71 Carpet and Interior panels and Dash

[Sheldon S.]

I have a 71 convertible and I am ready to order the carpets and complete interior. This will include door panels, dash pad, and all other pieces to finish interior. It is Dark Blue. Who reproduces the closest carpet and panels. I was going to go with Al Knock for everything but read some posts and not sure whether to get carpet from Auto Custom Carpets as some people feel there carpet was better. All opinions welcomed. I do not have the time to try and get to a show to have a look and live to far away.

Thanks
Sheldon

[Michael D.]

Re: 71 Carpet and Interior panels and Dash

Al Knoch.

[Alan S.]

Re: 71 Carpet and Interior panels and Dash

Hi Sheldon,
I ended up using an Al Knock front carpet set, BUT, found the reproduction heel and dimmer pads to be so poor a copy that I re-used the 2 pads from my original carpet.
Getting the pads off the old carpet was pretty easy, but sewing it on the Al Knock carpet by hand, (so the same needle holes would be used), was a VERY time consuming job.
Here are a picture of the original dimmer pad and the Knock version. The heel pad is just as disappointing.
What shape are your pads in?
Regards,
Alan

Original


Knock

[Edward J.]

Re: 71 Carpet and Interior panels and Dash

Sheldon, I Did use ACC carpets in my 72 which was the same color you want. the carpet is good quality as were the heel pad , the only set back is that they did not make the correct color and I ended up with a lt. blue carpet. I would check al knochs color swatch to see what he has. if there color is a closer color I would do as Alan suggests, Or even send him your heel pad and dimmer switch pad and I would bet he would sew them in.I did a Al Knock carpet in my friends 68 and ran into many problems with the knock carpet, but he sent a the originals pieces along with the replacement pieces and he fixed would he could. I think that 71/72 blue carpets are the worst to match up for color.

I think that Al's K. new style door panel are just as the originals but are not cheap, other wise Corvette america makes pretty good stuff.