Correct '60 trunk mat date

[Keith R.]

My 1960 non-power top car was built January 28, 1960. I understand that some early 1960 cars had trunk mats with a 59 date. I've seen a photo of a September build with a 59 date. Another photo of a March build car has a 60 date. What date should be on the mat for my car? Is either 59 or 60 correct? Thanks.

[Joe M.]

Re: Correct '60 trunk mat date

If you are following NCRS Tech Information Manual & Judging Guide, your mat would have a 59 stamped on it because is was built before car 4700; which occurred between end of February and end of March. The 59 wouldn't be stamped on the mat, it would have been embossed from the mold. The part number would be stamped on the mat.

[Keith R.]

Re: Correct '60 trunk mat date

If you are following NCRS Tech Information Manual & Judging Guide, your mat would have a 59 stamped on it because is was built before car 4700; which occurred between end of February and end of March. The 59 wouldn't be stamped on the mat, it would have been embossed from the mold. The part number would be stamped on the mat.

Thank you Joe. I read all the posts, Driveline articles, Restoration Handbook and JG regarding trunk mat dates trying to figure this out prior to posting and apparently misinterpreted everything I read. I thought that the only thing that changed after the approximate 4700 production number was the shape of the mat for non-power top cars and that some 59 mats went into some early production 60 cars. I also was thinking that at some point prior to the approx. 4700 car, the date mold for the power-top mat was changed to "60" but I didn't know at what point.

So, what you are saying is that the 59 date mold was on all mats in 60 production until the approximate 4700 point when two style mats came into production. Then at that point, the power top mat and the non-power top mat both contained a molded 60 date - is that correct?

[Joe M.]

Re: Correct '60 trunk mat date

After reading the judging guide a several more times, it states that the early 1960 mats were the same as the 1959 mats, but the language does not make reference to the markings for the early 1960 mats being the same as the 1959. I now believe the Judging Guide is referring to the early 1960 mat shape being the same as 1959 mat shape. I am sure they used up the 1959 mats before placing 1960 mats in cars, but it seems unlikely that GM would have 4700 1959 mats left after 1959 production ceased. I believe your mat would have had "60" embossed on it. I am surprised that no one else weighed in on this.

[Bob B.]

Re: Correct '60 trunk mat date

Keith,

With a January car, you would likely have a 59 date, but 60 is possible. Remember, the month is designated by the number of dots on the circle around the date. If black, it will have the embossed p/n and, if colored, it will have a blank plate that is ink-stamped with the p/n for that specific color.

I haven't paid a lot of attention to repro mats, but are they making them to this level of detail??

Original mats are about a sixteenth of an inch thick flexible rubber/plastic with a fine diamond pattern on the back. I've seen one repro that is about the right thickness and type and another that is about an eighth of an inch thick and spongy. The diamond pattern I've seen on some repros is not like the original, but certainly better than nothing,

Bob

[Keith R.]

Re: Correct '60 trunk mat date

After reading the judging guide a several more times, it states that the early 1960 mats were the same as the 1959 mats, but the language does not make reference to the markings for the early 1960 mats being the same as the 1959. I now believe the Judging Guide is referring to the early 1960 mat shape being the same as 1959 mat shape. I am sure they used up the 1959 mats before placing 1960 mats in cars, but it seems unlikely that GM would have 4700 1959 mats left after 1959 production ceased. I believe your mat would have had "60" embossed on it. I am surprised that no one else weighed in on this.

Thanks again Joe. That's the way I was interpreting it originally. I am thinking the same thing.

[Keith R.]

Re: Correct '60 trunk mat date

Keith,

With a January car, you would likely have a 59 date, but 60 is possible. Remember, the month is designated by the number of dots on the circle around the date. If black, it will have the embossed p/n and, if colored, it will have a blank plate that is ink-stamped with the p/n for that specific color.

I haven't paid a lot of attention to repro mats, but are they making them to this level of detail??

Original mats are about a sixteenth of an inch thick flexible rubber/plastic with a fine diamond pattern on the back. I've seen one repro that is about the right thickness and type and another that is about an eighth of an inch thick and spongy. The diamond pattern I've seen on some repros is not like the original, but certainly better than nothing,

Bob

Thanks for weighing in on this Bob. I don't know if the reproduction mats have this level of detail or not. I called Paragon to ask and the lady I spoke with said that she hadn't looked at one of these for a while but that "they are correct". I think I will call back and speak with their tech support before ordering.

With regard to the date, according to your research, either date would be correct, right?

[Bob B.]

Re: Correct '60 trunk mat date

Keith,

At January 28, there were less than four weeks of production time for 1960 dated mats. Mat date to car build date varies and sometimes go past the official six months, and sometimes they are the same month. So, 59 or 60 is fine. If reproducers are putting specific years on mats, I doubt if they are putting the dots around the circle for the month. As far as I know, only Romeo and Knoch are making the mats. You should check out their websites and look at what they sell and ask Paragon who supplies their mats.

4700 is the approximate VIN number of 1960 cars when the divider panel with the power top bulge was eliminated for non-power top cars and a new style and shape mat with completely different type of date mark was introduced. Your January car is well before this happened. 1959 mats and 1960 mats prior to VIN 4700 are the same mat except for the date.

Bob

Bob

[Keith R.]

Re: Correct '60 trunk mat date

Thanks Bob. I suspect that Romeo supplies Paragon's mat as the descriptive wording is the same on both sites. Which is more correct in your experience - Al Knoch or Romeo?

[Bob B.]

Re: Correct '60 trunk mat date

Keith,

The Romeo mats I've seen are the 1/16 inch flexible rubber/plastic and Knock's is the 1/8 thick sponge. Romeo is hands-down in this competition, but I don't know if Knoch has upgraded their mats.

Bob