C1 carpets, original???

[Peter Cipriani]

Did the assembly plant in 1961 use nails around the transmission area to hold the carpets in place??

While I was changing my speedo- cable I cut my hand on some nails sticking out of the transmission tunnel. I rolled back a portion of the carpet and I see nail heads about three or so on each side of the tranny tunnel holding the carpet in place. Has any body seen this before? The carpets seem to be original.

Thanks, Peter

[Dale Pearman]

Re: C1 carpets, original???

No. No nails were used at St. Louis.

Dale.

[Peter Cipriani]

Re: C1 carpets, original???

What distinguishing features are used to identify original carpets in a Bowtie car??

[Dale Pearman]

Re: C1 carpets, original???

In 1989, while an employee of Eckler's, I researched carpets in order to bring out a product line. My drawings and information regarding carpet fabrication are contained in the 1961-62 Judging Reference Guide as well as the 1958-60 Judging Guide. The backing on original carpets is gray-black. Carefully measure the stiching dimensions as that area has been bastardized as of late.

Dale.

[G B.]

I've seen nails too

Back in the seventies it seems that most of the restorations were '57 - '62 cars. Sometimes I encountered tiny nails in the floor that I assumed were shot through the fiberglass with a gun of some kind. I think they had a slight spiral pattern around the shaft. I also found some screws holding down the carpet corners too.

Let me be real clear about this. I never saw a car with slam-dunk original carpet that I could swear had those little nails. Maybe they were all shot by some upholstery shop or dealer in my area. But it is interesting to me that someone else has encountered them.

[Peter Cipriani]

Re: I've seen nails too

Jerry, they are exactly as you discribed. It looks like they used a gun and the nails have a slight spiral. In which part of the country did you see this before?? This may help me locate some history on my car. Thanks, Peter

[Dale Pearman]

Re: I've seen nails too

Upholstry shops use these tacks all the time. The AIM doesn't show nails or tacks, only screws.

Dale.

[G B.]

South Texas

I lived in Houston throughout the seventies.