Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Hello,

I have been trying to find out what is the correct carpet for my 1939 120 four door touring sedan. It currently has a mottled grey / black loop pile carpet that, frankly, looks cheap. In my research I have found that it likely should be the so-called "hog hair" carpet. Is that accurate?

If so, the next question is color. The car currently has a silver grey interior with a faint houndstooth pattern in the seats, though I would like to replace this with grey leather some day. Should the carpeting match the rest of the upholstered surfaces or would it be appropriate to go slightly darker, perhaps to a charcoal or maybe even a dark brown (to match the dash)? In the 1939 Packard accessory manual it looks like the carpet is darker than the seats but that could be a scanning contrast error.

Thank you,
Zach

A good source for information as well as a source for hogshair and other vintage-type carpeting is Bill Hirsch in Newark, NJ. He's been supplying carpet, leather and wool broadcloths to our hobby for more than 50 years, owned and restored many Packards. You can check his advertisements in almost any of the hobby publications but I'd suggest rather than browsing the web catalog you call and speak with Bill directly.

hirschauto.com/

The front was a rubber mat. As far as I know all reaR carpeting on junior cars was the same color, a grey/brown mix of what is called hogshair.CORRECTION SEE MY NEXT POST

Deluxe equipped cars of some models may have front carpeting, serial # on data plate (decal) has a D in it after the first 4 digits

My all original 1939 Six Touring Sedan had carpeting in the front but was too far gone to determine the color. It appeared to be a taupe or tan shade.

Was leather seating an option on a 1939 120 sedan? If so, fitment would be exceedingly rare.

When all else fails I use the Packard Parts Manual.. It lists a front mat for 39 Six and no front carpet. In the rear it lists a woolen carpet

My data plate is missing; it has some sort of sheet metal stamped with "Berry Motor Cars", the serial number, and a date of 12/25/38. I assume it may have been a Deluxe because it has the fancy ashtrays in the rear arm rests.

Either way I plan to replace the carpeting in both the front and rear.

it has some sort of sheet metal stamped with "Berry Motor Cars", the serial number, and a date of 12/25/38

That sure sounds like a description of the patent (data) plate. How about a photo of it?

Fred said earlier that if your car was a Deluxe it would have a "D" stamped as part of the vehicle number. I question if that is correct for a 1939 model. My understanding is that stamping as part of the vehicle number for a Deluxe would be a "DE" and that was applicable for 1940 and 1941 but not 1939. If I'm wrong I look forward to a correction.

It isn't the patent plate, though I do have a blank one that I could stamp and affix in the proper place.

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Sure looks like the patent plate to me. Vehicle number is the correct font, size, spacing and format.