66 original saddle carpet

[Russ S.]

I have five pieces of saddle carpet out of my 66. I know that three are original for sure and believe that the other two are also original however, the three that I know to be original are 80-20 correct loop jute backed while the other two again are 80-20 correct loop but they are plastic backed. Were there any original carpets plastic backed back in the day? All these pieces match in color.

[Russ S.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

There has to be many who know the answer to this question.

[Scott S.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

There has to be many who know the answer to this question.

Russ,

Back to the top of the list, someone who knows the answer will see it eventually

[Russ S.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

Thanks Scott. I stopped at a local upholstery shop today that has been around for many years and he looked at my carpet and said it was original and that they did use plastic backed carpet way back in 66. I was surprised. Some of the pieces in my 66 are plastic backed and some are jute.

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

I have five pieces of saddle carpet out of my 66. I know that three are original for sure and believe that the other two are also original however, the three that I know to be original are 80-20 correct loop jute backed while the other two again are 80-20 correct loop but they are plastic backed. Were there any original carpets plastic backed back in the day? All these pieces match in color.

Russ,

Have you compared the color of your original to any of the reproduction saddle carpet available? I'm wondering how close it is to original.

[Russ S.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

Russ,

Have you compared the color of your original to any of the reproduction saddle carpet available? I'm wondering how close it is to original.

Michael, The carpet that is available from Al Knock and the color that ACC lists for the 66 isn't any where close to my original carpet. Mine is much darker that what they supply. I had my original carpet with me in Kissammee and showed it to both of those vendors. ACC, because they sell carpet for many cars does have some other colors that do come closer, but that also depends on the dye lot as to how close it comes. I am working on finding the right shade.

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

Michael, The carpet that is available from Al Knock and the color that ACC lists for the 66 isn't any where close to my original carpet. Mine is much darker that what they supply. I had my original carpet with me in Kissammee and showed it to both of those vendors. ACC, because they sell carpet for many cars does have some other colors that do come closer, but that also depends on the dye lot as to how close it comes. I am working on finding the right shade.

Thanks Russ. I was curious because I haven't seen any of the current reproduction carpet for 66 lately. I know reproduction was way off color years ago and was hoping someone got it right.

I Think 66 is different/darker than 65??

Isn't there a small section of correct original carpet in GM dealer albums?

[Michael G.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

Do any of the current vendors sell the correct 80-20 loop?

[Alan D.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

Michael,
A continuing question with an answer of NO! Today's carpet is much denser so we are left with finding some left over at old carpet stores. Not an easy search, it just takes a lot of time. Over the past 3 years I have only found two old rolls but not a match yet.

[Joe R.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

Alan,

For any 66 original carpet to be anywhere near the original color would be a miracle! Even if the car was garage kept, covered and sealed it has faded to several shades from the original.
If you had the original roll that your carpets were cut from it would be a different color.

What are you trying to accomplish? I am confused by your request!

JR

[Russ S.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

Joe, If I understand you correctly, you are saying that the original carpet would be faded to a lighter color. My original carpet is way darker-not lighter than the carpet the venders are suppling. I am trying to find a carpet that is much closer to the original color as well as configured correctly. ACC has a sample that is darker and also thinner than the current 80/20 which the loops are in rows but it isn't considered 80/20 nylon/rayon. It appeared to me to look closer to the original as far as the density of the loop. I don't know how it would judge.

[Russ S.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

Alan,

For any 66 original carpet to be anywhere near the original color would be a miracle! Even if the car was garage kept, covered and sealed it has faded to several shades from the original.
If you had the original roll that your carpets were cut from it would be a different color.

What are you trying to accomplish? I am confused by your request!

JR

Joe, I believed the five pcs of carpet were all original but was beginning to question the pcs that were plastic backed as I didn't think they would have been in 66 so that was the main objective of my initial post.

PS Guess I need to pay more attention. I now see you were addressing Alan.

[Russ S.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

Thanks Russ. I was curious because I haven't seen any of the current reproduction carpet for 66 lately. I know reproduction was way off color years ago and was hoping someone got it right.

I Think 66 is different/darker than 65??

Isn't there a small section of correct original carpet in GM dealer albums?

It is my understanding that 65 and 66 is the same color. I know Al Knock sends out the same for both years.

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

Also of interest is the fact that the carpet, binding and heel/toe pad part numbers for saddle carpet for 65 are NOT the same as 66.

[Russ S.]

Re: 66 original saddle carpet

Also of interest is the fact that the carpet, binding and heel/toe pad part numbers for saddle carpet for 65 are NOT the same as 66.

Michael, I wasn't aware of this. What is also very interesting on my original carpet is that the binding is quite a bit darker than the carpet. I know that the binding has actually gotten darker with exposure-age. If I expose the underside of the binding and compare it to the top side, the underside is a little lighter. This is the opposite of the carpet. The unexposed areas of the carpet are darker(as one would expect) than the exposed areas. However even my exposed areas which have faded some are still much darker than any current carpet supplied by the venders.