1966 Beetle Sea Sand Interior Carpet Trim Color

[kevzo1]

I recently picked up a 66 Beetle, Sea Sand. The carpet appears to have a brown or oatmeal trim on it. Carpet is really faded any ideas as to the original trim color. Carpet seems to be black.

[Sharp64]

I think the carpet is oatmeal with tan trim. Looks like you have mold issues. Or Pigpen living in your car.
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[kevzo1]

Ok so the rulebook from WW says T317 Lava (Charcoal) for the carpet color which it appears to be, so what about the trim color, is it a different color from the carpet?

[bluebus86]

fabric can change color when exposed, perhaps dissect the trim to take a look at the underside that was not exposed, see if it is a different color?

Good Luck, Bug On!
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[kevzo1]

Good idea cut back the trim it appears to be grey

[Rome]

Colleague from work had a Sea Sand '66 Beetle 6 years ago with 33,000 original miles. Wonderfully solid and well preserved car. I photo'd it at a local car show, and I just checked some photos. The carpet color was indeed lava, and the cloth sewn edge binding was a dark beige. You could also describe the edge binding color as oatmeal.

Here's a shot of a 8000 original mile '65 Beetle that has carpet color slightly lighter than lava, but the same color edge binding as the '66. The binding color is not grey; it is a dark beige/oatmeal.

If you can carefully separate your large front side footwell carpet piece from the center firewall and rubber section, toss the carpet into the washing machine using the warm cycle, use a non-bleach clothing detergent, then let it air-dry on a clothesline. That will get you much closer to seeing the clean edge binding color.

Year-correct edge binding is a detail you almost never see even on a good restoration. The cheapie carpet kits have edges bound with the same material as the carpet. Others use vinyl, which looks good but is not correct. Having an upholstery shop sew on a beige-colored cloth binding onto even a cheapie carpet set would enhance the carpet appearance immensely.

[Sahara74]

Based on the remnant scraps of carpet from my 66, the original binding is actually a woven cotton light weight tape in a twill pattern. The width of the tape is close to 3/4". The good news is that this type of tape is out there in the world and might be available at your local fabric shop. Since it is cotton, you can dye it any color you wish with Rit dye, also commonly available. Just depends on how nutzoid you are about details but that's what I used to bind my German square weave and it looks pretty spot on. Good luck !!

[theastronaut]

The original binding was a bluish grey color that fades to tan. Check under the back seat where sunlight hasn't' faded the binding.

Refer to this thread of a '64 with 22 miles that's been stored indoors under a cover. Check near the pedals, it looks like it's already faded to a lighter shade compared to the rear floor area. The binding on my '64 is faded to the lighter tan color everywhere except under the seat, where the blue/grey color is still noticeable.


https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...p;start=40

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[Ddog574]

I as well have a 66 sea blue car and am looking for the correct replacement carpet color. It was lava originally. But now looks like brown with beige binding. So if i am ordering from WW, would this be charcoal? Or gray? Or black? What did u decide kevzo1?

[Helfen]

Why don't you guys go to the technical section of the SAMBA, Paint and upholstery section where it tells you and shows you with pictures what your car is supposed to have?

[harrymarlin]

[Ddog574]

[Helfen]

[EverettB]

[Helfen]

L360
Sea blue

Year
8/1/65

Models
113,114,117,118

Color Code
Color Name

Color Below Waistline

Upholstery Material (Cloth)
P370/K493
Mosaic Plat./Platinm

Upholstery Material (leatherette)
K499/L493
Platinum/Platinum

Upholstery Material (leatherette#2)

Headliner color
K456B
Cloud white, vinyl

Door pillar color
L358B
Cloud white

Convertible headliner color

Convertible Top Color

Convertible Top Color, alternate

Door panel color
KsK102
Platinum

Door panel color, alternate

Sunroof cover color

Carpet color, front
T317 is the code for Lava
Lava

Carpet color, rear

Armrest color
Ku019
Platinum

Assist strap color
Ku003
Cloud white

Wheel disc (center)
L41
Black

Rim (outer) color
L289
Blue white

Floor mat color
Lava

Steering wheel color
Grey-Black

Gear shift and brake lever color
L43
Grey-black

Seat frame color

Steering column tube color
L43
Grey black

Grab handle color
Lava

FYI the definition of lava has many spectrums of color from bright red out of a volcano to when it cools which is charcoal gray. I'm certain the Lava color for a Seablue car is charcoal. I've owned my 65 for 53years and the carpet was charcoal in color, and when I restored the car in 1974 I installed charcoal.

[Helfen]

A Sea sand painted car
Color code
L568
Sea sand

Year
8/1/65

Models
113,114,117,118

Color Code
Color Name

Color Below Waistline

Upholstery Material (Cloth)
P371/K494
Mosaic teak/Teak

Upholstery Material (leatherette)
K504/K498
Black/Black

Upholstery Material (leatherette#2)

Headliner color
K456B
Cloud white, vinyl

Door pillar color
L358B
Cloud white

Convertible headliner color

Convertible Top Color

Convertible Top Color, alternate

Door panel color
KsK103
Teak

Door panel color, alternate
KsK107
Black

Sunroof cover color

Carpet color, front
T317
Lava

Carpet color, rear

Armrest color
Ku041
Black

Assist strap color
Ku003
Cloud white

Wheel disc (center)
L41
Black

Rim (outer) color
L87
Pearl white

Floor mat color
Lava

Steering wheel color
Grey-Black

Gear shift and brake lever color
L43
Grey-black

Seat frame color

Steering column tube color
L43
Grey black

Grab handle color
Lava

Running board mat color
Caramel

Bumper color (type 2)

Shift boot
Grey-black

Hub cap color

Dash, shift knobs


FYI, I have a 64 beetle that I've owned since 74 and It's painted L-87 Pearl white and it came with Grey/Black carpet and I restored the car in 1978 and along with the correct L87 paint I installed T305 Gray/Black carpet.

[Ddog574]

Gentlemen,

I placed a call to technical support at WW today and it is confirmed that T317 Lava is german square weave Charcoal.

I apologize for wasting anybody's time. Evidently i should have placed this call weeks ago.

At some point i will start a thread with my perfect patina, yanked out of connex in San Fran, 66 Sea blue beetle. It is a stunning all original never been wrecked beauty.

[iowegian]

[seibert66]

It's interesting to see the difference between a 1966 Sea Sand interior for the European market compared to the one for the US market. In Europe they had the option of using cloth seats instead of vinyl. When cloth was used, they would combine it with "rust" trim and carpet (code T343) instead of Lava T347 as you show in your picture...I have the Euro interior and I'm wondering if I'll be able to find the original square weave rust carpet and rust trim to match what I have in the back...at the moment I still have the original 1966 carpet only in the luggage area as my reference...

[harrymarlin]

When I was looking for new binding for the rear package shelf/tray of my 1967 Beetle convertible, I found the exact pattern/texture (Porsche) from Autos International (in Escondido, CA): http://www.porschetopsandinteriors.net/. I assumed my gray darkened a little over time, and got the one, below on the left. The one in the center is the cleanest part of my original I could find, and the one on the right was another option.

It was very inexpensive.
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