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Carpeting & Trim

HossHoss
I need your advice guys/gals. It appears that there may be a joining between my newly painted body shell and chassis sometime next week. It is time to start finalizing details including the carpeting and trim. I found a German Square Weave, a dark gray, which both sweet bride and I liked. It turned out to no longer be available. This raises some of questions:
1. Is square weave really that great? It is expensive and supposedly wears like iron, but I have heard some other things about it which do not sound so nice. I've heard it has the texture of burlap and since it is a natural fabric, if it gets damp it can get moldy and stink.
2. What about synthetics as an alternative? They are cheaper to buy (and replace) and the loop carpeting resembles square weave. They are also available in many more colors.
3. My car is going to be bright red with black top and leather interior. I have been considering a dark gray/charcoal color to "lighten" the interior a bit. Other ideas solicited.
4. Knobs: Should I go with ivory knobs and escutcheons?
Thanks for your input.
Gettin' more excited
John H.

 

 

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HossHoss
I need your advice guys/gals. It appears that there may be a joining between my newly painted body shell and chassis sometime next week. It is time to start finalizing details including the carpeting and trim. I found a German Square Weave, a dark gray, which both sweet bride and I liked. It turned out to no longer be available. This raises some of questions:
1. Is square weave really that great? It is expensive and supposedly wears like iron, but I have heard some other things about it which do not sound so nice. I've heard it has the texture of burlap and since it is a natural fabric, if it gets damp it can get moldy and stink.
2. What about synthetics as an alternative? They are cheaper to buy (and replace) and the loop carpeting resembles square weave. They are also available in many more colors.
3. My car is going to be bright red with black top and leather interior. I have been considering a dark gray/charcoal color to "lighten" the interior a bit. Other ideas solicited.
4. Knobs: Should I go with ivory knobs and escutcheons?
Thanks for your input.
Gettin' more excited
John H.
FM Former Member
I would use black knobs, etc., with a red car that has a black interior. The square weave is available in different colors from several sources, so if you want it to look original use that; otherwise go with whatever trips your trigger.

My reasoning behind balck knobs is that too many different colors (red dash, black padding, ivory knobs) begins to look "busy" or disharmonious, while similar colors (black knobs matching black leather) look more harmonius. JMO...
FM Former Member
I've read in the 356 book by Dr. Johnson that tan or oatmeal color carpeting was originally used in combination with any upholstery color. Citing the book:"...The majority of 356's and 356A's were in tan or oatmeal, while 356B's and 356C's had good variety, with an emphasis on charcoal.....Typically red, green and blue went with vinyls of the same color from 1960 on. Charcoal and black are a pretty safe bet also. For 356A's, tan and oatmeal tended to be appropriate for just about anything."
FM Former Member
I think a tight loop synthetic is just fine and may give you a little more color options, but if you can find the right color then the german weave is really nice. I think George is right about the emphasis being in correct color first to make the car not get too busy. Black leather needs black knobs
Stan GalatStan Galat
What do you want John? This stuff is all a matter of taste. If you're hot on a black interior, I'd do charcoal square weave. WAIT- I DO have a black interior, and DID go with charcoal square weave. Contrary to George's, Steven's, and John Steele's opinion however, I went with ivory knobs. I think black looks wrong, but it's just me (I don't like tan leather with silver paint either, so maybe I'm just weird).

With red paint, I'd have to agree on the oatmeal square weave, if you can keep it clean. I don't know how it would look with black seats and dash, but then agian, with red, I'd probably go with camel seats and dash also. A build is all about YOU John- what do you want?

As far as square weave goes- yeah, I've heard it all before too. It shrinks, it stinks, it doesn't wear well, but I couldn't be happier with the carpet, and my car is FAR from weather tight. Yours, however, should be much closer to a usable car. I would do square weave, buy mats, and never look back. If it were me. Which it isn't...
HossHoss
Guys, thanks for helping to stoke the gray matter. RonO, leave it to you. You forgot the fuzzy pink top of dash to go with the dice. George, I think you are right about black knobs. Stan, where on earth did you find the charcoal squareweave? I checked out a website which had someting like it (they called it gray, but I think it was really charcoal...GAHH Inc. style WB-10) and I found out that they didn't have it anymore. I think this is what I am looking for if I can find a supplier.
John H.
Gordon NicholsGordon NicholsMassachusetts 1993 CMC Supporting Member
Fuzzy Dice aren't as big around here any more......The really big thing now is some sort of neon "tube light" strung around the top of the cabin - Green is big.

What about Coco floor mats over rubber mats (no carpet on the floor). The coco can be kind-of Oatmeal in color or black over oatmeal, it's super easy to clean (just pull them out, shake them out, vacuum the rubber mat and put 'em back in), doesn't smell if it gets wet, and any dirt or sand that gets on it just falls right through onto the rubber mat so they always look clean (so it's good at the beach, too). I've often thought that those, with a nice colored carpet elsewhere in the cockpit, might work out well. www.cocomats.com
FM Former Member
John,

If you're looking for durability and the pure pleasure of bare-foot motoring, you can't go wrong Male-Greek-Chest-Hair, in medium pile. There are those who swear by Female-Armenian-Facial, but for my money, you just can't beat an old GMCH in Athens Alabaster.

Mike McSween

P.S. Being both Greek & Armenian (and therefore hairy), I am allowed self-deprication.
FM Former Member
John...clean it up dude, this is a family site. No self depricating should be done in front of others...You know how impressionable "the Rons" are. You never know where they will end up depricating just to get attention. And that could be a very ugly sight.


Gclarke "The Vacaville Guy"
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