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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Carpet dash mats

This may seem a strange request for those in the UK, but in Australia about 85% of cars have aftermarket full dash mats..these help protect the vinyl/plastic dashboards from being destroyed by the sun. There are several companies making these in Australia, but none are prepared to make/mould these for the 39 ZR's imported here! My question is, is there anyone in the UK making these type of mats (I don't mean the small ones that just hold a mobile phone etc.)? Any leads gladly accepted.
Gary Lock

Hi Gary,

I'm guessing that no one produces these, but given the relative simplicity of creating and cutting a pattern, I would have thought that an Aussie manufacturer would be only too happy to produce a limited run if someone like you was able to guarantee a minimum order (through, say, contacting the 38 other owners and asking for commitments).

Karl
KEW

Gary
I know what you mean, and the one other country that bought in the ZR was South Africa, where dash carpets may be an option. Alternatively, it would increase the numbers for a production run if you could offer the carpets to the South African market (also being rhd). However, surely with window tinting and improvements to the plastics, these carpets aren't necessary? I know the manufacturers leave their test pieces in the middle of the desert to accelerate testing. Don't forget there will be differences between mk1 and 2 dashboards.

Btw if only 39 ZRs appeared in Australia, then what are the chances that it was you I saw back in March in Brisbane at the look-out point (Mt Coothla - sp?) one Saturday afternoon - unfortunately you were just leaving as we were arriving.
Martin ZT

I'm not sure how many ZRs were brought into NZ, but certainly some were.
KEW

Martin, yes it would have been me at Mt.Cootha, as we were there last month, although not sure of the date. It's a shame we couldn't of met up. I think there are only about 5 or 6 ZR's in Queensland, so it was a rare sight!
Hope you had a great trip to Aussie. I was one of the two Aussies at Silverstone last year with our MGA's..a fantastic trip, and something I'd love to do again.
Re the dash carpets, no-one is interested in a small run, so I am going to do my own moulding, and progress from there...I've already tried South Africa, and nothing. The reason why dash carpets are used to protect the plastics is purely because of the heat generated through the windshield fades and breaks down the material very quickly.. this is despite tinting etc...it is not uncommon to record temperatures of 90degC in a closed car here in Australia.
Gary Lock

This thread was discussed between 19/04/2006 and 02/05/2006

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