I think I might have solved the "cut-pile" or "80/20 loop" carpet mystery

So, I've seen this topic come up from time to time regarding which A-bodies got which type of carpet, why and when. Some people attribute it to where the car was built, a year time-frame, the alignment of the stars...whatever.

I'm happy to share that after researching 100's of Plymouth Valiants and tracking down Chrysler Corp. carpet installers who were there and were willing to share their secrets for a small financial donation, I've learned the answer to the Great Mopar Carpet Mystery. Actually, I did none of that and I still can't guarantee the answer, but I think my hypothesis is fairly sound.

In my garage is a very original 1972 Valiant sedan with a lot of option packages. Mopar offered the Light package, exterior decor package, interior decor package, and then usually there was a "master package" which had all of those coded under one single option code. It would be called "merchandising package" or in the case of a '72 Valiant, the "automatic transmission package", which in this was a hook that if you paid for that large option package, you would get an automatic transmission FREE!. Nevermind that well over 80% of A-body sedans were equipped with automatics anyway and it was probably the easiest option to upsell on it's own. The reason for ALL of this was to make Chrysler and the dealer money on a loaded car.

So where is all this going and what does it have to do with carpet?

Well, go back to that interior decor group that was part of the Merchandising/Auto trans package, which the car here has. The decor group got you wood grain dash, wood grain door panels, rear ashtrays, remote outside mirror, day/nite mirror, split bench seat with armrest and...carpet. The package doesn't specify what type of carpet, but I recall reading an ad for an Imperial that mentioned "cut-pile and only cut-pile carpet". Also, recall that part of the Valiant Brougham package after '73 was...you guessed it...cut-pile carpet. In those days, cut-pile carpeting wasn't common and was considered an upgrade

So, my theory is that cut-pile has something to do with the interior trim level of the car. Perhaps there was an internal coding for cut-pile when several other option packages were coded as well. People have noted that there are plenty of post-'71 cars with factory 80/20 loop, and my '75 Swinger had loop. If there are known base model sedans with cut-pile then this theory is out the window. The only other theory is Windsor-built cars having cut-pile. Years ago I saw another '72 Valiant with cut-pile. The '72 I have here is a very early build, 10/71.