Carpet Protectors

[rogerotto66s]

Trying to determine the "proper" carpet Protectors for my 1966 Austin Cooper S.

These protectors are attached to the rear carpet on which the front seats rest.

What is the proper color for these plastic pads? I have seen grey and black.

What is the proper rivet (?) type and color.

Are those on the tunnel flat or curved? I have seen both.

Thanks in advance.

['S'-type]

Trying to determine the "proper" carpet Protectors for my 1966 Austin Cooper S.

These protectors are attached to the rear carpet on which the front seats rest.

What is the proper color for these plastic pads? I have seen grey and black.

What is the proper rivet (?) type and color.

Are those on the tunnel flat or curved? I have seen both.

Thanks in advance.

Sorry I can't help you, but it's good to see the second query about rivets this week!

Edit. Just spotted this wanted thread with a pic which may give some ideas.
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=35588

[rogerotto66s]

Just spotted this wanted thread with a pic which may give some ideas.
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=35588

Thanks “S-type”.
I also saw this post and did reach out to Nuno.
He said the grey strip on his post had brass rivets (w/ black oxidation).
The brass rivets make sense since the original carpet spikes on my ‘66 “S” are also brass.

Nuno also indicated the strips resting on the tunnel were bent slightly inwards (concave) for a better fit.

Nuno thought the strips may have changed from grey to black with the transition to Veltone carpet in late 1965.
Hopefully someone can help confirm this transition date.

[AndyPen]

Early 64 are grey, at least on green red carpets.

[moita]

Hi !

Let's see if someone with a post 65 that had/has genuine carpet on, can help you out with this

[rogerotto66s]

Looking for visual evidence of your restoration.

Please post pictures of your rear carpet (showing carpet protectors and rivets) along with the build date of your mini.

Looking for build dates between Jul 1965 thru Jul 1967.

[Toby]

In this thread is a clear shot of the carpets that are in LGW 123 D which clearly show the black protector plates

viewtopic.php?p=170851#p170851

[NickD]

The parts manuals don't show much about these plates, but they do show that all four plates have the same part number (14A9083). This matches my recollection that they were all flat and that any curvature was just squashed into them by the seat. The manuals also show that this part was used up until the introduction of veltone carpets in November/December 1965. Unfortunately, there is no information about what happened to Mk1s after this change. However, the Mk2 manuals still show the same part numbers for the plates and rivets, so presumably this is another example of BMC changing the specification (colour) without changing the part no.

[rogerotto66s]

In this thread is a clear shot of the carpets that are in LGW 123 D which clearly show the black protector plates

Mark indicated the carpet came out of a LHD Traveller. Year of Traveller was not specified.
It is unclear what the original carpet protectors in LGW123D were.

[rogerotto66s]

The parts manuals don't show much about these plates, but they do show that all four plates have the same part number (14A9083). This matches my recollection that they were all flat and that any curvature was just squashed into them by the seat. The manuals also show that this part was used up until the introduction of veltone carpets in November/December 1965. Unfortunately, there is no information about what happened to Mk1s after this change. However, the Mk2 manuals still show the same part numbers for the plates and rivets, so presumably this is another example of BMC changing the specification (colour) without changing the part no.

I checked a few BMC parts manuals as well.

The part numbers in question are :
14A9083 Carpet Protectors (as you point out)
2K9091 Rivets

Mini Kingdom Online (Australia) sells the NOS brass rivets.

4B3D221F-5BA9-4D08-A9CE-D6A3F144B02D.png

My original carpet spikes are brass as well so I will use these brass rivets on my carpet protectors.

Seems logical that the switch to Veltone carpet may also be the cutover date from grey to black carpet protectors.

[moita]

Hi ! Those rivets are not the correct type for at least UK and exports I have seen in Europe.

I have seen that type (splited in the middle) to fix the black dashboard lower trim on early cars.

[Simon776]

In this thread is a clear shot of the carpets that are in LGW 123 D which clearly show the black protector plates

Mark indicated the carpet came out of a LHD Traveller. Year of Traveller was not specified.
It is unclear what the original carpet protectors in LGW123D were.

By May 1967 the protectors were black on red Veltone carpet but these are of a different material and are not riveted; they were heat welded to the carpet - the ones in LGW 123D are also the non rivet type

[winabbey]

Hi ! Those rivets are not the correct type for at least UK and exports I have seen in Europe.

BMC Australia made its own carpet and trim (and other items), in part to take advantage of government local content legislation, so would have sourced those rivets locally. Most parts were based on the original UK design but not always, so no surprise the protector rivets are different to the UK equivalent.

[rogerotto66s]

Opted to paint my black protectors dove grey to match my interior panels.
Also found “screw type” brass rivets to match my original brass carpet spikes.
Carpet is from BAS International.

IMG_3174.jpeg