1949 Kaiser Carpet

[JoeKeys2010]

My car does not have carpet in it so I don't have a sample to go by.  I did a search on Ebay and found someone called "Auto Headliner Mart" in Keller Texas who says the following:

KAISER CARPET 1947-1952 COUPE & 2/4-DOOR SEDAN. ANY COLOR. NEW IN BOX. Any one year, color & model of your choice. Made specifically for each year & model from US Mfg. of 56 years. Carpet is pre-sewn, ready to install and is made by exact factory pattern. Carpet comes with heel pad sewn on and binding on all edges. Padding is also included. Specify year, model and color desired at end of auction. Also we have a pre-made headliner & original windlace for your model, call for price Add $24.95 for shipping within Continental U.S.A. For additional information call Headliner, Carpet & Vinyl Top Mart 817.562.2381

Does anyone know anything about this company or has anyone bought carpet from them before.  He charges about $400.  I just want to make sure it fits.  Also my car is a trim code 271 so what color is the carpet supposed to be?

[joefrazer]

Your car should have a rubber mat in the front and coarse short pile carpet in the rear.

The mat is available from the club manufacturing fund.

[JoeKeys2010]

so no carpet in the front floor board, just a mat that is available form the manufacturing fund and Capet in the back floor board?  Is the carpet supposed to be rose color like the interior?  I have a polar grey parts car and it has a badly faded rose interior (271) and has carpet front to back.  Both cars are deluxes (492). 

[JoeKeys2010]

My next move is to the inside.  I plan on removing the seats tomorrow and starting on the floor board.  Currently there is no carpet in the car so I have no pattern or color guide to go by.  My car is a deluxe and has a color code of 271.  I have the volta cloth and a good sample of what the corduroy type material is supposed to look like.  My door panels are made with a corduroy strip at the top, volta cloth in the middle, and carpet at the bottom.  Most of the carpet has been cut off of the door panel so I don't have much to go on.  The corduroy is darker than the volta cloth and the carpet seems to be close in color to the corduroy.

I found a carpet sample, low nap and a loop weave that matches the color of the corduroy sample I have.  Texture looks like the carpet in my 64 Ford in that the loops are clearly visible.  What little bit of a sample I have on the door panel seems to me more of a "fuzzy' look than a defined loop.  That Could be due to age/deteareation or maybe that is the way the carpet is supposed to be made.  I'm not sure. 

My parts car has badly faded carpet and it runs from the back floor board to the firewall just like a modern car.  I cant swear to it but it looks original and has a nice sewn edge on it.  I understand that might not be correct and instead I should have no carpet in the front floorboard or on the firewall.  Instead I should have a rubber mat (available through the manufacturing fund) in the front and carpet in the back. 

So I have two problems.  One: I am not sure the carpet I found is the right color and texture of the original carpet and two: I'm not sure how far to run the carpet.

If anyone has a photo or can tell me I would appreciate it.  I want my car as original looking as possible but am not too concerned about making it a show car.  Most people who will see it will probably not have a clue about the details.  However I am the kind of guy who wants to do it right and I don't want to have glaring errors either. 

[JoeKeys2010]

I've not hear anything on this and could really use some help.  I ordered some rose colored carpet for the car that will be here late next week.  I have a little floor board work to do under the back seat but after that I'll be ready for carpeting.  I have a rubber type coating called polybred that we shoot as liners in rail cars.  The stuff is think and almost feels like rubber.  It adheres well and would serve as a sound deadener and insulator as well as some cushioning.  I don't have holes in my floor board but if I did this stuff would fill them in.  You can shoot it over chicken wire and fill in the holes with it.  I am thinking about spraying into the car first then applying the carpet.

[joefrazer]

KF used an asphalt based sound deadener that did a great job of trapping water and promoting rust. I'd say go for it. Any compound that stays pliable and helps prevent rust has gotta be better than what the factory used!

[JoeKeys2010]

and the carpet goes from the back floor board and stops under the seat with a rubber mat in the front?  I'd prefer to run carpet up the fire wall but if that is the wrong thing to do I will not do it.

[joefrazer]

Did some research and found that 49 and 50 Kaiser Deluxe cars used carpet in both the front and rear floors. According to the 1949 Facts Book, they should match. The Facts Book doesn't detail colors, it only states that it is "color-styled to blend with the upholstery fabrics...". It also stated that rubber heel pads were used. The club manufacturing fund does carry some of the colors.

[JoeKeys2010]

Thanks.  I found some carpet that matches the seats pretty close except the weave looks a little more defined.  I will have to cut to fit as I could not find any molded that was the right color.  Starting on the floor boards and the inside roof today.

[JoeKeys2010]

I cut the back carpet to fit where the bottom of the seat clamps to the floor and ran I underneath the front seat.  I had the carpet bound around the edges just lie it is in the parts car.  It fits great. 

I think I am going to go with a rubber mat in the front as it would be easier to install than the carpet.