MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MG Y Type - Carpet Pattern

Hi again,

My YA came with 'home made' carpets, the only original piece being the rigid section to the rear of the hand brake.

I want to make up a set from scratch using a Karvel type carpet but I dont have a pattern.

Has anyone out here got a saloon pattern or perhaps is in the process of refurb and has their carpets out of the car.

Am I correct in thinking that none of the edges were bound.

Hope you can help.

Regards

Rob
Rob King

Hi Rob
I am in process of refurb on my YB but am a little way from you near Carmarthen W. Wales. I am recovering the door cards and other panels not to mention welding and painting so the carpets (new) are out. There is a good section on carpets in 'Let there be 'Y's' where he says the only binding is on the rear tunnel cover (which you have) and the rear of the front tunnel cover. Also some good pictures although not very helpful as patters! Others may have patterns but if you get stuck or need more info letme know.

Best regards and good luck
Brian YB,TC
b r hough

Rob

NTG do good carpet sets already cut to MG YA/YB patterns. For YT you just need to square off the rear ends and they are then good for that too!

Paul
Paul Barrow

Hi Rob

I have to disagree with Paul that 'NTG do good carpet sets'. I bought a set for the YT and the quality is very poor and the cost including VAT and delivery was around £210 and of course I had to wait until a set became available. By chance I was fitting a set of carpets to an MGA that I own and that came with the car. They are of a far higher finish but I don't know the supplier.

I discussed the matter with the MGCC Y Type Register at a Committee Meeting and our Chair Peter Veilvoye has had some templates made up and carpets are available from Coverdale Carpets, who are based in Cumbria, from recollection.

By the way Rob did you have any success with the trimmer I mentioned in Harborne?

Have fun

Sincerely

Jerry

J P BIRKBECK

I tend to agree with Jerry about the carpet quality from NTG. My YB was restored by its previous owner, including new carpets, which I believe were bought from NTG. While adequate, the quality is relatively poor and it seems to fit 'where it touches'.

I have recently finished - if these things are ever finished(!) - some sympathetic improvements to my 1934 Lanchester LA10. I am reluctant to use the word 'restoration' because the car in mainly original condition, although it was a little scruffy. Most of the original (grey )carpets were missing and those bits that remained were in poor condition. The seat backs and the bottom of the door cards are trimmed with carpet, which was in good condition. So, I wanted to match the new floor carpets as closely as possible to those parts.

It proved difficult to find carpet in a matching colour. The only one that came close was one from Coverdale. They did not have a pattern for the Lanchester, but offered to make a set if I supplied a pattern, or sell me a length of carpet to cut.

I opted for the latter and bought a length of carpet and some edging to do it myself, although I got the edging sewn on locally. The quality of the carpet is very good, certainly a good deal better than that in my YB, although I only chose it for the colour match.

I am tempted to replace the carpets in my YB with a set from Coverdale, although it will have to wait until I have cash to spare. I am sure that any Y Type owners that buy these carpets will not be disappointed with the quality, although I cannot vouch for the fit.

Mike
M Long

AS Jerry says the Y Register has been negotiating with Coverdale and we intend to supply their carpet set through our Register online shop. As it happens we are at the stage of wanting to test out the carpet patterns we have supplied them with through a first guinea pig customer. If you would like to be that person all we would require of you is that you take photographs of the set before and after fitting. For this we would supply at trade price. Coverdale gives a choice of three qualities and 10 colours. Their retail price of the basic quality is less than NTGs present offer price and is in my opinion for a better quality product.
As you mention the edges, Coverdale carpet has a flexible latex back that is very unlikely to fray. Our Register shop supplies the metal edging that holds the carpet down in the doorways.
If you would like more details best to contact me through our website www.mgccyregister.com
Regards
Peter
P W Vielvoye

Thanks for your contributions gents...

I am trying to restore my YA to as near original as is possible.
The original woollen carpet was ribbed with a hessian backing and I believe was called Karvel - and on Y types (saloons at least) was always black.
I have sourced a very good match, albeit not wool, from a UK manufacturer.

Jerry, Mike and Peter....
I have looked at the Coverdale carpets since your postings and they seem very good quality but probably too 'up market' for my Y, neither do they have a rib in the weave.

So Peter, Im afraid I cant be your guinea pig.....the last time I volunteered to be a guinea pig I got a face full of CS Spray...but thats another story.

I have already bought the MGCC edging strips.

So I still need a pattern....Peter I will contact you directly regarding the source of your pattern.

Brian...did you buy your carpet set or did they come with the car?

Regards

Rob King
Rob King

Rob,

Interesting thread, off the back of this contacted Peter off line and had most helpful reply. One thing I do ask is though which company UK Manufacturer you have found?

Also perhaps could you consider posting an article for inclusion on one of the two sites with photos, sketches etc to assist. I note a previous thread had the couplings which NTG sell.

Regards

Richard
R E Knight

Hi Rob,

I did buy a new carpet set from NTG which I found OK. The quality may not be the best but I think it is close to original. NTG have some sets on ebay and for same price (about £140) on their site with a good picture. This shows that they have the edges of the main carpets bound. The more complicated piece is over the gear box where two seams create the 'dome' shape and the addition of the gear lever gaiter. As for fit, the only fit area is at the floor backs where it meets the back seat trim, otherwise the outside edge is, as you know, covered with metal edging and is covered by the tunnel carpet on the inside. You aso have to cut slots for the seat runners or fix them through the carpet, this makes it difficult to remove the carpet if required! However the slots leave the carpets a bit sloppy.

Let us all know how you get on

Best regards

Brian
b r hough

Rob - you know the drill now ... never volunteer for anything unless the RSM says "King stand fast, everyone else one pace to the rear."

Brian - your comments on the NTG carpet set are in line with my experience too. They are perfectly Okay for the purpose for which they are intended ... and conform to the Y fitting philosophy of "fitting where it touches" perfectly! I consider NTG's price to be fair too. Some will no doubt differ and that is fine too indeed I see some already have

CG
Corry Grainger

Hi Folks,

Thanks again for all of the contributions and I have corresponded directly with a number of you.

Before I can proceed any further can someone please answer this simple question....

Anyone who still has an original ribbed black carpet fitted to their Y.....which way do the ribs run?

My sole remaining piece, the handbrake cable cover, has the ribs running in line with the length of the car ie front to back as opposed to side to side.

I assume that the other pieces would be the same...am I right.

Regards

Rob King
Rob King

Hi Rob, I have checked my original carpet set and find that all ribbing on each and every piece runs from side to side which conflicts with you hand brake cover piece. However I cannot confirm that all Y Type carpet was the same, maybe others can comment further.

Terry
Y2866
T J Ciantar

Hi Folks,

Thanks for your contribution Terry...how strange!

I dont seem to have had much response from those with original carpet still fitted...the logical conclusion would be that most of you have aftermarket or home made replacement rugs in your cars.
Alternatively you think that I'm being a bit 'anal' fussing about the such trivia and thus dont deserve a reply...?

Please let me know if you do have original ribbed carpet...ribs back to front, side to side or a mixture.

Thanks

Rob
Rob King

Rob,

I always say to people "The dumbest question is the one that you do not ask!" If someone needs an answer they should always ask the question or else no one else knows they need it. I expect that the lack of replies is probably as you guessed first - most of us do not have the original carpets any longer so do not worry about your second guess.

For my 2cents worth, it would be my guess that the carpet cutters were more concerned with getting the maximum number of pieces out of a roll of carpet and less concerned about the direction of the weft.

I thought it a good question though!

Paul
Paul Barrow

For someone interested in the original, jute-backed Karvel® carpet found in many British cars, it is still available.

Heritage Trim of Vancouver BC bought the original Karvel® looms and are producing it in 3 colours.

For more information, go to:- http://www.heritagetrim.com/m_aboutmaterials.htm

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

Hi Gordon

Have you bought from Heritage? If so, I would love to have you write me off line with your experience and I will then add them to our list of vendors.

Thanks

Paul
Paul Barrow

Hi Folks,

Gordon, I'm very grateful for your contribution.

As it happens, the carpet to which you refer is the one I have already sourced and described as a 'very good match'.

The parent company of Heritage is BAS of the UK and, as you say, they reproduce Karvel.

I have had a couple of samples from BAS and it compares very favourably with the original sample I have taken from the back of my front seats.

The pile length of the original is 7mm whilst the BAS sample 5mm so the original is a little more 'plush' but, as detailed on the Heritage site, pile height did vary and 'no two milling runs were the same'.

However....this product is only available in 1 meter wide rolls and the ribbing runs across the roll.

Therefore...back to one of my queries...which way do the ribs run?
If they ran from side to side then the BAS Karvel will be fine, however, if the ribs ran lengthways a less original look would be achieved.

From the few responses I have had...such as that from Terry (thanks for that) the situation is ambiguous and Paul may be right..that the carpet cutters made the most of a roll and were not concerned about the direction of the ribs.

I have confirmed that BAS can't make a wider roll on the machinery they have neither can they adjust the pile height.

The BAS Karvel is £14 per metre (plus tax plus ship) which seems very reasonable....so that may be the way to go.

Still need a pattern though.... please.....

Regards
Rob



Rob King

My TC was owned by the same person from 1946 until I purchsed it in 2001. The rib of the carpet (which is the original black carpet) runs the length of the car.
The pile on an unworn piece is 7mm. JOHN JAMES (TC0750)
J D JAMES

Hello John,

Thanks for your contribution...

I had an email from Neil Coombes saying that he had spoken to you regarding this matter but he reported that your ribbing ran across the car?
Guess he got it wrong.

Regards

Rob
Rob King

Ribbing definitely runs the length of the car i.e. from the back of the car to the front.

Regards,

JOHN
J D JAMES

This thread was discussed between 07/12/2011 and 27/02/2012

MG MG Y Type index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MG Y Type BBS now