"In fact, when preparing a concours car, carpet is expressly forbidden, otherwise your car is heavily penalized. We set out to provide a great solution, and are proud to offer a hardura kit that now allows anyone to restore a Bugeye with a more authentic ruberized interior finish. We used this kit in the concours car we brought to the Gettysburg Enclave and this kit helped us to win gold certification. That was an impressive testimonial!"
This statement from the Bugeye Guy site makes no sense to me. I just reviewed the Originality Guide for Restorations and Registry Inspections (Concurs Guide). While cut pile carpet is a 15 point deduct it is not "expressly forbidden". (Loop pile is a 20 point deduct BTW). Why would hardura, a material never used on the tunnel cover get you more points than cut pile carpet that was used on later spridgets?The guide speak poorly to mismatches. Ribbed rubber floor covering and embossed hardura would appear to be a significant mismatch to me.
The guide allows up to 16 points (10 for originality, 6 for condition) for original ribbed floor covering in perfect condition. Anything different/less than that will get deductions. Ribbed AMCO style rubber mats, aluminum floor rail covers and a hardura tunnel cover surely would receive at least a 5 point deduction on originality if not more. Therefore the net deduction for cut pile carpet would be 10 points or less.
I'll get off my soap box now.