C3 carpet reproduction

[J W.]

Is there a majority opinion who makes the most accurate C3 carpet reproductions? Color is not my concern as I am replacing a black carpet for a 1969 roadster (how can you screw up black?) What I am interested in is accuracy of heel and dimmer pads, loop, pinch welding, stitching, cut outs, etc. I know this topic has been discussed ad nauseum, but I couldn't find anything very recent other than discussions about color accuracy and I know suppliers are always trying to improve their products...

[Jim T.]

Re: C3 carpet reproduction

J. Micheal I still have the original carpet in my original owner 1970, original carpet in the 1985 and the 1996. If I replaced the carpet in any of them I would most likely go with Al Knoch"s carpet. His leather seat covers for my 1968 are wearing very well after installation June 26, 1986. He has been in business for a long time.

[Mark D.]

Re: C3 carpet reproduction

There is no accurate 69 carpet/heel pad that I know of. The repops are not even close.

[J W.]

Re: C3 carpet reproduction

Thanks Jim and Mark. I realize no one makes a perfect repop carpet, but I am trying to find out from the collective experience of the members who sells the "least worst" repop carpeting. So far we have one vote for Al Knoch. Are there any other opinions out there?

[Russ S.]

Re: C3 carpet reproduction

Romeo Engineering claims to have been the original supplier of the heal pads and so therefore says his pads are the only correct ones. You could check him out.

[Alan S.]

Re: C3 carpet reproduction

Hi JM,
I found the 70-72 carpet situation quite disappointing.
While there is some very 'pretty' carpet available it's not very similar to the original. The backing is especially different than the original.
I also found the heel and dimmer pads to be rather poor reproductions.
I ended up taking the heel and dimmer pads off my original carpet and sewing it on new Al Knock carpet. I re-dyed the rest of my original carpet and re-installed it.
I found Romeo a trip to deal with and then was disappointed with the carpet when I finally received it. I installed it and then removed it because I felt it wasn't very similar to my original. The Romeo carpet is quite 'fuzzy' and has poorly defined 'loops' while the original has very tight well defined loops. The heel and dimmer pads were really just 'close' to the originals.
I was extremely disappointed with the Al Knock heel and dimmer pads (maybe they've been improved?) while the configuration of the piece of carpet for the rear compartment and bulkhead was quite different than the original (again, maybe improved now?).
My suggestion would be to try to see CURRENT examples of the various carpet, it's configuration, and the heel/dimmer pads, before making a decision.
Regards,
Alan

Here's several pictures. The dimmer pad was a latter addition to the carpet but shows the variation in the quality of the pad configuration.
I think the Al Knock dimmer pad is laughable!… except that I spent my hard earned money on it.

[Jim T.]

Re: C3 carpet reproduction

Alan, My 1970's original optional interior carpet did not come with a dimmer pad on its carpeting. I do not know what the standard 1970 carpeting came with.

[Alan S.]

[Gary R.]

Re: C3 carpet reproduction

My only advice is to check it very close when you get it. I made the mistake years ago buying a complete 75 black 80/20 set at Carlisle and putting it away for 10 months before using it. When I opened the box I found 2 shades of black and different 80/20 loops. Clear as day laying them all out.
I brought back to Carlisle right to Al Knock, he apologized and gave me a new set that we checked on the spot.

[Don L.]

Re: C3 carpet reproduction

Hi Mike. Hope all is well. I attempted to get Al Knock to improve the quality of his heel and dimmer pads a few years back. I approached him and he said he would love to do it. A couple members between this forum and C.F. provided me with original pad samples for Al's use in re-tooling. His suggestion was that he could use the originals to make a tool and then mold pads from the same material as he uses for floor mats. Realizing these new parts would still be, and would still look like the reproductions that they are, I saw them as a better likeness than the door panel material with convertible top clear plastic laminate as a stiffener as is used today. After all this time, and after several (annual) follow up visits with Al at Carlisle, I'm disappointed to say that he's made no progress.

As Alan suggests, if you're looking for a "good as original" heel pad for your '69 (true that '69s don't have dimmer pads), your best bet is to transplant your original pad to new carpet.

I agree that the Knock carpets are probably the best choice for these cars. I re-did my '72's carpet a couple winters back. The length of the driver side is typically short and would need to be extended in order for the 3 rubber firewall plugs to be used. I pieced a trimmed extension from what I trimmed from the rear to make the front fit right. It's really undetectable when installed. There are a few other, similar nuances that I encountered and I am more than happy to share them with you if you're interested. They're all still pretty fresh in my mind. Even the mallet sprain to my left index finger is fresh in my mind

If I can help you, just pm or call me and let me know. Winter is a great time of the year to do this job and frankly, I need a winter project. I'm about out of things to do on/to my car.

Hope this helps...

[Reba W.]

Re: C3 carpet reproduction

As others have said, look at samples from all manufacturers. Quality and details change constantly. Even though Romeo is the only one with the IMCO logo on the heel pad, it does not look like the originals. If you are looking at judging, it will lose a point for configuration--the same for its not being present on others.

I have found Knoch very easy to deal with. I ordered a custom set for my 1972 last summer and received an 80/20 set, not once but TWICE. A very nice customer rep sent pick-up tags for both and eventually went to the warehouse and personally picked out a set to ship.

[J W.]

Re: C3 carpet reproduction

Thanks everyone for chiming in.

Alan, those heel pad photos tell all.

Has anyone shipped their original heel pad to Al Knoch to sew onto a new carpet set? Or is that too risky?

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: C3 carpet reproduction

Mike,
I have the Romeo carpeting on my '69 with the above mentioned IMCO heel pad (no dimmer pad). I would be happy to bring it to the shop for your examination if you need it. It will be there for the winter in about 2 weeks anyway.
Jeff

[Alan S.]

Re: C3 carpet reproduction

Hi JM,
I talked to Al Knock about sending my original pads to them to be used on new carpet but they couldn't assure me that the stitching would use only the original holes in the pads. I felt I couldn't take the chance with the original pads.
That led me to moving the pads from the old to the new carpet myself and sewing them in place by hand, which turned out very well but was quite an experience!
Restoration can be be big fun.
Regards,
Alan

[J W.]

Re: C3 carpet reproduction

Alan
I think I will hold onto the original heel pad and sew it onto new carpet.

Jeff
How do you like the Romeo carpet in terms of fit, 80/20 loop, welding, and such? Is it close to factory?