The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi, I am looking to purchase a new set of carpets for the sprint and having looked at the usual suspects on Ebay / Rimmers etc I wondered if anyone could recommend anyone they may have used -- or would not use again.
cheers
Chris

Think this has been covered recently in another form, I'm in the same position. Aftermarket sets are not moulded like the original ones are, and come in more pieces as a result. It might be worth looking at Coverdale, this is the company I was most tempted by and may still end up using, but I haven't seen it in the flesh. I may end up useing my original unless I can get to see one fitted by a club member, hopefully at the club show in September.

Many thanks for reply - the Coverdale ones look about the best I have seen so I think I may have to bite the financial bullet!
Chris

Get enough owners that need a factory carpet set together, and maybe Newtons will consider it worthwhile investing in locating the required mould to make a factory style set like they do with other Triumphs?

Hmm, need costings on qty.

Mahesh wrote:Hmm, need costings on qty.

I've emailed them the question, for if they bought the moulds from Firth Furnishings that might have included the Dolomite with any luck.

Edit: And Newton Commercials replied that they did not buy the Dolomite tooling when they bought the other Triumph tooling in 1986, so been skipped or in someone's garage. Guess that a mould of a floor pan could be taken and a new mould made, all a bit hard work, maybe a wallpaper steamer and a few blocks of wood would do it! Not surprised by Newton's choice, quite surprised just how many GT6 there are still left, a lot more than the 623 Dolomites on the road, and Spitfires are common as muck, there are thousands out there!

Ive just put a set of the Rimmers carpets in mine (before it self destructed) and they are OK.

I have a set of carpets in my Jensen from Coverdale and they are better quality carpets (better material) but the finish is nothing to write home about (edging not matching where is starts and finishes that type of thing).
For the cost, and if you can wait for one of Rimmers 15% sales, then they are fantastic value...Looks nice and fits reasonably well.

Just my 5c

I would be up for some moulded replacements, as just about anything else will be a compromise when you know how it should be. That's why I'm going to stick with original for now. I will have almost a full spare set in chestnut left over, if it would be of use to anyone, even for a short-term fix.

I think you would be on a loser, trying to make a moulded tunnel carpet (the only Dolly carpet that actually NEEDS to be moulded) There are at least 7 different tunnel variants counting manual and auto versions of each model and most of those have a further 2 carpet choices, depending on whether the car in question has the centre coin tray fitted or not, giving a possible 14 (at least) different tunnel carpets. No wonder Newton couldn't be bothered!

Steve

Edit! Ok, I can only come up with 11 different tunnel/coin tray options:-

1) 1300 Toledo, 3 rail gearbox, no coin tray, gaiter in carpet.

2) 1300/1500/SE Dolomite, single rail gearbox, no coin tray, gaiter in carpet.

3) 1500HL Dolomite, single rail gearbox, coin tray, no gaiter.

4) 1500HL Dolomite auto, coin tray, no gaiter.

5)1850 Dolomite, early, 3 rail gearbox, no coin tray, gaiter in carpet.

6)1850 Dolomite auto, coin tray, no gaiter.

7)1850HL Dolomite, single rail gearbox, coin tray, no gaiter.

Sprint, early, no coin tray, gaiter in carpet.

9) Sprint, later, coin tray, no gaiter.

10) Sprint auto, coin tray, no gaiter.

11) 1500 FWD, completely different!

Notes:-

1 and 2 might be close enough to be interchangeable but the gear lever position is slightly different. SE has deeper pile carpet.

All automatic models have a wider tunnel than manual versions, hence the need for a different carpet.

AFAIK all autos had the coin tray fitted, if you know otherwise, that adds another 3 choices!

It is possible that all autos used the same tunnel, this would reduce the choices by 2.

There may be a difference between the lever positions on 3 rail and single rail box fitted 1850s which may or may not make a difference. If so add 1 more choice.

Then there are, IIRC, 7 colour choices, Red (early Toledo and 1850 only) Blue, Grey, Black, Chestnut, Beige and SE Grey (Deep pile) Only the last 4 survived to the end of production.

How sad am I, that I have nothing better to do than compose this list?

well who knew, I for one am glad that people like you exist, that may in part explain why my spare tunnel carpet has a different size and position for the gearstick hole, how I will ever know what it's meant to fit is anyone's guess.

georgethompson730 wrote: well who knew, I for one am glad that people like you exist, that may in part explain why my spare tunnel carpet has a different size and position for the gearstick hole, how I will ever know what it's meant to fit is anyone's guess.

Unless it has a label with a part number on it - you won't!

My guess is that most carpet sets on the market will be Sprint based since that is the most expensive and popular model.

It's worth noting that, with the exception of the SE, all carpets are the same throughout the range, only the tunnel carpet varies from model to model.

Steve

For what it's worth, I just fitted a set of the basic-grade carpets from Coverdale. They are OK: fit is reasonable, as was the price. Service from the company was very good. They sent a variety of samples to me to compare with the original, which was useful.

Many thanks for all the replies - I have today placed an order with Coverdales - & have chosen the mid range having perused the samples. When they arrive I will report back and hopefully attach a picture or two.
Chris

Looking at the Rimmer's site they have an under felt kit, is there any need for this? I'm sure my originals didn't have anything under them.

Later cars had underfelt kits; made the car considerably quieter, but nasty water retaining felt that long term caused more problems than it solved.

The half car I bought last week has the underfelt, but I doubt it will be keeping it...

Early cars had a different carpet altogether, an integral coarse woven backing that added weight and sound deadening; far better than the plastic backed stuff but not as hard wearing.