Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

[Donald H.]

I'm trying to get my 1960 back together for a chaper event in early August, and then also have it registered for the Regional meet in Altoona PA in early September. It's been going back together pretty good. Today I call Al Knock to check on carpet. I need the red Tuxedo carpet for my 60. I was told by customer support that they are out of the red and have no ETA for when they will get any more in stock.

Is Al Knock the only supplier that has correct Tuxedo weave carpet sets for the 60?

Thanks,

Don Harris

[Donald H.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

I just called Corvette Central, they list their Tuxedo as being NCRS correct. They customer support person I spoke to said theirs comes from ACC. Anyone have experience with ACCs Tuxedo weave? Is it correct for NCRS judging?

Also, how does the ACC sets for C1s fit?

Thanks,

[Donald H.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

Anyone used ACC?

[Russ S.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

Do a search on the D Board. There are a lot of posts regarding carpet.

[Donald H.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

I always search the board before I raise a thread. Maybe my search skills are off, but the only references to ACC carpet I found dealt with C3s. My specific question is whether the ACC carpet meets judging standards for the 60, 61 & 62 Tuxedo weave and if it fits??

Of course there are lots of comments in the discussion board regarding Al Knoch carpets and his fit and finish, but looks like I will either have to wait an indefinite period of time to get Al Knoch carpet, or find something else. I've just trying to avoid spending $250 plus and not knowing what I'm getting.

[Jim L.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

I installed ACC carpet in my '60 about twenty years ago and had it judged once. Installation was easy; the carpet fit perfectly and required only minor persuasion to lay flat. It judged well..... I don't remember any deductions. Twenty years on, it still looks nice. If I ever re-carpet another car, ACC will be my first phone call.

Jim

[Richard M.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

Don,

I used ACC for my '59 2 years ago and had a problem with the Driver side carpet. It was 1 1/2" too long as measured from the gas pedal studs to the sill step. Pics below show the problem. New carpet shown on top of old. My old carpet fit fine. I chose Tuxedo over correct Daytona for my car as I liked the Tuxedo better.

I had to send it back to them and they had to remove the end piece at the sill plate, cut the main piece 1 1/2" and re-sew the end piece back on. They had the same problem on another '59 set I ordered 6 months later! I fixed that one myself.

If you go with ACC, you may want to verify the length with them before ordering. Measure yours from the gas pedal studs back to the sill step. Ask them what their measurement is.

Rich

[Jim D.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

I use ACC carpet in all my restorations including several C-1's. High quality and excellent fit.

[Donald H.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

Rich and two Jims, Thanks nothing like experience to help a fellow out. Looks like I will have to go with the ACC.

I just spoke with customer service at Al Knoch and was told that the mill that was running their material (at least the tuxedo red) no longer weaves the tuxedo. They are looking for a new source and have no idea when they will get any more material.

[Donald H.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

Well I got the ACC carpet, and the fit leaves a lot to be desired. As Rich said above, the driver side is at least an inch to long around the door sill area. If I fit the carpet to the accelerator studs, which is a fixed point, it does not fit. There are other fit issues, but these are along raw edges of the carpet and I can cut to fix. The driver side fit has finished binding where it is to long, so I'll be calling ACC on Monday I guess. I bought it from Corvette Central because it was a little cheaper from them than buying direct from ACC.

To bad Al Knoch doesn't have a source now for the tuxedo weave

[Richard M.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

Well I got the ACC carpet, and the fit leaves a lot to be desired. As Rich said above, the driver side is at least an inch to long around the door sill area. If I fit the carpet to the accelerator studs, which is a fixed point, it does not fit. There are other fit issues, but these are along raw edges of the carpet and I can cut to fix. The driver side fit has finished binding where it is to long, so I'll be calling ACC on Monday I guess. I bought it from Corvette Central because it was a little cheaper from them than buying direct from ACC.

To bad Al Knoch doesn't have a source now for the tuxedo weave

Don, It's unbelievable they got the driver side still too long! I worked with them over 2 years ago about this problem, even sending my old carpet back so they could make it right. Their template is either wrong, or their "driver side" rulers are off 1 1/2".

They sell many 58-60 carpets. This really needs to be fixed. I will warn you that you'll likely get some resistance and attitude from ACC over this. I did and I wasn't happy about it then. I bought mine through Zip, and they were a big help to get it resolved.

I'm sorry you had this problem. I was hoping they had it fixed a long time ago. When you speak to ACC tell them to look up records from early December 2009 when they got it wrong on mine.

Rich

[Jim D.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

When you speak to ACC tell them to look up records from early December 2009 when they got it wrong on mine.

Rich

That is really odd. I purchased three sets of ACC carpet for 59-60 all prior to Dec. 2009 and they all were a perfect fit. I wonder when/why the change??????

[Donald H.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

It is strange, but mine is exactly as pictured in Rich's photos above. If I fit the driver side around the accelerator studs, there is an inch or more of excess at the sill.

The other problem I have is that I bought door panels from Knoch, and of course the red in the carpet at the bottom of the door panel is a different shade than the carpet. Not sure how an interior judge will view this?

[Donald H.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

Rich, you said you fixed the second one yourself. How did you fix it?

I'm tempted to take the seam apart and cut to fit, then try to find a local upholstry shop to stitch the binding back together. I'm trying to get my car put back together for a judging event early August and don't have time to mess with getting ACC to fix it, especially if they are going to be difficult to deal with.

[Richard M.]

Re: Tuxedo carpet - Anyone make it correct other than Al Knoch?

Rich, you said you fixed the second one yourself. How did you fix it?

I'm tempted to take the seam apart and cut to fit, then try to find a local upholstry shop to stitch the binding back together. I'm trying to get my car put back together for a judging event early August and don't have time to mess with getting ACC to fix it, especially if they are going to be difficult to deal with.

Don,

Second set was for a 59 pro-street so we just cut around the gas pedal area. We didn't shorten the end piece.

If you don't send it back to ACC, yes you'll have to take the seam apart and get a shop to re-stitch it with the correct red thread. I think you should still contact ACC. Maybe they can send you a new piece properly cut, then send yours back later. It's their mistake and they should correct the problem. Hopefully their attitude is better now than it was for me. I can understand how frustrating this is for you.

Rich

p.s. Jim, It's a mystery why yours were okay, and some after 2009 are not. I doubt that the cars have different measurements at this dimension.