More OEM Minutia, Carpet Backings Options

[StarBear]

@wonkipop
@jeffbowlsby
@van b
@big len
In the midst of finally replacing a few key pieces of my original carpeting. Noticed something somewhat strange (see pics). The backing on the driver’s side (on right) is lighter and kind of light, stiff pvc or something. Stamped with “TSB”. Passenger side backing is black and much more rubbery; not stiff at all. Same situation with the NOS pieces I’m preparing to put in and the NOS passenger mat already in (not in pics).

Any experience, insight, or history on this. These are known (mine) original pieces.
As promised, truly minutia.
Thanks!

Backs of Originals:


Backs of New NOS:

[StarBear]

@wonkipop Busy day today, on my knees struggling to get new door sill pieces in while cleaning up 50 years of debris. Pics below.
Waiting on new seat belt anchor hardware then final reassembly. Areas around speakers were the hardest. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)
Passenger side

Driver side

Once every 50 years, whether it needs it or not!
Now, of course, the driver side mat looks horrible next to new carpet. We’ll see if I can find one….. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[wonkipop]

@wonkipop Busy day today, on my knees struggling to get new door sill pieces in while cleaning up 50 years of debris. Pics below.
Waiting on new seat belt anchor hardware then final reassembly. Areas around speakers were the hardest. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)
Passenger side

Driver side

Once every 50 years, whether it needs it or not!
Now, of course, the driver side mat looks horrible next to new carpet. We’ll see if I can find one….. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

looking good @StarBear .

i had to fight that sill piece on with mine. not being moulded. really had to work it into that handbrake recess. which is of course the mirror version to yours. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

looking at the drivers mat, thats exactly what the lhd carpets were like in mine.
(still are having hauled them out of the cupboard to take a look at them for you).
greenish tinge in places and fading to a kind of pale almost tan color.
the brown carpet was not as stable against fade or stain resistant as the charcoal carpet.
i think it was (still is?) vulnerable to UV exposure and water from wet shoes.

i observe another bit of minutia from those photos.
interesting looking at all the subtle different ways they did brown interiors.
mine has a completely black left hand door bin handle.
the bottom part is not brown matching the doors.
the car has also always had a black centre cushion too.
and the right hand passenger (now driver side) handle also is all black on mine.
i can see yours has a brown bottom half to it.

i wonder if that was just a random thing.
or whether AG cars like yours got the full brown matching bits and non AG cars like mine got the "cheaper" version.
i think both styles make sense aesthetically but yours sure does take the brown to a higher level. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)