When it comes to our classic cars — especially at a car show or when being sold at a collector-car auction — a first impression can have a huge impact on performance, from winning an award through bringing the right price across the auction block.
One of the simplest and most overlooked components in our cars is also one that suffers some of the most wear through use: interior carpet.
The carpet is trampled every time you get in or out of the car, and sun fading is a real issue when you use your car in the summer, as most of us do. The wear is incremental — you may not even notice your carpet is looking fuzzy, threadbare and faded, but onlookers (and bidders) will.
Swapping out interior carpet is an inexpensive proposition, and it’s an easy afternoon task that can really make your car’s interior look crisp. Now that winter is here, it’s the perfect time to tackle the job.
ACC Columnist Jay Harden’s Chevelle is a perfect example of a car in need of fresh carpet. So we contacted Original Parts Group and sourced one of their Auto Custom Carpets “Raylon” carpet kits, which closely resemble the original 80/20 rayon/nylon carpet from the 1960s and 1970s but with more durability and resistance to fuzzing and pilling. It looks stock but will last much longer than an OE kit.
Here’s what it took to get the job done.
Original Parts Group Parts List: P/N ACC26 Raylon-style Original Molded Carpet Kit, Red. $169.99
Time spent: Three hours
Difficulty: 1/5
