What's the best place to get carpet and interior trim/seat covers from? I'm looking for non standard colours rather than just black and I'm looking for good quality not economy.

Cheers

Nick

For carpet, especially if you want good quality and an unusual colour I suggest that you buy carpet you like and underfelt from a car trimmer. Cut the underfelt and carpet to fit the front and rear footwells and glue (Impact adhesive) each of the four pieces together (carpet to felt). While you are making the driver's footwell piece, decide whether you want the accelerator pedal in the aft or forward position (there are two pair of self-tapper holes) - Rootes' carpets assumed aft which is no good for long legs. The carpet has slots which fit around each pedal and the column.
The passenger's footwell should have a false floor (from SIII on).
Do the same for the small strip which covers the cross member behind the ash-tray, which has edging front and rear, and vinyl on the rear wall of the crossmember
Take the glued pieces back to your trimmer and get him to edge them - the correct way is to sew a 2" (approx) strip FACE DOWN onto the top surface with the vinyl flush with the edge and the stitching about 3/8" from the edge., then fold it back over the edge and sew it again, just inside the first stitch line. Also get the trimmer to fit the vinyl 'strap' and press-stud which goes over the steering column.

Just glue carpet onto thick card for the the inner sill sides.
The front wall of the rear seat down to the floor is just raw carpet, but with a strip of vinyl at the top.
The tunnel beneath the glovebox and the diff cover are also covered in raw carpet.
This leaves the gearbox cover. First cut felt to fit. The ashtray area is tricky. Cut away felt each side of the centre line from about 2" behind the gear lever, and also around the ashtray, leaving a 1/4" gap around the ashtray (see below). You can then stitch/glue joins in front of and behind the ashtray on the centre-line.
Once the felt is OK, do the same for the carpet and glue it to the felt while in the car. Cut and gather (sew) the carpet so it fits the ashtray area - but also fold it round and under the felt where it meets the ashtray and gear lever grommet.
You can't get it perfect (or at least I couldn't), but you can get it as good as Rootes' original. Finally, fit the 4 carpet press-studs which hold each front footwell carpet in place.
I can't help with a seat supplier, but note that you can buy new moulded 'stuffing' and diaphragms, at least for SIV and SV.

Thanks for that very thorough answer Chris! I'm not sure I'm up to doing it myself, so I may well get someone to do it all for me. I'm guessing that the pre-cut stuff form the various Alpine suppliers isn't up to much, or at least isn't perfect. My car currently has an all black interior (should have red piping etc, but it started out live as metallic gold) which I find to be a trifle dull and un-inspiring!

Hi Nick
For your car you do need some really good quality trim to match the quality of body/paint finish.

The trimming specialist I use is Aldridge Trimming in Wolverhampton. I have recently been refurbishing several Triumph Stag seats, so I dont know if they will make specials of Alpines (assuming they dont already) but I would expect them to be able to help you, just give them a call (01902 710408). They send samples on request. Check out their website on

Only registered users can see links on this forum! Register or Login on forum!

Thanks Chris! I'll have a look at that. I'm after really good quality stuff and for a professional to fit it as I have no experience with trimming and I'm likely to make a right hash of it!