New carpets

[Puglet1]

I’ve spent ages trying to decide where to purchase a new carpet for the Vitesse. It looks like there are 2 options - moulded or stitched. I am trying to get the carpet material similar to original.

 I am looking for a high quality stitched type but I would like a sewn edge as opposed to a leather bound edge. I believe the finished edge is known as “Whipped “.

Can anyone recommend a supplier?

 I have tried Coverdale - who don’t do whipped edges.

Pete

[Nigel Clark]

Moulded carpets would be original for most Triumphs. Newton Commercial produce accurate moulded carpets sets for many Triumphs. I believe Newton supply some of the usual Triumph parts retailers, in addition to selling direct.

Nigel

[Puglet1]

34 minutes ago, Nigel Clark said:

Moulded carpets would be original for most Triumphs. Newton Commercial produce accurate moulded carpets sets for many Triumphs. I believe Newton supply some of the usual Triumph parts retailers, in addition to selling direct.

Nigel

Hi Nigel. As usual I’m struggling with this one. I had Mk2 Vitesse back in the 70’s but never removed the carpet so I can’t remember if it was moulded or not.

 I have a feeling the carpet was tufted/ looped pile. I’ve received a sample of moulded carpet from Newtons and it seems similar to the one I have in my modern day car.

 I’ve also had 2 samples from Coverdale and am happy with the material but am not keen on the vinyl/leather binding they use on the edges.

 I’m hoping someone on here might have purchased a carpet similar to the one I’m looking for.

Thank you for your reply.

Pete.

 

[KevinR]

11 minutes ago, Puglet1 said:

Hi Nigel. As usual I’m struggling with this one. I had Mk2 Vitesse back in the 70’s but never removed the carpet so I can’t remember if it was moulded or not.

 I have a feeling the carpet was tufted/ looped pile. I’ve received a sample of moulded carpet from Newtons and it seems similar to the one I have in my modern day car.

 I’ve also had 2 samples from Coverdale and am happy with the material but am not keen on the vinyl/leather binding they use on the edges.

 I’m hoping someone on here might have purchased a carpet similar to the one I’m looking for.

Thank you for your reply.

Pete.

 

Assuming that the OEM carpet in the Vitesse is the same as a Spitfire of similar vintage, then it is a looped pile carpet, and was "moulded" for a proper fit.

For the last 20+ years, the only manufacturer of moulded carpet sets for Triumphs (and many other classic brands) is Newton Commercial - even though they "distribute" via many of the well known traders, Newton Commercial are the actual manufacturer.  Unfortunately, the carpet that they supply is NOT the same style as the OEM looped pile carpet - its a very short cut pile.

If you want a looped pile carpet, then you will either have to pay an absolute fortune to get it custom stitched and fitted (to mimic being moulded) or you will have to tolerate a poor fit of a "normal" stitched carpet - and they can be an awful fit over the gearbox tunnel.

I dont believe that sales volume of moulded carpets would ever warrant Newton Commercial re-tooling to mould a looped pile carpet.  The moulds are very very expensive and they would have to sell thousands of sets to recoup the cost of new moulds.  

 

[Jon J 1250]

I did speak to a chap at Newtons recently to ask whether they’d be prepared to try moulding their Ford Escort carpet material on the Herald/Vitesse moulds as that is a loop material much closer to the original Triumph material.

He told me they would be willing to give it a try but thought the pile may not be tight enough for the gearbox section, it’s worth you asking them though if the look matters.

Edited April 18, 2023 by Jon J 1250

[Puglet1]

KevinR. That’s clarified the situation for me. It looks like I don’t have much choice.

 I’m hoping one of our members might now be able to suggest a first class trimmer that I can contact.

Thank you for your support.

Pete.

[Puglet1]

11 minutes ago, Jon J 1250 said:

I did speak to a chap at Newtons recently to ask weather they’d be prepared to try moulding their Ford Escort carpet material on the Herald/Vitesse moulds as that is a loop material much closer to the original Triumph material.

He told me they would be willing to give it a try but thought the pile may not be tight enough for the gearbox section, it’s worth you asking them though if the look matters.

Thank you. I will give Newtons a ring tomorrow. 👍

[Puglet1]

I rang Newtons today. The person who answered the phone said they would discuss it with the moulding team and call me back……. Still awaiting the call!

[Colin Lindsay]

19 minutes ago, Puglet1 said:

I rang Newtons today. The person who answered the phone said they would discuss it with the moulding team and call me back……. Still awaiting the call!

It's probably worth a long discussion.

[Puglet1]

Hi Colin. I’ll call them again tomorrow.

[DanMi]

try contacting TD fitchet I have over the last 2 years acquired for a spit the main carpet both footwells, gearbox tunnel and the rear shelf all OEM NOS though mainly for mk4 / 1500 and some LHD so it will have a rubber mat on the passenger side and I will have to cut the gearbox tunnel carpet for the footrest(my car is mk2)

[Jon J 1250]

17 hours ago, DanMi said:

try contacting TD fitchet I have over the last 2 years acquired for a spit the main carpet both footwells, gearbox tunnel and the rear shelf all OEM NOS though mainly for mk4 / 1500 and some LHD so it will have a rubber mat on the passenger side and I will have to cut the gearbox tunnel carpet for the footrest(my car is mk2)

Yes worth a try, when I last enquired, they didn't have (or at least admit to having) anything much for Herald/Vitesse, only a red Vitesse passenger footwell carpet.

Note that Canley Classics have an unmatched assortment of carpet sections too, Vitesse Mk2/Herald13/60 black and blue footwells, Herald 1200 grey drivers footwell, Coffee Herald Mk1 passenger footwells, useful if you need the odd section but no complete sets that I know of.

Luckily my Herald 12/50 loop pile originals are in excellent condition, just faded, so I might risk trying to cold spray dye them back to charcoal grey (in situ of course, so they don't shrink)

[Puglet1]

I spoke to Newtons today. They are going to do a trial with loop carpet on Vitesse gearbox tunnel mould in six weeks time. They have taken a deposit and will call me when the trial has taken place. I’ll keep you updated.

Pete.

[Jon J 1250]

On 19/04/2023 at 18:13, Puglet1 said:

I spoke to Newtons today. They are going to do a trial with loop carpet on Vitesse gearbox tunnel mould in six weeks time. They have taken a deposit and will call me when the trial has taken place. I’ll keep you updated.

Pete.

Hi Pete,

Did you ever hear back from Newton Commercial?

Jon

[Colin Lindsay]

One thing to add: on some sets Coverdale don't bind their edges all the way round and where they don't it unravels amazingly quickly. In my Herald, where the carpet passes across the base of the A post into the footwell, the exposed edge is starting to unravel already.

[Jon J 1250]

1 hour ago, Colin Lindsay said:

One thing to add: on some sets Coverdale don't bind their edges all the way round and where they don't it unravels amazingly quickly. In my Herald, where the carpet passes across the base of the A post into the footwell, the exposed edge is starting to unravel already.

I can Imagine, the original carpets were not bound either and very prone to fraying at cut edges, fortunately though most vulnerable edges such as around the A posts are hemmed over and glued, so there is no raw edge.

[Puglet1]

Hi Jon J 1250.

 I have continued to progress chase the carpet trial over the past few weeks.

Newtons have been really busy so our schedule has slipped slightly - however, when I spoke to them last Friday the moulding manager hopes to do the trial this week.

As promised, I will keep you updated.

Pete.

[MK2 Ed]

Found Tech Autos of Colchester online, anyone used them for carpets?

 

 

 

[Puglet1]

Here we are 4 months down the line and the trial carpets are finally fitted.

 To re-cap, I used Newton Commercial who agreed to trial a moulded carpet with a loop pile. 
The carpets are designed to fit a standard Vitesse but I have modified my gear lever gaiter by using an MGB boot as recommended by Pete Lewis👍 so a little bit of adjustment was required to get a reasonable fit.

Overall, I am happy with the end product.

Thanks to Pete Lewis for the gear-lever boot modification and JonJ1250 for suggesting that I should contact Newtons in the first place.

[martyn wright]

Hi!  I have a "Don Hoods" Carpet which I believe TSSC sell??  I have had this 2 years and have not yet fitted it!  Hope it goes well?

[Pete Lewis]

Tssc in the past have always delt with newtons for carpet    and use Don for their  Hoods   as i remember .

Pete

[Jon J 1250]

Hi All,

As some may have seen on Facebook, i have got my loop pile Herald !2/50 moulded carpets in Cahrcoal grey and as you can see, they are a big improvement on the standard Newton's Carpets. 
Very happy with them (so long as they fit properly), means I can finally stop worrying about wear and tear on my good original carpets, which can be stored safely in my loft, and I can enjoy the car a bit more..

A couple of images of new and NOS original footwell carpets for comparison.
Jon

[JohnD]

Bit of an aside, but a recent "Just rolled in" video on YouTube showed a modern, in for fitting a new carpet set, "because the owners son, short of money, had ripped them out and sold them."   

Only in America?

[Puglet1]

Hi Jon J 1250.

They look really smart. 
My carpets fitted really well. There was plenty of material either side to trim underneath the trims.

Let us know how you get on.

Pete.

[Josef]

Oh so that’s how the accelerator pedal was originally fitted. I had mine bolted on top of the carpet till recently and have been wondering how to put it back. And wondering if I should shell out and replace the non moulded carpets that I’ve never been happy with…