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TR2/3/3A TR3B Carpet Sets

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af3683

af3683

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I am in the process of having my TR3B restored and would like to install the correct original carpeting. Both The Roadster Factory (TRF) and Moss indicate that the original TR3B carpeting was grey rayon loop carpeting with matching rubber mats instead of front floor carpets. I am wondering if folks agree with this. Also, do folks have a preference as to which carpet sets are better quality, TRF, Moss, Victoria British, etc. Thank you for your help.
 
I had the grey loop carpet (correct for TR4) from TRF -- not so good IMO. The grey changed color to a shade of orange where it was exposed to sunlight (e.g the tunnel). I think TRF is aware of the problem as their catalogue notes that grey fades a lot but even the original carpet faded -- true, but it at least was faded grey. This carpet was purchased 8 years ago so perhaps they have resolved the dye issue.

I just recently replaced that carpet with the grey loop from Moss. Fit fine and looks good. The edging was better finished on the TRF set but the Moss carpet looks pretty good.

Bottom line (if you go grey) is the TRF stuff has the edge in finish quality but unless you can confirm they resolved the fade-to-orange problem the results may be less than satisfactory.

BTW -- I love TRF. I love Moss too. Just relating my experience with the item asked about.
 
George - When did you buy them from TRF ? About 6 - 10 years ago, they got together with a carpet maker in town and now thay can supply single carpets or sets of carpets for just about every Triumph. Made locally.
 
The TR3As came with rubber floor mats and not carpets in front of the seats and I would imagine that TR3Bs were the same.
 
There are many suppliers of quality carpet sets to your car. I am assuming that you want to use what had been originally supplied. Just make sure to ask for <span style="font-weight: bold">nylon loop</span> and not <span style="font-weight: bold">cut pile</span>. Also be sure that the binding is correct. Here are some further details from the TRA Judging Guide.

Change point, at TS 35350, which would have been a TR3A, cut pile wool carpet was replaced by nylon loop.

Change point, at TSF1, charcoal grey carpet fitted to some cars with black, blue, or red trim.

Carpet Fabric - Two types of carpet material was used on the TR2-3B, a short tight wool pile, and a nylon
loop. the changeover point from wool to nylon was around TS 35350. In addition, cars built after TS 5089 had
the front footwell carpets replaced with heavy rubber mats. Both wool and nylon carpet was backed by a
rubberized canvas. The amount of jute underpadding seems to vary, but generally was found under carpet
pieces under the seats, and covering the propshaft and transmission tunnels.

Carpet Binding - The carpet was bound in vinyl to match the carpet color on all wearing edges.

Front Floor Mats (cars after TS 5089) - Cars built after TS 5089 had the front footwell carpets replaced by
black rubber mats which fit the car in the same manner. these are not to be confused with the aftermarket
"Amco" floormats, as they extend up the bulkhead instead of covering only the floor.

Trunk Floor Covering - From TS 1 to TS 22013, the trunk floor was covered in carpet to match the interior
carpet. The edges of this carpet were bound. After TS 22013, the wool carpet was replaced by a black plastic
coated mat (Hardura).

Carpet Attachment Hardware - Carpet was glued, screwed, snapped, or left lying in place on TR2's and 3's in
a variety of ways, even within given commission number ranges. This there is no specific arrangement to serve
judges and restorers. Below is a typical attachment arrangement:
- On cars having sloping rear shelves (pre TS 60000), the rear heelboard side pieces were usually glued, as
was the arch shaped center bulkhead panel. The propshaft tunnel carpets were glued, screwed, or left
loose. The transmission tunnel carpet(s) were snapped. The side bulkhead carpets (kickpanels) were
screwed along the dooredge, and glued or screwed at the front. The rear floor carpets were left loose, the
seats holding them down. The rear shelf carpet was most often screwed. The front footwell carpets or
mats snaps at the front, on the bulkhead. Often, these front snaps are replaced by blued jawed clamps,
particularly on later cars.
- On cars with flat rear shelves, the carpet covering the shelf were either glued or screwed.

Carpet Color - Both wool and nylon carpets were usually dyed to match the interior trim. The trunk mats and
front floor mats were always black. Note that some
variations existed, such as the charcoal grey carpet fitted to TR3B's trimmed in black, red, or blue.


For additional details regarding originality, you can download the TRA Judging Guidlines for free.


TRA Judging Guidelines

Good luck
 
I didn't see a way to order individual carpet pieces on the TRF website. My TR3A doesn't have the original carpet ,but I am pretty sure that it didn't have rubber mats in place of carpet.
 
ekamm said:
...My TR3A doesn't have the original carpet ,but I am pretty sure that it didn't have rubber mats in place of carpet.
Click to expand...

As I recall, for many years these mats were unavailable. Both then and now carpet sets for 3As had a piece of carpet for the floor in front of the seats. A few years back TRF began supplying the correct mats to be used in lieu of carpet.

Because this area takes such a beating it was rare to see an original set of mats still in place -- moreover, most people likely preferred carpet there though when you think about it just a mat makes a lot of sense.

Not in the catalogue but a call to TRF (Magic Carpet Co) might get you a single carpet section if that is needed.
 
Thanks to all for your help. So basically the correct carpeting for a TR3B is charcoal grey nylon loop carpeting with vinyl binding and black rubber front floor mats that extend up to the bulkhead. The only problem is that I am not sure that any of the vendors have such carpeting. The Roadster Factory (TRF) does have charcoal grey "rayon" (not nylon) loop carpeting with rubber front floor mats (not sure if they are black or would be charcoal grey. However, TRF told me and their catalog discusses the fact that the charcoal grey carpeting fades to a brown color. The other colors also fade but to a lesser extent. That does not sound appealing. Then there is Moss Motors whicg has charcoal grey "synthetic loop" with front floor carpeting which contains a rubber "heelmat." A Moss representative said that Moss does not carry the original black rubber front floor mats. I did not check with Victoria British.

I'm not sure where else to check. I'm thinking I might be better off with the TRF carpet kits with the rubber front floor mats, as original. Also, I might be better off with black instead of the correct charcoal grey, soon to be brown. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks again.

Art
 
Art:
Moss lists this color carpet see Moss part no. 639-205 I don't know if their product has the same sensitivity to UV, which I have heard is the basic problem. Call them and ask. There may be a sun screen product that is available for fabrics like nylon and rayon. For originality sake, the type of synthetic fiber is not as important as the loop style weave.

What I would do is contact Moss and ask about their experience with the charcoal grey fading issues. Press them for an answer and ask for a specialist (not a customer service drone). If they have a non-fading carpet in the correct color I would buy that and get the correct mats from TRF.

I have a TRF Magic Carpet set that is going into my 3A. This is red nylon loop with the correct red vynide binding. It also has the two pieces intended for the foot wells, even though these would not be as original. I DO NOT intend to use these. I also have a set of correct reproduction rubber mats supplied by TRF, part no.701237-8 T23 FLOOR MAT SET,O.E.TYPE that will be placed in the foot wells as original.

Good luck
 
When I bought my 1958 TR3A brand new in May, 1958, it came with rubber floor mats for the front footwells. There was some canvas about 6" wide glued to the bottom side. The mats were black rubber and went up the firewall about 10". There was some beige (fawn) jute underlay about 1/4" thick. There were black painted snaps to hold them down to the floor panels.

In 1990, when I was finishing my restoration, some repro mats became available so I bought some in England. The snaps were about 1" out of place so I figured out where the bases should be located to hold the new repro mats down correctly onto my new floor panels. Also these snaps on the repro mats were left bare brass, so I painted thm black to be as the original ones.

Here is my interior in 1990 with the new repro mats.
 

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I recently pulled my carpet (reproduction) and the original snaps were there I saved them but couldn't figure out why they were there. now I know why they were there. Is TRF the only place to get them?
 
I'm still trying to locate the correct Charcoal Grey Nylon Loop carpeting for my TR3B. The Moss carpet kits are synthetic polypropylene while the TRF kits are rayon which the admit will fade to orange/brown. Does anyone know of any other suppliers for these carpet kits?? Thank you.
 
Try Heritage Upholstery & Trim
www.Heritagetrim.com

They are on the expensive side, but watch for sales. Call and ask for Duncan at 604 990 0346
 
And when you call him please tell them to get off the fence and start making carpet sets for real Triumphs.
TR7s and TR8s
 
Keith,
Using there color guide for interiors, which one is closest to stone...not kidding, my heritage says mine should be stone too....
 
Thanks. I did get some samples from Heritage a month or so ago, but the samples were pile not loop. The pile sample did not impress me. I'll call them again and ask for loop samples. There must be others out there as well. Any more suggestions?
 
prb51 I wish I had an original sample of the stone interior from an area that was out of the weather. Since I have no idea how correct TRFs color sample is I can only guess from looking at pictures what the correct color is. At this time I still have no idea what the color should be. I do have lots of color samples from Heritage from the TR3 restoration, and an old Austin Healey restoration. If I compare the Heritage samples with TRFs samples of stone the closest would be doeskin. The color is very close.

On a sidenote I do not like the vinyl from Heritage. It looks like they rub black or some other dark color on the vinyl to give it an aged look. The leather and the vinyl do not go well together in my opinion.
 
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