What floor mats did early SWB (65-66) have? Carpet or rubber?

[jaldeguer]

I'm restoring my '66 SWB and I'm confused whether which floor mats are correct. I've seen a number of early SWB cars use both carpet and rubber mats. A number of them had rubber tunnel mats as well. Which were used originally when they came out of the factory for a '66 911?

Thanks.

Jay

[Bobs 67S]

Hi Jay,
Not a definitive answer, but a good research tool is the Drivers Manuals and their period photos. We know many photos were picked up from year to year but with each new printing there were model changes and items changed and some are reflected in the photos. Photos showing other items have the floor covering in the backgrounds.

Printing in Sept 1965 for the 1966 model had:

1) carpet with out rubber heal pads, (instrument panel)(gear shift)(heater control)
2) carpet with heal pads, (Instrument panel RHD) This was a standard from the 1964 cars on.
3) full rubber mat going over the shift tunnel (shown in the "hand brake" photo).

4) rubber floor mats in combination with a carpeted tunnel. (appears in a reprint Drivers manual for the swb cars)

Following years printings show similar variations, the first three for sure are 1966 appropriate.
That fourth one may be a 1967/68 item.

[aornes]

As I remember, my '65 had rubber mats with carpet on the sides and tunnel area while the '66 had only carpet. Likely wrong after these years.

[John Straub]

My '65 had/has carpet everywhere with heal pads on floor and tunnel.

John

[gsjohnson]

My Oct. 67 built 68 USA 911 originally had rubber mats front and rear with perlon on the tunnel and sides, if this relates.

[jaldeguer]

Thanks for all the inputs gentlemen. But for some reason it seems we're all not a 100% certain?

Jay

[John Straub]

Hey Tom,

I guess you call it shag. I'm not sure. It's not like 356 type.

John

[edmayo]

Thanks for all the inputs gentlemen. But for some reason it seems we're all not a 100% certain?

Jay

In the world of old Porsches 100% certainty doesn't exist!

[jaldeguer]

In the world of old Porsches 100% certainty doesn't exist!

Good one. My thoughts exactly.

[Bobs 67S]

(John I think Tom had his tongue planted firmly in his cheek - his reference to shag may not come across as being in jest when typed - but it sure sounded like that to me).

Period carpet:

photo of removed items; The carpet was under the rear fold down seats.

Someone was nice enough to post the in car photos of original carpet. (Thank you). The black rubber heel pads have a white wisp pattern. (Impossible to find today).

The style of carpet is called Haargarn. Autos International has a sample card ID of V-321. The trim is leather and black fabric binding tape. (The binding tape bleaches out and years later looks tan).