Carpeted Kick Panels

I went to an auto uphosltry shop......I took carpet with me that I had cut to the same configuration as the old kick panel carpet. They had the EXACT welt. After being sewn onto the carpet.....looked just as the original did, except brand new. That is my experience. I even made a replacement package shelf panel out of the same double loop carpet, I then hand sewn the same welt onto the edge of the carpet. Looks great and matches the carpet throughout the interior. My next project will be to replace the carpet on the door panels using the same materials. It just looks like factory and that is what we all strive for.

I have since replaced my kick panels with the ones that have the speakers in them, I made my own carpet overlays and had the welting sewn onto them...looks like the factory did it...very pleased with them and so is everyone I have asked their opinion. When I removed the original kick panels from my car, I took them to a restorer back in Texas. He looked at my new panels and how I had the carpet overlays applied and was really having a hard time deciding if he wanted to use my originals or get the ones like I had with the speakers and have overlays made in the same manner. I know there are alot of items on our cars that are not fixable by purchasing a direct replacement part, now is where with alittle searching and imaginative thinking and fabrication, correct factory appearance is abtainable more often than not. One more note......the upholstry shop I used even sewn the welting on with the very same overlap of the seams, just like the original proccess.

Ken