the black 4-spd carpet "thing" was usually associated with the cheap interiored '68-'70 RM21 & '69-'70 LM23 cars, as they were original conceived on a base car (BELVEDERE & DART Swinger) that had a rubber floor mat as STANDARD equipment & there were NO 4-speed rubber floor mats - so black 4-spd carpet was included no-charge. Once the '68 RR coupe w/STANDARD 4-spd was "awarded" carpet the automatics got it also - the '69 340 Swinger was not as fortunate.

once the "cheap seat" interior was upgraded on a Road Runner (A87 or to buckets and/or console) the black carpet "thing" went out the window. the note in the interior guides is poorly written and strict compliance on the assembly line may not have been JOB #1 & exceptions do exist.

I have never seen a red/green/tan/blue interiored bucket seat console car with original black carpet!! My brother has a '69 340 4-spd bucket/console Barracuda with blue interior and its original blue carpet (w/tags).