Why can't I find a new red carpet kit?

[perthling]

It's been a while since I was on here, but I'm back with a query I'm sure someone else has had. (oh, and happy new year btw).

I need a new carpet kit (and seat coverings, FWIW) for my '74. It had the red cornrow carpet and black vinyl seats.

I see plenty of beige and black carpet kits, and occasionally come across red cut-pile, but I'd like to get a new set which looks like the original. Anyone found a vendor who can supply a red cornrow style (including the black edging)? Even better if they can flip the fronts to suit a RHD but at this point I'm not too fussy. Seats I will get retrimmed in leather and I have now sourced new door cards so it won't take much to refresh the interior once I find the right carpet kit.

Hope someone can assist.

[spidernut]

I haven't personally found anyone who has the true corn row carpet kit in red either. There are versions out there, but I've not seen it in the corn row style. When I made a new carpet set for my 79 in red, I went to Lowes, bought their indoor-outdoor red cornrow style carpet and had edging sewn on at a carpet store. It isn't a perfect match because it has black flecks in the carpet design, but looked nice.

[perthling]

The internet is a wonderful thing - I just came across a listing at lingotto-parts.com which looks like it matches the original style (even down to the black edging).

Just waiting on freight costs to be advised before I take the plunge.

[PininF]

Try this mob, I'm also looking for a red carpet kit... there's is great because they can make for a right hand drive..
but its expensive.

http://www.prestigeautotrim.co.uk/acata ... _Sets.html

[bobplyler]

These guys say they have red carpet.
http://www.worlduph.com

[perthling]

So Prestige carpets would be around AUS $300 plus freight. That's in line with some other online vendors eg ricambi-autmobilia.

For comparison, supply of sufficient matching (or near enough) carpet (alone - not cut or edged) is around $600 to me in Western Australia -so that makes a slight compromoise on originailty look like a sound economic proposition...

[perthling]

eBay vendor ricambi-automobilia has some red loop pile kits, made to order, and they can also modify them to suit RHD installations. They aren't the corn-row style but they are about AUD $300 per set which is a lot better than $600 for the carpet quantity alone. I will let you know how I go...

[perthling]

Okay, so my carpet kit arrived. Ricambi-automobilia were easy to deal with, they make the carpet to order and I was able to have them put the heel pad on the right hand side to suit my RHD coversion. The quality of the carpets seems very good, the edging is neat and tidy. The only issue I have is that the 'red' off their website turned out to be a bit closer to burgundy than the bright red corn row original style.

I have not yet attempted installation but from what I can see the cutouts are all in the right places so installation should be reasonably straight-forward.

Once installed my replacement seats will go in as well which should lift the interior ambience somewhat after 15 years of sitting on cracked seats with seat covers.

[PininF]

Can't wait to see some pics, I need to do mine very soon so please keep me updated.

Cheers
John

[perthling]

Installation progressed well last night, the pieces all fit well. The only issues I had were that I needed to get some replacement screws to fasten the sill pieces back down, as well as the piece across the front of the rear seat which is (I discovered) held down by four screws. And I will be getting the tunnel hump covering piece fitted with grommets to accommodate the seatbelt fixings.

[divace73]

Installation progressed well last night, the pieces all fit well. The only issues I had were that I needed to get some replacement screws to fasten the sill pieces back down, as well as the piece across the front of the rear seat which is (I discovered) held down by four screws. And I will be getting the tunnel hump covering piece fitted with grommets to accommodate the seatbelt fixings.

PM Sent