VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 Fresh Rubber Mats Installed

Since I haven't posted in a while, I figured I would share a few pictures of new rubber mats for Oscar, our 1947 Fleetline that we were able to get from fellow VCCA member Bruce DeFord (Thank you, Bruce!).

Oscar's original mats had long since crumbled, and we made do for many years with some generic stuff. They worked, but these help complete the look without overshadowing its well-worn finish everywhere else. I guess you would call him more of a preservation than a restoration.

Here's the before and after. I love projects like this with instant gratification.

Before






After

Amazing what some simple thing can do toward the appearance of the vehicle.
Just curious. I see the jack handle and what appears to be the jack base but where do you have the jack stand hidden??

Dick

Thanks, Dick! Sadly, I don't have the actual jack for this car, just the base and the tire iron. I'd like to find an original one someday.

prince Daryl,

much improvement. it looks like you did a good job. now go out and get youtself a fulton to complete the job.

Best,
Charlie

BTW; i was just kiddin about he fulton. you know that.

Sure do, Charlie!

I like the Fulton on some cars, just not mine. I'm more of a gadgets person, so I'd be content to find a nice NOS washer unit or rear wiper setup.

Sent you a corrected PM


Dick

Hi all,

I decided to add a picture of my mat install. Not quite sure that I should have gotten away from the original all black rubber mats but could not find a source for the mat material to make my own nor did I want to deal with the fit problem around the transmission cover. I will carpet the backseat area.

The trunk mat does not fit well and is a little damaged on the edge near the trunk latch so I am embarrassed to show how it looks. Once I figure out how to straighten it out I will post a picture.





Thanks Daryl for letting me horn in on your post.

Best wishes, Mike

Mike it looks good. Did you paint your dash and column a lighter color, my 41 master deluxe was a darker brown. I reaseantly got my front mat for my 47 Fleetline out of the box and unrolled it to see if it ok, bought it 37 years ago. It was just like new, about the last thing on this project is the interior.

My dash is indeed lighter. My wife and I thought a lighter color would better compliment the exterior color, and I could never get a darker paint mixture that looked right. The color is actually a little richer than in my picture because I used a flash.

Thanks, Mike
P.S. I installed the parking lights today officially completing all the exterior work. I cannot imagine the 37 year journey you have been on.

Mike I bought the 47 in 1968 when I was 15, first car. Started the restoration in 1978, to many other car and life along the way. My 72 Monte Carlo is my first new car and I redid it in the mid 90's.

Mike, no worries. Your '41 is coming along nicely. The mats all need a little trimming. I have some to do on my driver's side along the sill plate. Also, if you car has an underseat heater, you'll need to tidy that area up a bit to avoid clogging the duct. I'll probably let my wife help with that since she's better at detail jobs like that. I have zero talents and less patience.