Recondition Used Carpet

I recently bought a 72 parts car with a great looking interior that I want to use in my Maverick. It appears the carpet was replaced then the car sat in the sun and dried out the carpet. The fabric is faded in some spots and very stiff and feels like cardboard especially around the rocker panel area. It makes me think it will break if I bend it. My question is what can be put on the carpet to soften it back up and keep it that way?
The headliner and seat vinyl still feels pliable so that shot the sitting in the sun theory unless they were replaced later or the carpet came from another car.
Here’s a link if you like to see my parts car :Handshake http://1bad6t.com/Maverick/PartsCar/index.html

 

The carped in my '73 was somewhat like what you describe. It's a blue carpet that was heavily faded (almost yellow) on the front floor pans. Otherwise was in good shape. I tried dying it, but that's didn't last any time at all. I eventually bought an ACC replacement carpet.

 

http://www.aaaautocarpet.com/index.php $114.95 plus free shipping

they also have an ebay store.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD...tegoryZ33697QQihZ010QQitemZ200125135172QQrdZ1

 

I Googled "Stiff Carpet" and after clicking a few links I'm thinking the pH of the fabric could be off from the carpet cleaner making the carpet stiff and dried out...something about not neutralizing after cleaning. I'm about to go outside and get the garden hose and see what happens after a good soaking. Then I'll check out the carpet store and see what chemical to use for a neutralizer. I really wanted to try and save this carpet if possible with spending only a dollar or two. I will post a follow up when I see what happens when the carpet dries. If it works...great, if not...oh well, I tried

 

Wow, a waterhose isn't a good way to save floor boards

 

The carpet is out of the car and laying in the driveway.
After a good douching with the water hose I was kicking up a lot of soap bubbles...looked like something you would see if you put too much laundry detergent in the washing machine. I kelp on spraying it with the water hose until the bubbles were gone. You wouldn't believe the dirt I washed out. I used a squeegee and a leaf blower to get most of the water out of the carpet and now it's drying in the sun along with my tennis shoes. The texture of the fabric is now starting to feel like carpet again instead of straw. I'm thinking it will hold dye now long enough until I finish wearing it out. Heck, it's only a driver and not a show car...yet

 

Those bleached areas of the carpet look just like mine did.

 

Not bad at all.

I thought u meant the carpet was IN the car. lol

 

I'm like this guy. Seems like there's always a way to use what you've got to work with and make it work. Judging by your pics my bet is that with some dye the carpet is going to work just like you need and you've saved several bucks. Good work and sticking with it!

 

Jeff, you going for the two tone interior look like in mine, or you changing yours to all black?

 

I going all black except the door panels will be a different. Maybe tan or light grey. Body color will be Bright Yellow. (?)

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