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1957 Desoto Trunk Floor Mat OEM Style Repro Project Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
Forward Look NON-Technical Discussions -> 1955-1961 Forward Look MoPar General Discussion | Message format |
hemiviper588 |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 505 | My good friend is planning on manufacturing an OEM appearance rubber trunk mat for a 57 Desoto. The reason for this exercise is due to need only...( I have a 57 Adventurer) none seem to be available. He has been contracting work with a local OEM Automotive supplier that has the capability to recreate an accurate reproduction here in Michigan. The only stumbling block so far, is the need for a nearly perfect OEM mat to make the mold from. I would like to find someone willing to loan, or sell if possible (deposit provided for a loaner) a suitable mat to be copied. I live in Clinton Township Michigan, and would be willing to travel a reasonable distance to pick it up (thus avoiding damage) I know these parts are old and sometimes brittle...so the better donor is prefferred! Thanks in advance! A FREE new reproduction mat would be provided to the person willing to loan the part necessary for this project! Opinions and concerns? (Trunk_mat_script.jpg) Attachments ---------------- Trunk_mat_script.jpg (142KB - 222 downloads) | ||
hemidenis |
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Expert Posts: 3896 Location: Northen Virginia | Great project, I remember the mat on my New Yorker 61 was hard and brittle as an Oreo cookie. Hope they used another material for 57 or the chances to find one of theses in perfect condition will be slim. | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I had a beautiful original that was "lost" in the shop where we did the major body reconstruction after the wreck. I too need a new one. | ||
w.weiland |
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Expert Posts: 1500 Location: Lordstown, Ohio | I would be interested in one also | ||
57desoto |
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Expert Posts: 1489 Location: New Castle PA | Bill, I already told your friend that we might be able to use a mat that I have, but certainly if there is a better one out there, I'd defer to that. The real question seems to be how many could be sold and at what price... The one in your posted picture is the dark version, much more brittle than the light gray version, which is more "rubbery". | ||
FIN ME |
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Expert Posts: 2788 Location: USA - KY | Sign me up for one! I'm really hoping that someone out there has a usable mat, such as 57desoto, to use as a form for the mold. I think that the correct colour of mat for my car would be light gray, and it seems that some folks need dark gray...but to be honest, I think that most of us DeSoto owners would take anything close to either colour. Darn trunk mats are extreme unobtainium. Check out the list of '57 DeSoto owners at the National DeSoto Club as potential customers; if these mats become available, I could spread the word at the NDC for you. Please keep us posted! BTW...are '57 and '58 DeSoto floor mats similar? | ||
Viper Guy |
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Expert Posts: 2004 Location: Branson, MO | My '59 mat is near perfect with only a couple of splits but nothing missing. Problem is it's black and not sure a Firesweep 4 Door Sedan has the same size and contour that is needed for the project. Also it is very brittle and am not sure how well it could be removed without ruining it. I have never tried to do anything with it other than keeping it clean and protected from anything that would possibly damage it in any way. One of the participants at an AACA show saw it and said it would likely be worth a thousand dollars because there are none to be had anymore. | ||
ronbo97 |
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Expert Posts: 4065 Location: Connecticut | These mats were thin even when new, and tore easily. I would recommend that when reproducing the mat, it should be thicker than original. That's how those beautiful reproduction 57-8 Plymouth trunk mats were created for us about 15 years ago. Once installed, it's impossible to tell that they are actually thicker and sturdier. Ron | ||
Lancer Mike |
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Location: The Mile High City | I have a mat I took from a '57 (light gray). Very brittle. I nearly ruined it getting it out of one car, cleaned, greased, and into the convertible. Now it is held together with duct tape on the back. The upper shelf area is damaged. I'll offer it up, if no better surfaces. Getting it from Colorado to Michigan seems like an impossible task. If it is transported outside of my trunk, my guess is it would arrive like a jigsaw puzzle or a piece of shattered glass! That image looks like it might be from Tom White's trunk. I wonder if someone might have done this project for Tom already? I wonder if someone might be able to make the form from scratch. The textured area appears to be a simple burlap texture. The hood letters could be used for the lettering. The rest is basically raised strips (on the burlap texture) and rectangular patterns. The molded form would be the tough part! Edited by Lancer Mike 2016-12-09 3:26 PM | ||
springsweptwing |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1141 Location: Blackpool, United Kingdom. | I did get offered a perfect one with Adventurer script but the guy was asking $2000 for it? | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Adventurer script ? Was this offered by a Nigerian prince, looking to move his fortune out of the country ? | ||
christine-lover |
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Expert Posts: 2996 Location: Sept. 1958 | Lancer Mike - 2016-12-09 3:12 PM That image looks like it might be from Tom White's trunk. I wonder if someone might have done this project for Tom already? Hey Mike, according to Tom, his trunk mat was NOS. | ||
springsweptwing |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1141 Location: Blackpool, United Kingdom. | Doctor DeSoto - 2016-12-09 9:31 PM Adventurer script ? Was this offered by a Nigerian prince, looking to move his fortune out of the country ? Could have been but I did get some other Adventurer parts of him and I think the mat's were a dealer option? | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I have never seen (or heard of a) trunk mat with any embossing but the straight "D E S O T O" across the rise of the axle hump. Never thought to look in the parts book either ! Anyone have the book handy ??? | ||
springsweptwing |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 1141 Location: Blackpool, United Kingdom. | Whitehall auto restorations, does offer a restoration service on trunk mat's, maybe worth giving them a call to see what they offer? Think this is there contact details: 34 Spring St, Hopkinton, MA 01748, USA 508-435-3442 | ||
ARIZONA-CLASSIC |
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Veteran Posts: 103 Location: Phoenix, Arizona | We have a 1957-58 trunk mat that might work. It has a few minor cracks but no missing parts and it is still soft and pliable. I was planning on coating it with glycerin and let it sit for a few months and then use if for a 1957 Adventurer convertible we are restoring. It's the best mat I have seen in over 20 years. I would give it up if it helps but only if this is really going to help making a correct (as correct as possible) trunk mat, if not I'll keep it here. I'll never find another one and I need a great mat for the Adventurer restoration. bo@arizonaclassic.com Bo. | ||
NM Desoto |
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Veteran Posts: 145 | I also could use two of them. My 57 Adventurer still has the original mat that is actually very intact, but has several cracks in different areas. It still feels soft, but tears very easily as it is very thin. I doubt that it would survive shipping in one piece, even if I can remove it from the car in one piece. Do they acutally need a perfect one for a pattern? I would think that they were flat when new and then "shaped" after being installed. If they are molding from an original, It would seem that it would be impossible to get a perfect mold from one that has been shaped in a car, no matter what the condition. Mine looks identical to the picture in your thread, except that it is the light grey color. I for one, would be happy with a reasonable reproduction that is serviceable. If they could work from a few "big pieces", I wouldn't mind sacrificeing mine to achieve a good servicable repop. How many people would know or care about the difference? Lynn | ||
57desoto |
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Expert Posts: 1489 Location: New Castle PA | If I'm not mistaken, the picture of the dark trunk mat at the top of this thread is from my Firedome. That dark style is the one that is usually much more brittle. The light gray one pictured here is currently in my Adventurer, and is pretty nice once in place and smoothed out. It's the one I referred to, that could be used for this project. It can be removed without falling apart, but would be a bit tricky to ship (unless "picked up" as was said to be possible) in western PA. (trunk_mat_mbiswick1.JPG) (trunk_mat_mbiswick2.JPG) Attachments ---------------- trunk_mat_mbiswick1.JPG (80KB - 150 downloads) trunk_mat_mbiswick2.JPG (83KB - 143 downloads) | ||
ronbo97 |
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Expert Posts: 4065 Location: Connecticut | Ed - The best way to ship your mat is sandwiched between two pieces of wooden paneling or thin plywood. Ron | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The problem with moving or storing one of these is the contoured part for the hump. Any pressure, even simple gravity, puts lots of pressure on the uneven surfaces and you get tears/breaks. The only way to really move one without threat of damage is to support it with a contoured stiffener that matches the trunk floor and hump. | ||
Lancer Mike |
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Location: The Mile High City | Gosh, Ed - your trunk mat is much, much nicer than mine! | ||
57desoto |
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Expert Posts: 1489 Location: New Castle PA | Thanks, Lancer. I hunted for one for years. I put carpeting in the trunk of my Adventurer but removed it when I (finally) found the light gray mat above. Had the folks I bought it from been willing to sell it a couple years earlier, when I first tried to buy it, it would have been even nicer, but they had it rolled up wrong, which caused some minor damage. Still pretty pliable and decent, though! | ||
roadkillontheweb |
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Expert Posts: 1357 Location: Iowa USA | Since the only real detail portion is the center of the mat and it does not lay flat for shipping and a fine original may be damaged in shipping I have a suggestion. Find a fine original and clean it in place in a trunk then use silicone rubber molding material meant for brush on mold method (watch YouTube videos). Brush on the molding material over the entire textured area and allow to cure. Once cured the rubber mold can then be easily shipped to where the project it taking place where is can be laid out flat and even if it does not lay out completely flat it can be set on a bed of sand with a layer of plastic over the top and any high spots brought down to level by displacing the sand underneath. Once the mold is level a positive impression of the textured portion can be made using the plastic as a dam around the outer edge held up by 1"X2" boards this will allow a level pour of a ridged material. once the positive impression of hard plastic is cured it can be taken out of the mold and laid flat where the outer edge can be trimmed to remove any imperfections caused by turning up the plastic to create the dam. Using a tracing of an original mat transfer cut a sheet of material like Masonite to the same shape the same thickness of the textured center pattern. Place the textured center pattern on top of the new full size sheet pattern and position it properly then trace around the outer edge of the textured pattern. Removing the center of the tracing until the textured center can be laid inside the hole and any gaps can be filled and sanded smooth so that it does not show on the final piece. You now have a complete positive impression that can be used in the secondary process of molding that can be carried out in any number of processes. If this is clear as mud and anyone needs further clarification just give me a call. | ||
hemiviper588 |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 505 | If anyone near Clinton Township Michigan has a decent trunk mat that I can at least look at...it would be greatly appreciated! I fully understand why folks would not want to loan a perfectly good trunk mat to a stranger, but I think with a good solid inspection, measurements and pics...a very nice reproduction is possible. I have the "Desoto" center section factory art work to use...that in itself is a big plus! PM me here if you are some where near southeast Michigan. Thanks! | ||
flagator10 |
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Member Posts: 15 | I'd be interested in a repro trunk mat as well | ||
hemidenis |
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Expert Posts: 3896 Location: Northen Virginia | exellent project, i hope they can get it done.. Edited by hemidenis 2016-12-20 11:17 PM | ||
mopardude1958 |
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New User Posts: 1 | Still looking for 1957 Desoto mat to use as a template? I have one that is still pretty soft and pliable if so. | ||
eScore |
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Regular Posts: 56 Location: Washington, PA | Make a 57 dodge one while your at it. The ones on Atlas and other places are not original. | ||
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