Creating a Carpet Set for an Early Caterham Seven?

[Razomatic]

Does anyone have recommendations on upholstery shops in the Los Angeles area to recreate floor mats, transmission tunnel carpet, and boot mat? It's for an imperial, long cockpit, live axle chassis (just in case anyone has a set to sell). The chaps at Redline were able to get me a bulkhead carpet, but the rest are unavailable.

Any suggestions or guidance is appreciated. I've never purchased auto upholstery services. If you've paid for this type of work, what should it cost?

 

Edited October 22 by Razomatic
fixed typo

[anduril3019]

I had a headliner done by these guys in Culver City. They did good work and had a few interesting projects going on in the shop ranging from an older Ferrari restoration to a way over the top Bentley interior, complete with ostrich skin, gold trim and rhinestones. The rhinestones might be a bit much for the 7. I talked to them about future seats for my 7 project and he seemed happy to take on small jobs.

 

https://bestwayautoupholstery.com/

 

 

[Razomatic]

5 minutes ago, anduril3019 said:

https://bestwayautoupholstery.com/

Thank you so much. What does your "gut" tell you this should cost? I was thinking $200 for each mat (5 of them) and maybe $800-1000 for the transmission tunnel seemed roughly reasonable. $2000? Am I way off?

 

The original transmission tunnel carpet was not delivered with the car. It had been eaten to shreds by the mice. So that has to be recreated from photos and measurements.

[anduril3019]

That seems fair, around what I would hope for. If you end up getting a quote please share (if you don't mind). 

[Origin7]

If you’re considering doing it yourself, I found it to be a manageable project with some time and patience. I did mine last winter, cutting the carpet myself and having a local shop bind the edges before gluing it in. The original high-pile carpet is pretty forgiving of small differences in the fit. Materials came to about $300.

 

   

[Razomatic]

6 hours ago, Origin7 said:

If you’re considering doing it yourself

I had not thought of that option, but it does make sense. Great input, thank you. The original mats under the seats didn't even have binding! 

[Razomatic]

21 hours ago, anduril3019 said:

If you end up getting a quote please share. 

I just got my first quote. It was $3700 which seems too high. He also asked if I wanted "sound dampening padding underneath" which made me realize he didn't understand what he was looking at. 

[IamScotticus]

For floor mats, Ive gone to the Hombre Depot and cut pieces from rubber backed felt outdoor floor mat. has good weight that stays put. it takes some big shears to cut it, but you probably need a new pair anyway. 

[Croc]

1 hour ago, IamScotticus said:

Ive gone to the Hombre Depot 

 

Is this just in Texas?  ICE sponsored?

[Origin7]

4 hours ago, Razomatic said:

I had not thought of that option, but it does make sense. Great input, thank you. The original mats under the seats didn't even have binding! 

You're welcome! There isn’t much binding required. I only had the top and sides of the firewall carpet bound, along with a strip under the dash. The carpet under the seats doesn’t need binding.

I haven’t made the floor mats yet, but coincidentally, the material arrived today. I’ll cut them to size, have the edges bound, and add some Lift-the-Dot fasteners. That should be all they need.

 

If you decide to do it on your own, WoodWeld is a great contact adhesive (stay away from the spray stuff). I'd also recommend German square weave fabric. It cuts easily and doesn't fray easily.  

 

 

[IamScotticus]

3 hours ago, Croc said:

 

Is this just in Texas?  ICE sponsored?

what is interesting is, before the outings began,  there were swarms at the HDs, but not at the Lowe's.  there are as many Lowe's as HDs . you had to be there.

[Croc]

31 minutes ago, IamScotticus said:

what is interesting is, before the outings began,  there were swarms at the HDs, but not at the Lowe's.  there are as many Lowe's as HDs . you had to be there.

🫪.  I do believe you.  I carry my passport as proof of citizenship just to go grocery shopping as ICE check you on entry or on my commute through World Trade Ctr in Manhattan as they are there daily. 
 

Anyway, back to our scheduled program on carpet for seven interiors 

[Timothy Keith-Lucas]

I've done it, and endorse the rubber backed carpet and the notion that carpet is pretty accommodating in fit. I'll add two considerations: Do the fitting with reasonably stiff paper, even taping bits together at odd angles to get around the curves, and then use that as your template for cutting the real stuff. Second, recognize that your heels sliding up to get to the pedals really rips up ordinary carpet, which is why professional sets often switch over to hard rubber for the toe box.  Do try doing it yourself.  It's not a horrible task, and inexpensive that way.

[Razomatic]

On 10/23/2026 at 3:20 PM, Origin7 said:

If you decide to do it on your own...

 

Inspirational! Great work @Origin7. It looks terrific. Thank you for sharing photos.

[IamScotticus]

I would say try to avoid glue. it's messy and hard to remove later.  could be flammable.

I glued my tunnel carpet on, and looking at the shifter repositioning I need, lm now regretting the glue.  nothing a gallon of aircraft remover can't handle.

I'll add, as a rule, anything you do to a 7 today, will likely be something you or the next owner will want to un-do or re-do in the future. A little more forethought in any project will have its benefits later.  I'm talking to myself here, not patronizing anyone. 

Edited October 25 by IamScotticus

[7Westfield]

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Adhesive-Remover-Attachment-03618VOC20/dp/B0CQZ5HY26/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1X4AES7NIZTPR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0xeJjfoZlxvOEQARfpe-IpkJOClrbYwm1EEDeVMl74pVX110Ps7xwq0ZPBhMv3JoiF0ByCrKNkPq0bOREJ2u9YfosjGzOYy2wG8nSIM9XUiEzAWJ1sBp2_xb30IxJavfEk-OL6UmCcm_L3AUipU6WcbYF2i1rdKwt5GaGhZ4lzN1Ob8Jg7op2yO3jwXx0e6p5Cz8enm2ZLPvXrvEtjiSl4qlkt6XVZ1dB97hrbldTL8vYxHtdmHgJvW92x5WLGBHcYrZzHgkjXGUZuFXQs4MRank-n0Cvkwn5qdx8-ggURk.eJfRGbmvlt-N2cr6Yr1mgetaBYl2o_Hv_DDxWMtUoPw&dib_tag=se&keywords=adhesive+remover+for+cars&qid=1792939597&sprefix=adhesive+remover%2Caps%2C291&sr=8-6

[Razomatic]

10 hours ago, Timothy Keith-Lucas said:

I've done it... It's not a horrible task, and inexpensive that way.

 

Thank you Timothy. I think I'd also approach it as removable carpet mats, as on the original. Perhaps using velcro to keep it in-place instead of the snaps that did not survive very well. I agree that retaining the rubber under the heels is important.

[Razomatic]

Does anyone have a car with this elbow rest? I'm curious how it was held in place. This article is from 1988, but I have never seen a car of the era outfitted with such a posh interior.

Edited Monday at 05:33 PM by Razomatic

[Origin7]

5 hours ago, Razomatic said:

Does anyone have a car with this elbow rest? I'm curious how it was held in place. This article is from 1988, but I have never seen a car of the era outfitted with such a posh interior.

 

That looks luxurious. I've never seen one like that before either.

 

I am not sure what they used to fasten the elbow rest, but if I had to guess, I'd say a carpet snap. This is what was used on the late 80's floor mats. Here is a really good resource on various British fasteners:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daeWWJD0CYQ

 

I am working on floor mats now, and I am going to try the "lift the dot" type. 

 

[theDreamer]

I have seen a similar type pad used in original Lotus 7’s. These were mounted to the bare alloy tunnel. I figured those used button snaps (like those on the boot cover etc.) but this was just speculation on my part. I’m sure a member here has or had a 7 with one, although I cannot find a photo at this time.

As to “posh” interiors Caterham offered a plethora of options plus was very open to doing specials. Leather covered roll bar, our car has it. Spare wheel cover, we have one of those too. In fact our car has as posh an interior as the one shown. However, our car didn’t get the pad because the entire tunnel is plush and leather covered.