72 corvette roadster

Does anyone know what type of floor mats would have come as original OE in a 1972 corvette with the basic vinyl interior and loop style carpet?

7T1vette

I believe that the factory option list provided for a black rubber mat that is not too attractive. Rik's Corvette Parts sells them, but I much prefer the loop-pile mats that match the carpet and have CORVETTE imprinted on them.

wer2xu

for 72, floor mats were a dealer accessory. They would have been most likely clear, not sure when the black ones became available.

ed1655

0Willcox Corvette

I did have the opportunity to compare this reproduction set to an original GM set about five years ago. I had two sets of original GM NOS mats and sold them on the flea bay. When available from GM, they were listed in the accessory catalog.

The only difference I could see was the manufacturer’s logo on the back of the original floor mats. While not a pretty carpeted mat like the later year C3 cars used, the reproduction mats are very original in appearance!

Beow is a picture of the reproductions. I think they are around 24.00 on the regular side of the site and around 21.00 for the set to forum members.

Willcox Inc.

0So Cal VETTES

Do you guys know what kind of mats came with a 72 deluxe interior?

gbvette62

This is an ancient thread, but as was posted above, 72's did not come with any floor mats. Prior to 77 or 78, floor mats were only available as a dealer installed option. According to the 72 sales brochure, the available mats were clear vinyl.

Around 77 or 78, carpeted floor mats became a factory installed option, as part of RPO ZX2 "Convenience Group". In 1980, the Convenience Group, including the carpeted mats, became part of the car's standard equipment.

SIXTYTWO

My brother and I both bought new 1969 Corvettes from Malcom Konner Chevrolet in the summer of 69. He got a maroon convertible with 427/390 and a black interior I got a Fathom green coupe with a saddle interior also big block. Both had the black rubber GM mats.

Alan 71

Hi,
Here's a photo of the black mats being sold by the dealers in 1971/1972.
The color on the flags was added... the mats were plain black.
The rubber was very soft and the driver's side quickly got a hole in it.

The clear mats quickly turned opaque and became very stiff.

It was like Chevrolet was clueless how to make mats for a car!!
Regards,
Alan

SIXTYTWO

Yup, that's them. I have an NOS set in the box but will only use them if I ever show the car.

crawfish333

I have the black rubber floor mats that were bought from the dealer (they are not in great shape) and a set of new reproduction floor mats which I am using. They look very similar. As far as I know floor mats were not furnished with any equipment package and were instead sold by the dealer when the car was delivered. Back then, most cars did not come with floor mats and normally the first thing we did when we bought a new car was go to an auto parts store and buy a set.

Alan 71

Hi c333,
"Back then, most cars did not come with floor mats and normally the first thing we did when we bought a new car was go to an auto parts store and buy a set."

And weren't they typically rubber or vinyl?
I don't remember just when the carpet mats became available and popular.
Regards,
Alan

crawfish333

Yes, that is correct. I always bought the clear vinyl type mats that were color tinted. I believe the rubber ones were more expensive and I was always broke back then.

I believe the carpeted mats became popular as an option on some of the heavy steel cars in the 80s. (Oldsmobile, Buicks, etc.)