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On cleaning up the fender skirts on my 51 200 prior to painting, I found staples on the upper edge, indicating that some sort of rubber gasketing was originally installed. Steele shows a masticated sheet rubber with random cotton fiber that is cut to the proper size. Does anyone have a closeup photo of what it's supposed to look like? I have some thin rubber that should work, but it's just rubber, no cotton.

I seem to recall that we went thru this topic some years ago in some detail, have you tried the "search" function?

Perhaps someone else will dig up a link to that old thread.

Photos here. Discussion and more pics here.

JD, thanks for searching that out. It confirmed my recollection that the material was a waxed? woven strapping like body welting only thinner.

thanks - I'll order some from Restoration Specialties later this week. The original stuff on my fender skirts were definitely stapled on, as portions of the staples still remain. I suspect that the rivets were much easier to install in the field. I'll be making staples out of stainless steel wire and bending them over. Not a good idea when you're paying for labor.