Carpet Kits... MSA or Vic Brit?

[MDyer]

Any preference? Any horror stories?

[2ManyZs]

Never seen one of VB's, but the MSA carpet kits I've had, I've had no complaints with.......

[26th-Z]

You might consider Auto Carpet Direct, automotivecarpet.com They have insulation products as well. Lebaron Bonney has jute.

[icice9]

also check out JC whitney... im sure that MSA and Victoria British get thier molded carpet kits from the same place.. i bought the one from MSA and i wasnt too happy with it after a year or so.. the rear carpet kit fadded and what was once black turned into a dark purple..

[zacny]

I have the MSA in my all stock '77. Quality was pretty good and the thick felt backing was great as sound insulation. I was disappointed however that it is not complete OEM style. The whiplash borders are not as stock and there is no vinyl reinforcement sewn around the cutouts for the luggage straps or thumbscrews. Just a hole cut in the carpet. Also, the pile is not as long as the original. I have had it in the car for two years with no fading or problems. This year I'm planning to dye the original carpet with SEM Fabric paint and reinstall. I've used similar products on the seatwell carpets and the results were amazing.

[MDyer]

Thanks for the info guys.

zacny, the SEM works great; I used it on mine.

My problem is that my rear carpet backing has become brittle, and rips/cracks very easily..

[77 Z]

So what is the story on the carpet from British Vic....I am thinking of having an upolstry shop do mine..the guy does boat and vehicles

Any suggestions...

[MDyer]

The carpet kits, I think, are designed so you can easily do it yourself (they're already molded and cut).

I would suggest an upholstery shop if you wanted them to provide the mat'l, cut/mold it, and install it.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think all you need is a screwdriver, a scraper, maybe some adhesive(?) and a couple of hours.

[Marty Rogan]

Hey 26th,

You mentioned that Lebarron Bonney has jute? Could you give more info as to who they are, where, price, etc? Is that the same material as original?

Thanks,

Marty

[Walter Moore]

I have not bought a carpet kit from these people, but they sell a lot of Zcar items on Ebay and I know that they do have carpet kits for the Z car: http://www.datsunrestore.com/catalog.html

You might look into them as well.

[SurfColorado]

I would not buy from too intense restorations, I have found they are super over priced.

The previous owner of my car replaced the carpet with what I figure was from VB(he gave me a VB catalog, no msa catalog). the carpet it self has held up, but like probably most replacement carpets it has fadded. maybe up can put some kind of anti fading stuff on it(something that fights stains too)

[EScanlon]

At the risk of jumping on a soap box, Too Intense Restoration may be too expensive for folks on an extremely tight budget, but for those of us who want correct, many times original, advice, options, and AVAILABILITY, Troy Thacker's busines is tops.

Can you find it for less money someplace else? Sometimes, not always and then you run the hazard of is it right. Case in point, I bought a replacement convertible top for my Roadster. Billed as sewn to original specs and the closest thing to original. Well, it was cheaper, about $300 cheaper. Powerful incentive. I bit and got it.

It IS cut to original specs, except, it doesn't have the extra material in the wear points of the top bow. The wire spring reinforcement cables for around the side windows and the pockets they go in, not there. No possible way of adding them in without some serious tailoring. Not something to be tackled lightly. Quote by upholstery shop that specializes in interiors and refitting convertible tops...$250 plus $100 to install it. Then I bring it back in the summer after it's "seated" and they'll re-waterproof the seams again.

I would be better off buying the proper top at $450 and saved myself the hazzle. Still thinking of opting that way as it's becoming extremely difficult to find those side pieces.

What's the nmoral? Sometimes what seems expensive to someone else may in the long run be the most ECONOMICAL way of fixing it, fix it promptly and most importantly RIGHT.

So with that, I'll admit some of his prices may seem high. However, I'll pay for availability on a simple phone call as opposed to 3 weeks of trolling on e-bay, and then taking my chances.

2¢

Enrique