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Senior Car Carpet
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Home away from home
 
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This is a companion post to the Carpet Patterns thread.
Due to the fact that most cars have had carpet replacements, most people don't know what the original Senior car carpet was like, and those that do, often don't realize how unusual it is for carpet. It is not a simple loop or cut pile. Instead, it is a frieze (in carpet-land this is pronounced "free-zay") with large strands (nylon, 3/8" pile height), giving a unique "tussled" appearance. Currently the only person selling genuine reproduction carpet is Neal Porter, who had 5 rolls of carpet made many years ago and is down to Dark Blue, Dark Green, and Dark Gray remaining. To the best anyone knows, only the 55-56 Senior Packards and the 56 Lincolns used this specific carpet type. Here are some photos comparing different types of carpet. The carpets pictured are: - original Dark Blue carpet - original Sardonyx carpet - NP reproduction Dark Blue carpet - NP reproduction Dark Green carpet - high quality wool cut pile carpet, 1/4" pile height (pale green) - commercial quality nylon cut pile carpet, 1/4" pile height (orange) Before we continue, the reader should note that differences in carpet are not as apparent in photos compared to reality, as a completely still photo from one angle masks detail that is otherwise more obvious. At the end of this post I have a 5-second GIF comparing two types of carpet. If the discussed differences are unclear, you may want to view that a couple times first, to gain a better reference. First, let's compare original (top) with NP reproduction (bottom) carpet. We can see that the carpet is essentially identical. The original appears to be darker on the ends, but this is simply dust from 70 years of sitting around. In both of these photos the carpet is held at a sharp bend so the structure is apparent.   Here is original carpet held against a sheet of paper for contrast, so the strand form is easier to see.  Here is a reproduction piece laying flat. Note the distinctive unorderly appearance.  As another reference, here are two photos of Sardonyx carpet. Note that in the top photo, the carpet is simply dirty except the one strip that was under the sill plate. On the other hand, the lower photo shows the carpet mashed down; this is the center "tailpiece" of the footrest section, that rests on the transmission tunned under the rear carpet; the carpet is compressed since the other carpet was always on top of it.   In this photo we can see that a standard cut pile carpet has a much different appearance even compared to a mushed original carpet.  These two photos, comparing an NP reproduction carpet to a wool cut pile, clearly show the difference in the strands and general construction of the carpet. Again, the top photo shows the carpets at a strong bend, for clarity.   In terms of backing, the senior car carpets do not use a foam layer as described for the 5540 cars in the Carpet Patterns post. Instead, there is a thin cloth backing most easily seen as the seaweed-color material in the first Sardonyx photo, though it is generally more of a neutral taupe shade. The jute pads are used comparably to the Clippers. I will make a follow-up post with specific info on the patterns later. The main differences for the Seniors are: - The rear carpet is in two cut pieces instead of one. - There is carpet on the interior firewall; this is not present on Clippers. - The front carpet has a seam directly in the center of the transmission tunnel, instead of an "L"-shape cut on one side only. The carpet is sewn or adhered to backing so that it does not separate. - Vinyl binding, typical of automotive carpet, is used on the carpets on nearly all edges, with the principal exception of under the door sills. I am currently working on finding a commerically available replacement for the original carpet, at reasonable cost. For now, the best known alternative is the "80/20 loop" carpet at AutomotiveInteriors.com. While it is a loop pile, it has a passably correct appearance from a normal viewpoint (i.e. not on your knees looking at it from 3 inches away).  A loop pile should also wear better than a frieze; it is structurally a bit more robust and then strands can't untwist themselves on their own. Attach file:  gif.gif (6,132.02 KB)
Posted on: Yesterday 20:57
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1955 400 | Registry | Project Blog
1955 Clipper Deluxe | Registry | Project Blog 1955 Clipper Super Panama | Registry Email (Parts/service inquiries only, please. Post all questions on the forum.) service@ultramatic.info |
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Re: Senior Car Carpet
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Home away from home
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Frieze carpet refers to the sorts that look like they have a random length; the length is actually the same, but the density is low enough that the lay is fairly random. A 3/8" pile is actually a bit on the low end; most are 1/2" or more. Also, shag carpet is a type of frieze.
Often it looks a lot like this: 
Posted on: Yesterday 21:46
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1955 400 | Registry | Project Blog
1955 Clipper Deluxe | Registry | Project Blog 1955 Clipper Super Panama | Registry Email (Parts/service inquiries only, please. Post all questions on the forum.) service@ultramatic.info |
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Re: Senior Car Carpet
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Forum Ambassador
 
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About 10 years ago Dwight Heinmuller sold a house grade Karastan carpet in the available 56 colors that is a bit thicker and more plush than the original. To me looks a lot better and more appropriate looking than the thin and cheap nylon auto carpet. I don't know if he carries carpet anymore but if not, might still be able to provide the name and colors. Several others besides myself bought his kits and in my case, I am quite pleased with the result.
Don't have a good photo of my car handy but here is a photo of someone else's car he sent showing what it looked like when I first considered buying his carpet. 
Posted on: Yesterday 22:52
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Howard
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Re: Senior Car Carpet
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Home away from home
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Thanks. Anything I get would be residential grade carpet. This stuff is completely extinct in the automotive world.
Posted on: Today 0:06
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1955 400 | Registry | Project Blog
1955 Clipper Deluxe | Registry | Project Blog 1955 Clipper Super Panama | Registry Email (Parts/service inquiries only, please. Post all questions on the forum.) service@ultramatic.info |
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