OEM Carpeting

[John Wire]

Where can you purchase quality plush carpeting for a 75 that compares to the original JP Stevens stuff?

John Wire 75Coupe

[Jim T.]

Re: OEM Carpeting

As advertised in the NCRS Driveline the plush carpet for your 75 is available for 149.00 from Romeo Engineering, Inc. Color and texture samples are free and as the ad says this is the only carpet set available with the original Interstate MFG. logo like O.E.M. heelpads. phone 517 742 4809 Hillman,MI.

[John Wire]

Re: OEM Carpeting

Jim,

I ordered a full set of plush for my 75 from Romeo Engineering. Turned out to be about half as long and dense as the original remnants from JP Stevens so I sent the front half back. Romeo says all the carpet mills make it the same way. They said they would try and get a better quality. Haven't heard from them for a long time.

Ordered samples from Corvette America and Al Knock. They both were shabbier than Romeos.

I'm not going to waste anymore time on carpet until I can find a quality replacement. What do the judges say when they see this?

John 75Coupe

[Ed Jennings]

Re: OEM Carpeting

John, Try Auto Custom Carpets in Anniston, Alabama. I don't have their number handy, but you should be able to get it at (800) 555 1212.

[Reba Whittington]

Re: OEM Carpeting

Auto Custom's number is 800 633-2358. Their reproductions are the best I've seen.

[John Wire]

Re: OEM Carpeting

Thanks Reba,

I just called them and they are sending me a sample. Appreciate the help!

John Wire 75coupe

[John Wire]

Re: OEM Carpeting

Reba,

Received the carpet sample from Auto Custom Carpets yesterday. Looks about the same as the other samples from Knock, Romeo and Corvette America. Romeo's has a different backing. They all are shorter and less dense than the original JP Stevens.

Seems unusual that no vendor has found a match for the JP Stevens carpet considering how "pickey" everyone is about all the other parts in a corvette.

Let's see now, if I was a judge, or buyer of an unrestored or "original" vehicle, carpeting would be an instant clue to originality, especially the JP Stevens labels under the rear carpet.

Oh well, at this point it doesn't make that much difference "on the road", and that's what it's all about, driving, even in this old anemic shark.

Right?

Thanks again for your help.

John Wire 75coupe

[Tony H.]

Re: OEM Carpeting

Several years ago, I purchased new carpet to restore the original cut pile carpet in my 1970 Corvette coupe. I compared several companies (Romeo Engineering, ACC, and Al Knock's) for carpet and heel/dimmer pad compared to original. After all the comparison, I found carpets to all be similar and the real difference turned out to be in the heel and dimmer switch pads. Romeo Engineering turned out to be the closest to original in the heel and dimmer pads BUT were not exactly as original. Since my original pads were in excellent shape, I asked Romeo Engineering if they would sew on my original pads to their carpet set. They agreed not only to do that, but they duplicated the original by using black thread and gray bob-in as original! Additionally, their carpet included the door carpet strips which all the other companies charged an additional $25. So, the best value was clearly in Romeo Engineering's product.

Incidentally, I left one of the original door strips on my car and when judged this past summer at the Pittsburgh meet, the judges noticed that the carpet appeared to be replaced by the feel of the nap/stiffness of the carpet fibers. That was apparent when comparing the original strip on the door with the floor carpet.

Enjoy your shark even if it is anemic! Perhaps when it is time to replace the carpets a second time, EXACT reproductions may be available.

[John Wire]

Re: OEM Carpeting

Tony,

Thanks for the info, I agree, the Romeo carpet seems to be the best of the samples I've seen.

Did you lose any points when the judges looked at yours?

John Wire 75coupe

[Tony H.]

Re: OEM Carpeting

John,

I do not have the judging results handy from the meets I attended last summer but I recall that the points deductions for the new carpet from Romeo Engineering with the original heel pads was minimal, if any! My recommendation is to concentrate on maintaining operational points like making sure that the lights work, radio works, alarm works, etc, etc. There are more points to be gained/lost there than worrying about the few points, if any, after replacing the carpet as I did. GOOD LUCK.

Tony