'87 Carrera - Front trunk Felt or Carpet?

[Pharris409]

I would like to replace the front trunk material in my '87 Carrera but am getting conflicting information on what the OEM material should be.

Perlon Felt or Silverknit Carpet?? Seems like at some point they went from felt to carpet as standard, but not exactly sure.

Can anyone let me know what was standard in an '87? If it is Perlon, then was carpet a factory upgrade?

Car is currently all original and would just like to keep it that way.

Thanks for you help!

[javadog]

I did a little more research on this. 1987 was a peculiar year. As opposed to 1986, or 1988, you seem to have had two choices. Anthracite and black were the colors, option 975 got you velour. No idea what the stock material was. In 1986, Sliverknit in a bunch of colors was available. In 1988, more colors became available again.

My personal suggestion would be to buy a Sliverknit that has bound edges. It lays a lot better than the other options.

[chrisbruck]

My stock '87 is the felt like material. I don't have the build date handy though.

[ganun]

My 87 white coupe has the anthracite felt stuff which btw machine washes fine then I just let it air dry.

[froggert]

My '87 has greyish felt-like stuff. Nothing like the black interior carpet.

[javadog]

This is what I think looks best. May not be what your car was born with, but it looks a lot better than the felt or perlon.

[Pharris409]

Thanks for everyone's feedback and pictures, very helpful.

Is Velour different than Silverknit carpet? If so then I guess there are 3 options: felt, Velour and carpet.

[javadog]

Velour is different from sliverknit (it's not spelled silverknit). In addition, you'll likely find a difference between carpets made in the USA versus those made in Germany.

My suggestion would be to decide what you want, then order samples from suppliers to compare. If you don't have option 975 listed for your car, and you want to go with original material, you're looking at the "felt."

[porschenut]

I've owned 2 1986's and a 1988, and all three came with sliverknit trunk carpet that matched the interior carpet, and none of the cars had the 975 option code nor any other code related to trunk carpet. I've seen an '84 with felt trunk lining, but never an '85 or later car with it that I know was original. For what its worth. I'll check my authenticity book to see if there's a mention of trunk materials.

[porschenut]

Oh, and sliverknit and velour are referring to the same material. Whether it's called sliverknit or velour depends on the book and the nationality of the author. For instance, the brochure for my '88 Commemorative Edition says it is equipped with "silk velour" carpeting, but the carpeting (which is original) is the exact same sliverknit that came on my other Carreras.

[porschenut]

Here you have it. From the 911 authenticity bible, "The 1974-1989 911, 912E & 930 Porsche Authenticity Series" by Mark S. Haab, page 50. I thus quoth:

"The basic material used from 1974 on was Perlon, which was dark grey and rough in texture like indoor-outdoor carpet. Beginning in 1986 sliver knit (sic) could be ordered to match the interior color. It was rubber backed instead of what was called needle fleece and had a sewn border. Burgundy, grey, black, brown, blue, greyish-green and grey-beige were all listed in the parts book. But for 1987 the only colors listed were anthracite and black. The car color dictated which of those two carpet colors came with the car. Black velour was an option beginning that year."

So in this case, the author refers to both sliverknit and velour in the same paragraph. The confusion continues. I should also mention that the sliverknit trunk carpet was not rubber-backed as he says. So, the accuracy of his statements could be called into question. Take it for what it's worth. It's probably mostly correct.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by porschenut

I've owned 2 1986's and a 1988, and all three came with sliverknit trunk carpet that matched the interior carpet, and none of the cars had the 975 option code nor any other code related to trunk carpet. I've seen an '84 with felt trunk lining, but never an '85 or later car with it that I know was original. For what its worth. I'll check my authenticity book to see if there's a mention of trunk materials.

As I mentioned earlier, 1987 was a peculiar year. Sliverknit was introduced into the trunks in 1986, Prior to that, you got felt. 1987, they did something different, as I outllined above. In 1988, they changed it again.

Your 1986 and 1988 cars would not be representative of an '87.

JR

[RSBob]

A plush velour Perlon "carpelt" is preferred by serious purveyors and cognoscenti of authenticity and correctness. It's tough to find but worth hunting down.

[wrxnofx]

So would this be considered felt, in anthracite?

From my '87:

[famoroso]

1988 with 975 option code. Black velour with sewn border. I like it. A lot. Infinitely more luxurious looking / feeling. Seems more appropriate for a vehicle at this original price point.

[Tidybuoy]

Mine would not pass concourse but I like it anyway. This is basic black felt indoor/outdoor carpet that I found at my local hardware store. It's lightweight but stiffer that my original felt carpet. (I haven't installed the snaps yet).

Not sure why this posted sideways, it's normal on my computer.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by wrxnofx

So would this be considered felt, in anthracite

Yep, that is the felt.

JR

[javadog]

Originally Posted by porschenut

Oh, and sliverknit and velour are referring to the same material. Whether it's called sliverknit or velour depends on the book and the nationality of the author. For instance, the brochure for my '88 Commemorative Edition says it is equipped with "silk velour" carpeting, but the carpeting (which is original) is the exact same sliverknit that came on my other Carreras.

Porsche sometimes uses terms that are different from the rest of us. They've used the term velour on and off for decades and the carpet so describes has had different pile heights and other differences.

JR

[javadog]

Originally Posted by porschenut

Here you have it. From the 911 authenticity bible, "The 1974-1989 911, 912E & 930 Porsche Authenticity Series" by Mark S. Haab, page 50. I thus quoth:

"The basic material used from 1974 on was Perlon, which was dark grey and rough in texture like indoor-outdoor carpet. Beginning in 1986 sliver knit (sic) could be ordered to match the interior color. It was rubber backed instead of what was called needle fleece and had a sewn border. Burgundy, grey, black, brown, blue, greyish-green and grey-beige were all listed in the parts book. But for 1987 the only colors listed were anthracite and black. The car color dictated which of those two carpet colors came with the car. Black velour was an option beginning that year."

So in this case, the author refers to both sliverknit and velour in the same paragraph. The confusion continues. I should also mention that the sliverknit trunk carpet was not rubber-backed as he says. So, the accuracy of his statements could be called into question. Take it for what it's worth. It's probably mostly correct.

A decent book but often wrong. The better source is to consult PET, for the years in question.

JR

[86911cab]

My '86 has matching blue Sliverknit. When I replace it I'll go back to the same material. The Sliverknit is a beautiful carpet!