1971 OEM Carpet?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 82
1971 OEM Carpet?
I would like to find some nice OEM cut pile carpet for my 71 coupe. I recently found some(owner says) but don't know how to tell factory carpet from aftermarket. Can someone tell me what to look for?
Thanks, Kevin
Thanks, Kevin
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
the original carpet set would have a IMCO logo on the heal pad... and it would have JP Stevens Company tags sewn into the carpet. While most believe the reproduction carpet sets have fewer loops per inch... it just isn't true. The carpet sets from ACC and the yardage made by Dorset (the carpet mill used by all manufacturers now days) actually have slightly more loops per inch than the original carpet set and this holds true for cut pile and loop carpet sets.
IMHO,
Willcox
IMHO,
Willcox
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 353
Likes: 3
From: cincinnati oh
oem carpet
step number one, oe's put a paper tag on back of one piece, probably the front left or right. step number two, carpet back then had burlap as the substrate. look at the outer edge. step number three, cut a sliver off the edge and burn the loop. should turn an orange brown with a real ash left. if it burns black and melts, it's the newer nylon.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 80
Likes: 2
From: near Nuremberg Bavaria
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,267
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Kevin,
There are subtle differences in the carpet itself, differences in how it was cut and bound, plus differences in the heel and dimmer pads.
The original carpet had a thin semi-clear plastic coating on it. The piece of carpet on the bulkhead behind the seats didn't have this coating. Reproduction carpet typically has a very thick coating of this plastic material.
The heel and dimmer pad detail was very distinct compared to the reproductions. The reproduction heel and dimmer pads that have the IMCO log typically have a logo about twice the size of the originals. The IMCO logo was on both the heel pad and dimmer pad.
Many of the reproduction carpet sets have a different cut on the 'tab's for the piece of carpet for the floor and bulkhead of the rear storage compartment compared to the original.
Finding a true old unused set of original carpet would be quite a find.
Regards,
Alan
Original bulkhead on left, original carpet in center, reproduction carpet on right.
Shape of 71 coupe 'tab'. Also note how far carpet extends up the bulkhead.
IMCO logo on dimmer pad. Note amount of detail in pad molding.
Note tiny size of IMCO logo.
There are subtle differences in the carpet itself, differences in how it was cut and bound, plus differences in the heel and dimmer pads.
The original carpet had a thin semi-clear plastic coating on it. The piece of carpet on the bulkhead behind the seats didn't have this coating. Reproduction carpet typically has a very thick coating of this plastic material.
The heel and dimmer pad detail was very distinct compared to the reproductions. The reproduction heel and dimmer pads that have the IMCO log typically have a logo about twice the size of the originals. The IMCO logo was on both the heel pad and dimmer pad.
Many of the reproduction carpet sets have a different cut on the 'tab's for the piece of carpet for the floor and bulkhead of the rear storage compartment compared to the original.
Finding a true old unused set of original carpet would be quite a find.
Regards,
Alan
Original bulkhead on left, original carpet in center, reproduction carpet on right.
Shape of 71 coupe 'tab'. Also note how far carpet extends up the bulkhead.
IMCO logo on dimmer pad. Note amount of detail in pad molding.
Note tiny size of IMCO logo.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 150
From: Forth Worth TX
My 70 has the black custom trim cut pile carpet. The originals (I assume) were made of natural fibers (wool/cotton?). When the carpets in the footwells finally wore out I bought an aftermarket set to replace. The new carpets are synthetic/nylon/rayon or whatever it is. They look nice, but I call them "the lint and everything else you can see magnets". Everything under the sun is attracted to them. Being black it sticks out like a sore thumb. I wish the car had come with the loop carpet.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,852
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Racer
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 353
Likes: 3
From: cincinnati oh
carpet style
if you have a vinyl interior, the carpet was loop. colors were blk, dk green,dk saddle,red,blue/green, bright blue. leather int. used cut pile 100% nylon and were black or dk saddle. no other leather carpet options.