carpets

[wd]

Question on carpet variations.

  I had thought that carpets were pretty much universal.  I was buying a set of the two front mats, drivers and passengers side, as the rest of my carpets are fine but these two sections have heal wear and the rubber pad is shot.  Thought I was pretty lucky to run across a guy in town who had restored a 1968/69 sl years ago, since sold,  and still had a very useable pair in the correct gray and black that he had kept after redoing the interior, (He also has the black leather seat covers which he says are not torn or cracked but I haven"t seen those).  Got there and found my 1970 set were longer at the firewall by 3 or four inches. MY snaps  solid chrome buttons. His were chrome rings with carpet in the center. MIne are square at the bottom by the seat and his had a sort of tongue on one side.

So question, are 280sl carpet sets different in shape and length by year or supplier?  Obviously the snaps would be in different locations on these two.
His car was second owner 60 thousand and he believes original.  Mine is 90k one owner and original. 

[Richard Madison]

Not sure about specific carpets from various suppliers but it may help to know that the original carpet in the early cars was a coarse woven wool (Square Weave) with a relatively large integrated rubber foot area for the driver.

This was changed in the 280SL's to a synthetic pile (Loop Weave) carpet with a smaller plastic foot rest area for the driver.

A carpet supplier may ask if the buyer wants the old style or the 280SL style. A Show Car would want to use the correct weave. For the rest of us, it's a matter of taste.

Richard M, NYC 

[wd]

Thanks for the reply.  The other carpets are the exact same material, black and grey loop.  He said he had done a show type resto on a low mile car and sold it years ago. He now drives a Porsche.  The take out parts were used but good.  He came across these when cleaning out his garage, found them in a box.  He also found the leather seat covers and pads in another box and emailed me today that he found the factory shop manual. We both kinda scratched our heads when I laid them beside the set from my car.  He asked, "pagoda"?  I said yep.  The pads he had had a large foot pad but again were not long enough to go up the firewall.  Any chance they are floormats  made of the same material with snaps?

Have had a 280sec for several years.  I must admit my questions are novice at best but  while I have admired many an SL over the years the one I bought was the first one I ever sat in or drove.