The Roadster Factory · Magic Parts for Magic Cars
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R U B B E R S E A L S A N D G A S K E T S
A NOTE ON TWO NEW TYPES OF FUZZY DOOR SEALS
"You Have Two Great Choices Now"
An English seal manufacturer has just introduced a new range of fuzzy door seals in
response to requests made by The Roadster Factory several years ago. In the mean time, a
different range of seals has been introduced by a North American manufacturer. The two types
of seal are very different, and this gives customers a choice. That is what the free enterprise
system is all about...
A long time ago, there were the original seals provided by Triumph and MG, the same seals
that came on the cars. These were great products made with genuine wool moquette and rubber.
These disappeared in the early 1980's, as I remember. Way back then, TRF found an original-
equipment manufacturer in England which still made fuzzy seals for BMW and Ferrari. These
seals were a little larger in cross-section than the original Triumph and MG seals, and they were
made from synthetic fabric rather than real wool, but they were good quality seals made by a
company with quality awards on their walls from Japanese car manufacturers. These seals
disappeared in the early 1990's, as the manufacturer discontinued this method of production. A
former employee of that company was able to continue manufacturing seals for several years,
but quality went down, and colours disappeared. By the beginning of the new millennium, yet
another source had taken over, quality was very low, and only black seals were sold in a very
ugly synthetic material.
In 2003, however, I was approached by a North American supplier who'd developed a
new type of seal. This was a modern rubber seal manufactured to tight tolerances with
several smaller cross-sections available to match the cross-sections of original seals more or
less perfectly. These seals were not the old-fashioned construction with a cloth covers
cemented to a rubber edge seal. Instead, they are really one piece of rubber over metal clips
with what appears to be a fabric covered portion but with what is actually a fuzzy colour coat
applied directly onto the one side of the rubber seal. These are very high quality seals, and
the manufacturer guarantees them for five years. These seals fit, they seal out water and
weather, and doors close properly. TRF part numbers for this type of seal, begin with the
letters "BF," which stand for "Bristleflex," the
manufacturer's trade name for this new type of seal. The only problem with these seals is that
they are quite expensive, and the manufacturer does not allow his wholesale customers a
reasonable profit margin.
Back now to the latest offering provided by an old English seal company which has made an effort to
provide new high-quality fuzzy door seals in genuine wool moquette. I have seen samples, and The
Roadster Factory will have these seals in stock within two or three weeks. These new wool moquette
seals are very nice quality. The cross-sections are a little big, but the material is real wool in colours that
work in our British cars. The rubber edge seal is very pliable, and I do not foresee door closing
problems, which were common with some of the seals offered in the past. These new fuzzy door seals
are not cheap, but they are more reasonably priced than the "Bristleflex" seals described in the previous
paragraph. TRF part numbers for the new seals will begin with the letters "WMS," which stands for
"Wool Moquette Seal." The wool moquette seals have a more luxurious look than Bristleflex seals,
particularly in colours other than black. They seems stiffer than Bristleflex, however, and they may be a
little harder to fit, particularly on curves. I tried a short sample that I have in my possession on an MGB
door, and I found it harder to fit, but very nice looking once it was in place. I will tell you more later
when I have full-length door seals to try.
BRISTLEFLEX
FUZZY DOOR
SEAL
WOOL MOQUETTE
FUZZY DOOR SEAL
