Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

hi everyone , just fyi im still looking for a front rubber mat (black) for my 22nd series . if there is any leads out there on one let me know . thanks all !!!

I've been looking for one for my 1951 Henney-Packard too but they seem to be made of unobtanium!

Search the old posts as I recall someone was having them made or had one made. There's picture of what they looked like. "Sam" w/ '50 comes to mind. Never heard any more.
I'd just use auto carpet as a work around. I've yet to find a supply of rubber matting that matches any of the old patterns. They're several matting makers that sell by the foot, just search. I bought some for the Cad trunk but won't find custom cut or matching. I don't know what the P resto shops do for this, may want to call around.
When I looked at making logo door mats for the coupe, the issue is cost for small runs or non-production replication methods. The tooling and production cost make it "impossible" for such a small number of remaining "P"s. Expect a unobtainium wait, it's appropriate.

Here's an original 22nd series. It was molded, not cut from extruded matting, as the textured border around the ribbing shows.

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Fish'n'Jim, was this the other part you were talking about?

I think for this one you could get a silicone mold off an original or possibly build a core via 3D printing from which to pull a mold cavity.

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This place in Michigan makes several of the running boards mats and some of the interior mats as well. They are willing to take on projects if you have patterns. The running board pictured in the previous post is one of the projects they have done before.

http://www.runningboardrubber.com/Packard.html

looks like they've done the floor mat (50 is the same) and the step plates!! I think they are actually in BC, but have a US shipping point. Looks good.

The guy in Canada, CNC machines from a digital file on flat stock and then coats to give the smooth surface. He can only make the rubber. He was seasonal based on volume. I talked to him on the phone but many years now.
Someone else claimed to have made from a mold but the quality was not acceptable as the part was not pristine and I never heard more from them. I contacted other potential suppliers too.
I have all the info, drawings, etc. but no longer am pursuing as that project is back burner and changed from a resto to a hot rod/custom. Not to mention, at my age, the faster I move the slower I get.
The sill mat is backed by a steel backer that has slots and clips that engage the rocker panel, so that steel piece has to be created as well, as they rot. It requires a stamping. Then a rubber part has to be laminated to that backer. That technology isn't done much today. Mostly glues, etc. Not a DIY process either, need chemicals and heat and pressure/press.
There just is not enough need to justify any break even enterprise here. I had maybe a handful interested. Plus there's the coupe v 4 dr split.
They used to do things that way, but the buggy whip effect applies here.
I'm not a fan of OEM rubber floor mats, and authenticity for me is trumped by functional. Natural rubber just doesn't last, so it'll need replaced at some point. If you put that time and money in, it has to last, and the OEM may not give the best life. They weren't designed that way. Crank out the model year mode.
Ps: I have a copy of the 23 series sill mat drawing and had it digitized, if anyone needs it. Not going to wholesale distribute as I paid for it, genuine need only.

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You're quite right, but I doubt the original was natural rubber because its poor weathering was well known by then. It was most likely EPDM, which would be fine today or one could use an appropriate polyurethane or vinyl.

Machining elastomers is not easy - that guy must have a very sharp CNC.

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I don't know how this guy does it but did read that as long as the piece is thick enough to still have a decent mass freezing is one way to machine rubber. Don't remember the temp but I think liquid nitrogen would probably make it too brittle so maybe something around dry ice temperature is the range.