911 trunk carpet on EBAY? Austin Pelicans

Kemo · 07-16-2003, 07:53 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33697&item=2423856323

Has anyone tried this or even seen it in person? The pics look pretty good, but I would like to hear from somebody with first hand experience. The ad says the seller is from Austin. Any of you Hill Country Pelican types out there with the inside scoop?

scottb · 07-16-2003, 09:39 AM

I exchanged e-mails with them about a year ago, but never bought the product. I think it's pretty impressive. I just wish they'd done it in gray so it at least it looked similar to the original. It certainly looks like a clean installation.

Texas Turbo · Texas Turbo's Garage

I am somewhat active in the local club and can't say I've ever heard of this guy...

I'll check around and see if anyone knows who it is.

Looks like a nice product by the way.

1973911s · 07-16-2003, 09:53 AM

Looks nice

clnilsen · clnilsen's Garage

Well, I just ordered one. We'll see how it holds up.. I'll post pic's when I get it in.

Thanks!

Chuck

clnilsen · clnilsen's Garage

Well, I just got this carpet set in, and all I can say is wow!!

Wow!!

I know it's just carpet, but this is THE NICEST and most thought out anything I've seen for my car in a long time.

This is not some fly by night hack job, you won't believe how well this goes in.

I'll try and post pics later..

I'm no affiliation, just satisfied.

Chuck

Adam · Adam's Garage

That does look nice! I am going to email them and ask if they'd do those carpets for non-brake-boosted 911s.

targa911S · 07-29-2003, 05:10 PM

Ok but how close does it resemble the original grey wool velour in the older S cars. I have been even told by our host that nothing out there even comes close. I have seen this guy on e bay many times but based on the info I have been given by most , I have been apprehensive to buy. Sure beats $700. 00 for OEM.

ZCAT3 · 07-29-2003, 10:18 PM

Tog - nice post and very nice looking product. I have an 86 930 and an 87 Carrera. The trunk carpet in the 930 is quite a bit nicer in appearance and feel than in the Carrera.

targa911S · 05:11 AM

Tog, Thanks for your feed back. I think you may have missed my point, or question as it would be. How close does it resemble the original velour on the early S cars? Now I'm talking about interior carpeting not trunk, so that might be where this fell apart. I'm not one to just take one persons opinion, but I have had conversations with a lot of parts distibutors, Pelican, Automotion, Tweeks, etc. and they ALL tell me that OEM is the only thing out there that duplicates the original carpet. I am not a concourse nut :-), but I would like to get as close as possible to the original material, at a reasonable price. So ...can you help me?

chuckr · 07-30-2003, 05:22 AM

I have seen the posts on this before, Tog, I think it was Laura you gave info to.She is in the Austin Porsche Club www.hcrpca.org
This is a great group.You might consider joining.... might just be good for your business.

dotorg · 07-30-2003, 06:23 AM

When you say "no, sorry, we only have a pattern for 1980-1989 911s with brake boosters", does that mean, no we have no interest in making a similar product for older 911's, or no we haven't had the opportunity to make something for older 911's?

Just curious because I've got no carpet in my trunk, and at some point would love to put something in there!

Schuey · 07-30-2003, 07:00 AM

I've seen this and it's on my to do list

IMO it looks GREAT

clnilsen · clnilsen's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by targa911S
Tog, Thanks for your feed back. I think you may have missed my point, or question as it would be. How close does it resemble the original velour on the early S cars? Now I'm talking about interior carpeting not trunk, so that might be where this fell apart. I'm not one to just take one persons opinion, but I have had conversations with a lot of parts distibutors, Pelican, Automotion, Tweeks, etc. and they ALL tell me that OEM is the only thing out there that duplicates the original carpet. I am not a concourse nut :-), but I would like to get as close as possible to the original material, at a reasonable price. So ...can you help me?

Targa911S..

From my experience with this, I don't think it's intended to look like the original carpet. It's not even close to my original. It's all black (not grey/black felt that was in my car). I'd actually say it looks nicer than the factory stuff, especially if your's is ratty/old.

I'd say it matches in color any interior black carpet, but it's not the same texture, since it's a different material.

Hope that helps.

Chuck

scottb · 07-30-2003, 08:35 AM

Tog:

My guess is you'd sell a bunch with gray carpet. It would be the best of both worlds...somewhat original in look, but much improved in terms of fitment.

My $.02.

fstar · 07-30-2003, 09:10 AM

Do you have a web site Tog?

targa911S · 07-30-2003, 12:15 PM

Thanks Chuck. Any info helps.

tog · 09:21 PM

OK, guys, I'll try to respond to your latest (suddenly, I'm squeezed for time again because your comments have generated quite a few new orders )

First, individual responses ---

ZCAT3 === That ID rings a bell --- we're you bidding on some of my excess Porsche 911 or MB 190E parts I was "recycling on ebay in the last week or so?

targa911S === Now that you are mentioning the interior, well, I'm really glad you asked --- I've always wanted to expound on that versus our carpet. Here's the skinny. You are probably referring to either German Square Weave or, even better, German SilverKnit. I DO agree with you there, in fact, when we first started to make this carpet, we really did want to make it out of the original material becaue it is excellent material. We tried both carpet material, but unfortunaely, there were problems we couldn't overcome as the carpet pattern grew more complex. Square Weave is too bulky for the intricate cuts we had to make and too difficult to work with in the various manners we required. SiverKnit was our real objective, but, alas it also had too many problems for what we were trying to do. The backing isn't stiff enough for the various "void"s we needed to span, it also was too thick and inflexible for the intricate pattern, attaching it to the "pod" was nearly impossible, it would require edging sewed at the edges (very difficult in intricate areas and this would not look very good), it comes in only 5-ft widths, not the 6-ft width that was more cost-effiicient for our design, doesn't resist some stain-or-toxic materials well, AND, very important, due to the expense of the carpet, the extreme labor for edging, and the 5-ft width it would push the sell price well over $500. We didn't think many people would want it at that price. The carpet we found is very, very close to the SilverKnit in appearance (we have some pix we might get time to post soon comparing the two side by side (maybe tomorrow night?), though, again, it is very difficult to see (because the black color is so hard to discern details) and it also has the stiff-yet-flexible quality we needed, doesn't require edging sewn on, and is impervious to everything, well, almost everything --- a blowtorch (flames) will melt it.
targa911S --- If you really want a comparisons, drop me a private e-mail with your mailing address and I'll try to get a swatch of material to you (between orders) by USPS.

chuckr === yes you are correct, I just didn't know if she wanted her "name" revealed here

dotorg === we want to get around to doing the other models, we just have limited time and limited access to those models..... someday (soon?) .... sigh, can't save all the Porsche 911s in the world but we're tryng to do our part.

Schuey === drop me any questions directly if you like though it might be better just to share them here for a while yet.

clnilsen === thanks again for the nice followup comments --- as I said above it does closely match SilverKnit in that it has a velour appearance --- it will feel slightly differnet to the bare fingers though although even that diff is slight.

fstar === sorry, no web site for the carpet --- but we have a zillion pix if you need any specific ones, please ask

ScottB === we always enjoy your $.02

--- we agree that the gray color would be nice , but I'd like to clarify the volume comment.......

.......Everyone === that we are NOT interested in mass production or great quantities being sold --- you might call this a limited production effort --- (hard to believe, but...) we really do it for love, not money, (all right naysayers, it's true )

--- At one point we had extended discussions with our host distributor (Pelican) to sell and distribut through them, but we just aren't setup for mass production (each one is handmade and takes about 7.5 hours to make) and we weren't sure if we would let our favorite supplier down if we couldn't keep up --- we handle most of our personal Porsche 911 "projects' with their parts --- maybe someday we'll talk to them again.

Gotta go guys --- more another day maybe

Purrybonker · 07-31-2003, 06:01 AM

Here's the "before":

the "after":

and "a little later":

all in all, a pretty good product - certainly an improvement over the factory unit. Generally well thought out and fabricated although my unit was missing one snap and had an added bonus of a few long blond hairs (or was that red?) - got me thinking about a coffee break gone wild - missing snap, blond hair...

ah, get a grip!

I plan to fine tune and tweak the install when I have more time - I put this in last night in about 45 minutes.

I would put it on my recommend list.

Ken

mr.bch · 07-31-2003, 07:48 AM

I found this on ebay and decided what the heck and bought it. My felt was old, and this worked out great. Perfect fit, tight and clean. My trunk looks great. Don't know how it compares to the ones in this posting, but I can't see how the one I picked up could get much better than it is now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42612&item=2414123166