No Carpet? Really?

[Ty]

I think ELIO said they would call/email three weeks prior to delivery to confirm build and options. So they've got my build sheet and a huge factory and as my Elio moves down the assembly line it gets carpet just before seats. It's that how the big three do it?

The carpet obviously goes in before the seats (and seatbelt anchor) BUT, and this is a big BUT, Elio isn't going to do it that way. They can't. They will only build 14 different models... 7 colors X 2 transmissions = 14. It keeps it simple. It is even more simple than that. Each station has to only keep on hand one or two sets of parts. Auto or Manual. Everything else is the same for every car. If they installed 10 colors of carpet, the number of iterations goes up quite a bit 7 colors X 2 transmissions X 10 carpet choices = 140 iterations. It gets complicated quickly.

It is far more likely that Elio will leave carpet installation and seat installation to the marshaling centers. That way, the carpet and seats, which we can assume will be optioned quite often, don't have to first be removed before installing the customer's choice. From an industrial engineering point of view, this makes more sense.

 

[Ty]

I still have that '56 chevy, it came with rubber floor mats, the windshield washer was an option back then. The joke was that it's an option on the Elio. You have to pay extra for the windshield washer on an Elio.

my '65 Mustang had a windshield washer bag attached to the fender well... an actual bag that looked about like those ole timey hot water bottles.

 

[slinches]

I think we should probably focus on the E series vehicles for details like the windshield washer fluid reservoir. The P5 doesn't even have a functional wiper.

 

[Ty]

I think we should probably focus on the E series vehicles for details like the windshield washer fluid reservoir. The P5 doesn't even have a functional wiper.

True. I can't recall any good pictures of the white E1a's engine compartment.

 

[Coss]

The carpet obviously goes in before the seats (and seatbelt anchor) BUT, and this is a big BUT, Elio isn't going to do it that way. They can't. They will only build 14 different models... 7 colors X 2 transmissions = 14. It keeps it simple. It is even more simple than that. Each station has to only keep on hand one or two sets of parts. Auto or Manual. Everything else is the same for every car. If they installed 10 colors of carpet, the number of iterations goes up quite a bit 7 colors X 2 transmissions X 10 carpet choices = 140 iterations. It gets complicated quickly.

It is far more likely that Elio will leave carpet installation and seat installation to the marshaling centers. That way, the carpet and seats, which we can assume will be optioned quite often, don't have to first be removed before installing the customer's choice. From an industrial engineering point of view, this makes more sense.

I believe it was VW that had a carpet setup that would allow you to install or remove without taking the seats out; around the seat bolt holes the carpet had an extended flap with Velcro that would reconnect the carpet to its self; it just pretty much did a great job of hiding these seam areas under the seat.
I'll go digging and see if I can find pictures of this.

 

[Johnny Acree]

The Elio has been compared to the V W Beetle. I found this in wiki. In 1970, A new "L" (Luxus) Package was introduced including, among other items, twin map pockets, dual rear ashtrays, full carpeting,

 

[Ekh]

True. I can't recall any good pictures of the white E1a's engine compartment.

E1-C is supposed to have the solutions to windshield wiper actuator, washer fluid reservoir and several other niggling details (hood latches being ine of them). If any of those things should change, the E1-C will be uodated to include the changes.

 

[Coss]

True. I can't recall any good pictures of the white E1a's engine compartment.

That's because the only place it was shown was at the vendor meeting where they gave the keys to Continental.

 

[floydv]

True. I can't recall any good pictures of the white E1a's engine compartment.

Just saw this pic posted on EM's Facebook by Rick Deckard:

That looks like the E-1A's engine bay. Check out the cold air intake. And where are the dual brake/clutch fluid reservoirs and radiator coolant tank? The engine's been cleaned up a bit from the P5. Any other changes you can spot?

 

[WilliamH]

Just saw this pic posted on EM's Facebook by Rick Deckard:

View attachment 11333

That looks like the E-1A's engine bay. Check out the cold air intake. And where are the dual brake/clutch fluid reservoirs and radiator coolant tank? The engine's been cleaned up a bit from the P5. Any other changes you can spot?

Looks like a different hinge arrangement on the hood hinge.