I know the material that you are talking about. It does the very same thing on my car (27,000 miles). My only guess as to what it's for is to keep the carpet on top from sliding off since it's rubberized. Since the black stuff on my car is cracking too, and the padding below could be better I've been thinking about replacing both. I was thinking about using regular carpet padding with maybe some rubber spray for making beliners in trucks to simulate the black stuff. Although I don't know if that would work the same as the current padding to help isolate the noise from the engine... -Robert vin 6585 (The DeLorean form hell.) --- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxx, "Scot Stern" <SGSKBM@xxxx> wrote: > My car has 9,500 miles on it and is totaly original. The rear > package shelf has a material on it, under the carpeting that "cracks" > every time I touch it! I would like to replace it but I do not know > what it is. Does anyone have any advise or is the part available > from any of the Delorean houses? > > Thanks, > > Scot > 6452