A Classic Mini can have its bodywork restored, its mechanical systems rebuilt and its paintwork sprayed to concours standard, but if the cabin still wears its original forty-year-old carpet, faded headlining and split seat covers, the car will never feel finished. Carpet and trim is the soft furnishing of the cabin, the moulded carpet that covers the floor and tunnel, the headlining that lines the roof and pillars, the door trim panels, the parcel shelf trim, the boot trim, the seat covers and the host of small finishing items that turn a restored shell into a finished interior. Every one of these items wears, fades, splits or perishes over time, and renewing them is the single most visually transformative step in any restoration.
Moulded Carpet Sets
The Classic Mini moulded carpet set covers the floor pan, transmission tunnel, footwells, A-post bases, B-post bases and the rear seat foot well as a single coordinated set, fitted using floor brackets and carpet clips on pre-1997 cars (the 1997-on cars use a modified one-piece moulded carpet from the factory). Carpet sets are available in colours and qualities to match the original factory specification of each model, and in upgraded weave qualities for owners wanting a finer finish. Boot carpet, parcel shelf carpet and rear seat foot well carpet are listed as separate items where they can be ordered individually. The 1997-on pre-tensioner-floor cars require a modified parcel shelf carpet to clear the upper rear seatbelt mounting reinforcements.
Headlining
The headlining is the cloth or vinyl liner that finishes the inside of the roof, providing thermal insulation, sound deadening and a finished appearance overhead. Original headlining suffers most from sun exposure through the windscreen and rear screen, and is among the first interior items to fade and degrade in cars stored outside.
Replacement headlining is available in the original colours to suit each production period, with a Cool Grey sunroof headlining listed for cars built with the factory sunroof option. Headlining replacement is normally a specialist task, the headlining is bonded around the window apertures and along the gutter rails, and incorrect fitting shows immediately. The MGOC range supplies the headlining material and trim items required.
Door Trim Panels and Door Cards
Door trim panels (the moulded boards that fit to the inner face of the door) cover the door cavity and provide the mounting surface for the door capping, door pull, door opening handle and window winder handle. Original door trim panels are available in colours to suit the production specification, with the door trim board itself, the door capping (which fits across the top of the panel) and the various trim clips and fixings listed individually. Coordinated upgrade door cappings, opening handles, pull handles and winder handles in Burr Walnut, Charcoal and Carbon Fibre Overlaid are listed under the Door Furniture child category for owners doing a full cabin upgrade.
A-Post, B-Post and C-Post Trims
The A-post (front pillar), B-post (centre pillar) and C-post (rear pillar) trim covers finish the body pillars between the doors, windows and the headlining. Each post trim is a moulded panel fitted to the bare metal of the pillar, and the original trims fade and crack with age.
Replacement post trims are available in colours to match the original factory specification and the rest of the cabin trim. Cars retrofitted with later seatbelts or with the upper rear seatbelt mounting reinforcement panels may require modified C-post covers, the 1997-on type will fit earlier models with modification.
Seat Covers
Seat covers are the upholstery that finishes the front and rear seats. Original Classic Mini seats vary widely across production, basic vinyl on the early cars, brushed nylon and cloth on the 1980s saloons, leather on the Mayfair and Cooper variants, and Cooper Sport and limited edition Coopers carrying their own specific seat fabric and embroidery.
Replacement seat covers are available in trim suited to each model and limited edition, with separate fronts and rears, and with retainer hardware to fit the cover correctly to the seat foam. Seat foam is also available where the original foam has degraded.
Sun Visors and Small Trim Items
Sun visors, mirrors fitted to sun visors, A-post sun visor brackets and the small interior trim items (sill kick plates, parcel shelf moulding, boot board, glove box trim where fitted) finish the cabin and are listed alongside the major items. Many of these small items are easily lost during a restoration and are well worth refreshing as the rest of the cabin goes back together.
Cabin Accessory Items
Alongside the carpet and trim core range, accessory items used during the cabin fit-out are listed under this category.