Tan floor mats

[Jeffrey Gamble]

Faithful,, i really like the look of Tan floor mats. Were they ever offered in the T5 cars?
also is the A mat close to the T5 mat in fit?
Thank you,
Jeff

[Brad Ripley]

AFAIK, tan mats were not offered in T-5 cars.

The tan mat currently offered by Stoddard NLA, is a 356 A mat which has a hole for the dimmer switch. If installed in a T-5 car, of course the hole will be vacant.

Also, the tan mat offered has provision for the earlier washer pump. AFAIK, the tan mats were mostly, if not all, in the 1959 cars. Those cars would have had the later molded rubber washer pump and a smaller cut out to go around that later.

[Vic Skirmants]

My 58 coupe, 103614 had tan mats.
So I would say they started in 1958.

[Brad Ripley]

To follow Vic's comment, the 356A parts catalog indicates the "beige" mats started with Coupes from 101693, Cabrios 150001, Speedster 83792.-- Illus #60, pages 476 on. Those chassis numbers are T-2 on.

Cars I have seen with original beige/tan mats have been ruby red with tan carpets. The car in Neil's Book is chassis nr 103526, completed in April, 1958 -- see photos on pages 58 thru 61. Early foot pump is shown. (Question, was that foot pump used all the way thru the T-2? -- probably a question for another thread.)

[Brad Ripley]

There's more --
In the Conradt book (English version), page 118, top left, having to do with T-2 changes, it says, quote

4. Floor mats light grey or beige for coupe, hardtop and cabriolet with 616 engine and Carrera delux. Floor mats black for Carrera GT in coupe and Speedster versions and possibly Speedster versions with type 616 and Carrera delux.

[Vic Skirmants]

103614 was Fjord Green.
I have to think the foot pump was used til the T-5.

[Brad Ripley]

Confirmed, the "early" washer pump was in the 356A's to the end. So the 356A floor mats all had the provision in the upper left for that pump.

[Brad Ripley]

Back to the question of when the tan floor mats started,

Currently in the classifieds is Coupe 103269 which the seller says is "original" -- in the photos is look mostly original. It has tan mats. Born on 3-25-1958 according to the CoA.

Tan interior, sliver exterior. see https://porsche356registry.org/classifieds/10380

[Gerry McCarthy]

Once again, I refer you to the bulletin introducing the T2. (24-57? From memory). Tan mats were part of the T2 package. Apparently, not a big hit, as they disappeared during 1959. My brothers September 57 T2, treffen-delivered, had them. When back home, he swapped them with the black ones in his for sale 1956 car.

[Spencer Harris]

Once again, I refer you to the bulletin introducing the T2. (24-57? From memory). Tan mats were part of the T2 package. Apparently, not a big hit, as they disappeared during 1959. My brothers September 57 T2, treffen-delivered, had them. When back home, he swapped them with the black ones in his for sale 1956 car.

Your memory's correct Gerry, 24-57.
Brett Johnson's book (Revised Ed. p 116) states "...Beige mats were slightly thicker and were found only on cars with tan or oatmeal carpeting...".

[Jeffrey Gamble]

Faithful,, i really like the look of Tan floor mats. Were they ever offered in the T5 cars?
also is the A mat close to the T5 mat in fit?
Thank you,
Jeff

Thanks for all the thread responses...

I would like to believe if a savvy Porsche customer knew about the 58-59 tan mats he could ask a equally savvy Volkswagen/Porsche dealer to request the Drauz factory install tan colored mats.
For our early production 23-10-1959 87009 Roadster we choose take the liberty and install the tan floor mat that blended nicely with Oatmeal carpeting and sisal mats. Hope you like it.

[Max Handley]

Yes...you nailed it again. Beautiful Jeff.