Alan

I think I'll just find an alternative material then, mine are too far gone to be saved.

Have you any scrap yards nearby that might have old cars in. I seem to recall an early fiesta had black loop pile carpet. Ifyou can get the carpet from under the seats it’ll still be good.

A valet once told me a trick to make old carpet look new, you use a sponge and carpet dye to “refresh” sun faded sections of trim, I did plus2 door cards and the small sections of sunfaded carpet in the engine bay of my esprit

Hi there

The carpet would have been black originally and I was under the impression that it's still readily available. Try this:-

https://www.martrim.co.uk/car-trimming- ... carpet.php

or this:-

https://www.martrim.co.uk/car-trimming- ... carpet.php

I believe that it's only the oatmeal colour that's unobtainable

Regards
Andy

andyelan wrote:Hi there

The carpet would have been black originally and I was under the impression that it's still readily available. Try this:-

https://www.martrim.co.uk/car-trimming- ... carpet.php

or this:-

https://www.martrim.co.uk/car-trimming- ... carpet.php

I believe that it's only the oatmeal colour that's unobtainable

Regards
Andy

"Our superwool carpet features a deep cut pile with a black latex backing "

The original carpet pile is full loop... i.e. not cut pile.

Hi there

I was thinking more along the lines of the tufted nylon. I don't think the original carpet was particularly high quality and I'm almost certain it wasn't wool.

In any case, I would have thought it worth requesting some samples. If you ask they will send you some.

Regards
Andy

Martrim cannot supply original style black loop pile carpet.
They sent me a sample of something they thought was similar but it is a very poor substitute and I wouldn't use it.

I have tried everyone I know in the UK for the original style loop pile black carpet without success. The only hope in the future is possibly Newton Commercial.They have imported it in the past from the USA to use in Mk1 Escort carpets but do not have any currently. However even when they did have it they wouldn't sell any 'off the roll' to me and I found them 'difficult' people to deal with.

Alan.

alanr wrote:I have thought of using a black dye but haven't been brave enough to do it yet!

I Refurbished my Door Trims, making a new card and using the products in the attached photo.
Still looks OK 5 years later. Right mouse click on photo and open in new Tab to see the products used.

Thanks. I've used the material that came with the car, previous owner retrimmed the boot with it so made sense to just use what I had. No correct but fine enough for now.

Hi there

OK, so the only other place I know of that might be worth a try is Woolies

https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/c-76-carpet

Regards
Andy

Nope....Woolies cannot supply black loop pile carpet.
As I said before I have tried them all.
Sue Milller has also been searching the country for this carpet withour success. As I said before it is seemingly just not available in the UK anywhere!

Alan.