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John Moxon 
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jwold
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Joined: September 30, 2008
Posts: 2088
Location: Portland, OR
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 Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 3:52 pm Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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True. I was thinking that somewhere is the mold that was used to make the mats originally. I wonder what happened to it/them.
I guess on some future episode of American Pickers they'll be visiting someone's dusty old barn, "Yep, these were the original presses for Karman Ghia floor mats, I pulled 'em before they tossed em in the smelter." |
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Mellow Yellow 74
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Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 3:31 am Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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I don't quite get what is so elusive about the rubber mats. Couldn't you just cut out some ribbed rubber matting to match the required size/shape and then punch the holes in it? It wouldn't have the un-ribbed edging like the originals but otherwise it would be fairly close to original.
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John Moxon
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Mellow Yellow 74
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Joined: October 14, 2014
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Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 12:49 pm Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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I cant stand on the step because it has no mat, I bought one off this guy on the internet three years ago but he hasn't delivered it yet, but I can't bring myself to use a different mat than the one the step came with 50 years ago.
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1985 Caravelle (Vanagon) |
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sancho58
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Joined: November 18, 2013
Posts: 92
Location: SAN JOSE
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| Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 6:07 pm Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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| With the sophistication with the CNC machines these days that can work in the 3D mode I bet you can seek a machinist that can probably duplicate these mats . I know of such a person that is a VW fan that might be interested in this business offer if the money is right. I'll go pay him a visit next week with my lowlight mats and see if it's possible he can do this with just Raw pieces of rubber and copying them off the pattern of my lowlight mats. |
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calexican
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Joined: June 11, 2008
Posts: 730
Location: El Paso, TX
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| Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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| Don't forget to show him the bulkhead mat! |
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KGCoupe
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Joined: July 01, 2005
Posts: 3580
Location: Putting the "ill" and "annoy" in Illinois
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| Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2016 8:39 pm Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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| When the large format 3D printer and appropriate rubber media are invented, this will no longer be an issue. |
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John Moxon
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Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 13955
Location: Southampton U.K.
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 12:43 am Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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| sancho58 wrote: |
| With the sophistication with the CNC machines these days that can work in the 3D mode I bet you can seek a machinist that can probably duplicate these mats . I know of such a person that is a VW fan that might be interested in this business offer if the money is right. I'll go pay him a visit next week with my lowlight mats and see if it's possible he can do this with just Raw pieces of rubber and copying them off the pattern of my lowlight mats. |
That sounds promising.
Just a note of caution...we've had VW enthusiasts who thought they could cope with supply and demand before. If they are not professionally set up to cope with what could be high output (they could be the only ones in the world supplying these) they could be swamped with orders. That means, manufacture/order processing/customer relations/packing/postage...not what I consider a one-man job.
Not for the feint-hearted. 
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jwold
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Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 11:23 am Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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| High output/swamped with orders? Are there 'that' many people that need lowlight KG mats? Is there a difference between lowlight vs later year ghia mats or are they the same size? I could see a little more demand if they are interchangeable. |
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John Moxon
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Location: Southampton U.K.
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 11:51 am Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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| jwold wrote: |
| High output/swamped with orders? Are there 'that' many people that need lowlight KG mats? Is there a difference between lowlight vs later year ghia mats or are they the same size? I could see a little more demand if they are interchangeable. |
I'm not an expert on mats but I don't believe there was a difference in the floor mats from early to much later. If you think of the major KG markets US, Europe, Brazil...there is the potential running into the thousands of sets.
The bulkhead mat is something totally different...a much more complex project.
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Aussie59Cab
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Posts: 136
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2016 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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Early mats 55, 56 and 57 for Ghia's were made by a Company called Fisco. They were only available in black. They differed in that the outer edging that we are all familiar with that dimpled effect was just plain.
58 and 59's (lowlights) with the rubber bulkhead were made by Pheonix and available in grey, beige and green I believe. These had the dimpled edging.
59 and up (new style Ghia) were made in black and possibly beige/light brown by Pheonix and had the dimpled edging however the passenger mat was longer to coincide with the introduction of the carpet bulkhead.
So to be correct there would be three styles that someone would have to invest in.....
More pics of the early Fisco Mats
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Karmann Gheezer
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 9:08 am Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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I'd be  with a set of these.
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kman
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Posts: 739
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 2:42 pm Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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| John Moxon wrote: |
^^^^  Go stand on "the naughty step" for the next hour.  |
LOL
I guess I understand the obsession. BUT... It is just a sheet of rubber. You will never get original (just a replica of) nor will the function be any better than a 10$ utility door mat. |
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vwracerdave
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Location: Deep in the 405
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| Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:17 am Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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I just cut my own from a $10 front door porch mat.
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kiwighia68
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Joined: October 20, 2013
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Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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| Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 11:32 am Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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| vwracerdave wrote: |
| I just cut my own from a $10 front door porch mat. |
I can't understand the fuss about this either. I cut my own rubber mats from the bootmat from an old BMW 3 series I got for free from a friend. In the BMW boot the carpet is on top, with rubber underneath. I turned them over and have "custom" rubber mats. When I go to a show, I place the carpet mats on top - I have a spare set.
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1968 Ghia named Emiko
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John Moxon
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Mellow Yellow 74
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Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 3:54 pm Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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| John Moxon wrote: |
| These are for MGBs, a set of 2 heavy duty front mats made to OG spec for $38 a pair. |
OG for an MGB?
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kiwighia68
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Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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| Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 4:03 pm Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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| John Moxon wrote: |
If I thought they will, like Lemke's floor mats cost a couple hundred $ a set few would bother. What we're doing is investigating the feasibility of having a set of mats made using a more efficient, cost effective method.
Yes it would be nice if they match the pattern of the original mats...other marques do it and do it cheaply as we've already seen in this topic... https://www.bpnorthwest.com/floor-mat-set-rubber-m..._7cGAC6815
These are for MGBs, a set of 2 heavy duty front mats made to OG spec for $38 a pair. |
Has anyone tried a South African manufacturer? They have the expertise and the machinery, and their currency has depreciated so fast and far the last 3 years (half of 2012 levels) that the mats would be cheap. I little known fact is that motor and component manufacturing in SA accounts for 14.6% of the country's total exports and 7.5% of GDP. New cars were exported to 100 countries last year - Mercedes, BMW, VW, Toyota, GM and Ford, so the quality is there.
Also, they have perfected oil from coal technology - and from oil to plastics and similar products - and have excess manufacturing capacity.
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SoCalJes
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| Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2016 4:46 pm Post subject: Re: Rubber mats |
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Why don't you guys just go on one of the Chinese manufacturing sites
http://www.made-in-china.com/
http://www.alibaba.com/
and you'll find 100 different companies that will make production runs. Quality depends on what you pay for though.
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Jesse
71 Ghia
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Just because it didn't come that way, doesn't mean it shouldn't have. |
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