New Carpet Prices

[expat]

Geez.....I've been chasing prices for carpets for my 87 Cab

The prices I'm getting back are in the range US$1600-US$1800

Surely there's gotta be someone who can supply good quality carpets cheaper than this.

On various threads here, people seem to be saying the 'domestic' is not value for money so what other options do I have?

Can anyone who has actual experience in purchasing a full set of carpets for a price lower than what I'm getting quoted please let me know from who you are getting them (contact details). I am not interested in cheap stuff that won't last 5 years but surely there's some other options less than US$1600!

I know I could possibly get some good motor trimmer to copy my old set but they're basically junk so sizing won't be accurate.

Thanks for any help

Cheers
Mark

PS I'll be shipping to overseas (HK) so I don't particularly care where they come from.

[Fishcop]

Mark, a trimmer worth his "salt" will still be able to produce a quality replacement. Your original carpets would merely give him a rough idea. I've just finished making my own carpets, not a difficult job, but not for everyone I appreciate. There was nothing wrong with th stuff that was there, but it was blue and not original....and I wanted the black. There was no question I rooted the carpets getting them out (to answer your other question).

No luck with your Aussie enquiries?

[expat]

Hi John,

Yes, the prices are actually from Australia - around A$2500.

Actually I was thinking I could make them myself. Can you tell me what you did? (My thoughts are the same as your action - I want to change to black from blue interior)

eg
What type of carpet did you buy?
Where did you get it?
How much (sq ft/metres)
What did you do about piping around the edges?
What was the cost?
Problems or tricks?
What brand glue did you use?
Any more pictures of the install? (I think I saw one or two on an earlier thread)
Anything you'd do differently.

Thanks for any help mate.
Cheers
Mark

[rob911]

Have a butchers around the site.

Seem to recall seeing a full project write-up with tons of pictures. Was done to a targa, but almost the same.

[JimNB]

I am in the process of installing my "home made" carpets right now.

I did not have a set to use as a template (which would be ideal) but had no trouble measuring and cutting all the peices.

I bought the carpet (6'x8')at the local flooring shop. They carried a variety and I simply chose it. Total cost of the materials was $ 100 CDN (about the same in Australian $$)

To get the edges done, I took them to a local upholstry shop. 1 day later and $ 75 lighter, they were done and look fabulous. If you had a strong sewing machine you could do it yourself. Putting the binding on is not that complicated.

I am using 3M spray adhesive which works well.

Once I have pictures I will send them to you.

There is no magic. Measure twice, cut once and you will be fine

[Fishcop]

I've promised a few people that I'd take some more photos and break down the process. I will, I'm on holiday at the moment and don't have the camera with me. I will do it though!

Much the same as JimNB, I found a carpet/flooring/upholstry whole-saler, promised him a ride in the car if he gave me wholesale prices and selected a light weight black fine loop pile carpet. I'm not interested in concourse, so the fact that it is not German Silverknit is irrelevant to me so long as it looks good and weighed less than what was there (and I defy any non-porsche person to spot it).

Do not buy carpet with a backing as the carpet will not be flexible enough to glue into curves. Also, do not use too much glue as you may want to change it/take it out/repair etc... I used "Selleys" high temp-water resistant brand in a pot/can and "Fuller" spray adhesive for tricky spots.

I used my wife's old sewing machine which was strong enough to punch through the thin carpet and vinyl beading. I've had NO training at this, I just sat down in front of the telly with the sewing machine and practiced making piping out of black vinyl and sewing it to the carpet off-cuts. Once you work it out, it's real easy.

I made a conscious descision to make light-weight RS style carpets as no one sits in the back. I simply laid out the carpet, placed the old bits on top and cut out the new pieces with a little over size for safety. It's kind of hard to describe, but you lay all the pieces out and make one large carpet with no separate bits (unless you need to have the back seats). You then fit this one large piece to form a RS style set up.

Like I said earlier, this is not real hard which makes me believe that if you want a "sensational" job, a good professional could easily replicate the factory job. I then went on to sew up new door panel, rear quarters, and had the seats re-upholsered by a pro. The result is fantastic (even if I do say so myself!).

There is no way I could/would part with $2000 plus for this job!

Oh! Price in Aussie$ was $68 including glue and disposable brushes, and black heavy-duty sewing thread. CHEAP!

[targa4me]

Im having a New Carpet set made up here in Australia for $550AUD.

Im using local automotive carpet as it is waterproof and will not rot if it gets wet. Its a short fibre carpet with a light backing. Extra backing can be added for the floor mats to give it a plush feel.

For the rear Im using a similar product, except it has no backing so it will be very easy to glue into position without creasing. Im having the edges bound with Vinyl as per the original set and Im also using the original rubber inserts from the mats so as they look the same as the old ones.

I also just had aluminium floor boards made from 5mm sheet for $260 AUD. They are very strong compared with the old timber ones - which where really stuffed and they will last forever.

Hope this helps

[bob tilton]

fishcop,
looking forward to pics of your new interior. please post soon.
bob

[stormcrow]

Speaking of carpeting, I came across a roll (6' x 50') of carpeting very much similar to the carpeting used for the front trunk area on the 911's. I was thinking about purchasing it to do my car but what would I do with the leftover. I only have the garage for storage and it parks two cars - not much room left over.

Steve

[Fishcop]

Bob, will do soon. Probably another week though.

Steve....why not carpet the garage

[expat]

Thanks guys, great info, I'm gunna do it meself - BUT.........

Contact details of who you bought the carpet rolls from? Email, phone, fax, company name. Do you have the name for the type of carpet so I can order the same - Hey I'm trusting you guys on this

I'm even going to sew it myself John - so.... to get the directions straight - sit in front of the TV with a XXXX (XXXX Four ex is a beer for those of you who don't venture down under), the wifes sewing machine and a load of strong needles

Remember if any of you DIY guys get this done before I start in May, please post pictures - maybe a tech article.

Thanks for all the help
Cheers
Mark

[CamB]

I am having someone make carpets for the '75 (copying the old ones), eventually, if I ever get that far... When I was deciding on the carpet itself, I seem to remember the OEM (or was it German replica?) costing approximately 3-4 times the domestic equivalent which still looked very nice. I think I decided on the German as it was nicer (not 3-4x, but I was feeling wealthy).

Also, the '69 has an interesting setup for the rear seat area. It was a track car for a while and where the rear seat bottom goes there is also a fitted and edged piece of carpet the same shape as the seat. End result is if you take the seat out it looks nice but with fitted carpet rather than RS style single piece. No weight saving on the carpet (obviously no seats is lighter).

Did any of that make sense?

Cam

[thebondman]

here is an ad that i saw on ebay. GOOD LUCK!click here for the details of ad

[feelyx]

Here is my homemade carpet, pics didn't do it justice though. I used light weight carpet, @ .67 a yard. Removed all the sound insulation and glued it directly to the floor with 3m carpet sprayglue. I will be doing the same in the trunk when painted.

Tim in Sac

[Fishcop]

Okay, maybe I should do my first "tech article"?

I'll grab the work camera next week and take few photos of how to sew piping to the edges, tricky spots and any other things I can think of.

Feelyx, do you mind if I "borrow" a couple of your photos as well?

What is the correct procedure to have it added to the tech section?

Mark, think about what Feelyx and I have both done...remove the sound deadening. I also did exactly what CamB describes, I have a seat shaped carpet panel that is removable on the odd chance I may want to throw the seat pad in.

Stand by............

[bob tilton]

fishcop,
i would be mostly interested in how you approached the rear seats, rear shelf and the front kick panels. please include detailed shots and info on those areas.

feelyx, i like the lack of piping. very nice. where did you get the material?

i made my own rubber floormats from material avail at home depot at $1.75/yd. prices on used and new repros sets ranged from $200-$325. i like the set i made cause it looks great, was inexpensive, and is LIGHT WEIGHT - about 1/3 the weight of my original carpeted floormats.

my temp solution to replacing carpets was to spray dye the existing faded but overall good condition carpets. cost = 2 cans of carpet/vinyl spray paint and one quality sat spent with the p car. many people often ask if i just replaced the carpets.

yeah i can be cheap BUT creative. plus it allows me to spend my money foolishly elsewhere like the newly installed rs door panels and the soon to be arriving prototipo wheel.

fishcop, please follow through with that tech article. maybe we can attach a "cheap bastard's solution to rubber floormats".

feeling inspired,
bob

[rob911]

Guys

See if there is enough detail here Full interior re-fit to help replace your carpet set.

This is what I will be following.

Let's see if we can add some model specific info to this already detailed Tech article, shurely no need to re-invent the wheel.
I will take loads of pictures of the new carpets for my '84 RHD cab, should be late April.

[Fishcop]

Thanks Rob, you are right this is a good article...no point me re-writing it. I will however continue to put something together out-lining how I went about manufacturing my interior (sewing tips etc..)

[Kurt B]

I'll be doing this too--should be getting an OEM carpet set back in a day or two (ordered it last week).

You should be able to get an OEM silvernit carpet set for no more than 600$. I actually got mine at a local installer who had all of the porsche oem carpet types etc. 575$ to make it.

I don't know if he would be interested in mailing it but DO NOT GET DOMESTIC. That's what I'm replacing. It's not only heavy but too thick to wrap around things the way the car is done originally.

The name of the place is Markel's Auto Interiors and it's in Los Angeles, CA

[feelyx]

Fishcop, yes, you can
Bob T. floors to go... Its their cheapest auto carpet and very light weight and doesn't unravel when you cut it

Tim in Sac