Original 289 Carpeting

[tgif]

Trying to locate some vintage/old original carpeting to preserve and repair a 289 car where some of the carpet is worn away/gone. What other car makes/models would have used the same exact carpeting as the 289 cobra that I could try to hunt down. Appreciate any help or input.

[strictlypersonl]

It's pretty likely that the original cars used Wilton wool material. Does yours have a distinct smell when it's wet?

[Nedsel]

Check with Automat in Hicksville, Long Island, and ask for a sample of Wilton III in whichever color you need.

[Tom Kirkham]

Another source to try:

BAS Jaguar Trim - Interior Kits & Upholstery

[tgif]

Guys
Thank you for your feedback and sources for new authentic equivalents to the original 289 carpet. I appreciate it.
To find the actual old/vintage original carpeting from the era, what other car makes and models would have used the same exact carpeting as the cobra?

[DanEC]

AC Ace probably.

[Tom Kirkham]

Karvel is the original carpet.
BAS sells it.

[Jim Maxwell]

Tom, Thanks for the information regarding the carpets. I had not heard of Karvel carpets until your posting. May I inquire as to the evidence that led you to conclude that Karvel is the brand used in Cobras originally? I am restoring CSX 2401 and have used Wilton III in the past, but would like to be sure to use the "correct" material this one last time I redo the carpets.

Jim

[Tom Kirkham]

Jim,

Call BAS and ask for a swatch. If you talk with Tony he can give you the run down on Karvel. Wilton is a lot nicer and that is why we use Wilton in our cars.

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by Tom Kirkham

Karvel is the original carpet.
BAS sells it.

Karvel™ is described as having a jute backing. It doesn't look like any original Cobra carpet I've seen?

[Tom Kirkham]

A-Snake,

You are correct. It looks like Karvel has updated their backing. I suspect that is why the tag reads Karvel 2000.

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by Tom Kirkham

A-Snake,

You are correct. It looks like Karvel has updated their backing. I suspect that is why the tag reads Karvel 2000.

Heritage Upholstery & Trim - About Our Materials

Here is a quote from the website. FYI BAS Ltd is the parent company of Heritage Upholstery & Trim

"Karvel™ (Jute Backed) Carpet
Karvel is historically the correct factory original carpet for many post war British Cars. Pre-war Karvel contained small amounts of hogs hair and wool, but in the 1950's this was replaced with the harder wearing synthetic blend of rayon/viscose/nylon. The original backing was rubber dipped with jute/hessian backing. Karvel has a very distinctive corrugated pile sometimes referred to as "corn rows" that give it a distinctive lush pile. The pile height however varied depending on the auto manufacturer's specification and the fact that auto carpet making in post war Britain was not a science. No two milling runs were the same! Some original Karvel that has survived on original unrestored British Sports Cars appears to have a whitish fleck in the pile. This is entirely due to the fact that the aging of Karvel and exposure to sunlight had faded the original dye color from some of the fibers. Original Karvel was a uniformed non-flecked color.

Available in 3 colors, Red Black and Blue.

Karvel™ Carpet History
Originally manufactured by John Crossley & Sons, Halifax, England. Karvel was widely used in many British Cars, A.C., Austin Healey, Jowet, Morris, Triumph (pre TR4), MG (T-Series) to name but a few. The original manufacturer stopped producing Karvel in the late 1960's. BAS Ltd. UK parent company of Heritage Upholstery & Trim was very proud to reintroduce reproduction Karvel in 1996. Karvel carpet is a registered Trade Mark and exclusive offering of Heritage Upholstery & Trim."

[DMXF]

According to the following UK supllier website the Karvel (or Carvel) had the heavy woven backing back in the day, which is not what original Cobra carpeting looked like:

"Originally, all BMC carpets were made from a carpet material known as "Carvel" which was a short pile carpet with heavy woven backing. This was superceded in the mid 1960's by what was then a "modern" carpet where the pile was flocked to a rubber composite backing and made by Dunlop. These materials are no longer available, so..."