So a while back, some of you might remember that I was trying to find a good set of '68 Standard door panels that I could freshen up and use in my car. Mine didn’t look that bad at first, but the vinyl was very brittle at the top and actually cracked and separated when I started to mess with them. Also the plastic chrome trim was completely gone, leaving bare grey plastic. I had been hoping that it would be possible to repaint the panels with SEM paint, and somehow redo the chrome. But those plastic items are fused to the panels and there’s no way to separate them from the vinyl without destroying everything. Then I couldn’t find any used ones that were in good enough shape to look how I wanted. So I decided to take the plunge and turn to the only place I’m aware of that can reproduce door panels from scratch: SMS Auto Fabrics.
Here’s what happened to the original panels when I was endeavoring to remove the beltline strips and just replace the backer boards.
There were a couple enticing benefits for me to get new panels made. Firstly, I could get them made with the same vinyl that my new upholstery and rear side panels were done in, so everything would match perfectly without the need to paint or dye anything (the new upholstery is a bit whiter than the original Parchment). Also the chrome trim would be fresh and new, unlike any 50 year old panels. Lastly, SMS happens to be just a 30 minute drive from me, so that made it a bit easier too.
There are some caveats though. Some of you may have heard of SMS and their questionable reputation for lackluster customer service and long delays. I knew I was potentially getting into something with that potential, but I also had seen other things they’d done and been impressed with the quality of their work.
So I took the plunge and took my old panels up there, along with new backer boards from WCCC. They would need the metal top rails from my old panels, and obviously they’d want them as a reference for the pressed-in patterns, trim and emblems. When I got there the staff was reasonably friendly and helpful, and we talked about what I wanted them to do. They took note of the vinyl code I wanted them made in (L-3718). I asked about the plastic trim that borders the panel and whether they had the exact same profile. They brought out some samples of the different trim they had and found one that was closest, but not exact. At this point I met the owner, and he said they could make tooling to produce the exact same trim profile as on the original panels, but they’d have to charge me a couple hundred extra to help cover the tooling cost. Given the cost of the panels already, I wasn’t really wanting to spend more, and the trim they had on hand was close enough for me. We also talked about the twin black pinstripes in the original trim, and they assured me they could recreate this.
So, this was in about April of 2018. At that point I was still under the illusion that maybe I could get the car finished in time for the WCCC Open House in July. I asked if they could complete the panels by July. They said normally it takes longer, but if I paid in full up front, they could get them done. So I went ahead and forked over $595.
Needless to say, they weren’t done in July. Or August. Or September. Etc. It actually took until mid January 2019. There was no communication initiated from their end during this time, I had to bug them periodically to see what the status was. They kept saying that the issue was the emblems, they needed to make molds (this was the same for months). So this was getting pretty frustrating. But finally this month, I got word from them that the panels were almost done. They asked if I wanted the “whiskers” (beltline felt strips) installed, and with some hesitation I said yes, hoping they had the correct stuff. When they told me the panels were done, I drove up there to pick them up. When I got there and saw the panels, I immediately saw that they had forgotten to paint the emblem backgrounds black, or apply the pinstripes to the border trim. I said this, and the response was something like “oops, you’re right! Sorry about that, we’ll get that done asap.” To their credit, I got a call the next day saying they were finished. So I finally picked them up for real.
All that being said, while the process and delay was frustrating, I am very impressed and happy with the end results. They look awesome and the workmanship seems very good. How many people can say they have brand new factory(esque) door panels? I’ll shut up and post some pics now.
Below: they added some extra rivets of some sort to help hold the metal rails to the backer boards. Nice touch and they feel very sturdy. Beltilne strips were riveted on and look good.
Below: looking really closely, I realized that they used vinyl for the black pinstripes on the trim. The only way to tell is by finding the edge. It works, looks good, and should hold up well. Probably much cleaner lines this way as opposed to hand painting.
You might have noticed that there are no holes yet in the panels. I’ll have to cut those myself, for the armrests, handles, lock knobs, and mirror knob. Luckily those holes are all built in to the backer boards, so it should be a no brainer.
So after all of this - would I recommend SMS for new door panels? Actually… yes. After I saw the quality of the results, I was so impressed, I kinda forgot about the hassle and the long wait. Not everyone has the same priorities, or patience, but for me what matters most is the end result. You just have to be clear and detailed about what you want, and then be ready for a long wait and not much communication. I don’t know of any other company that can make one-off, accurate reproduction door panels like this (but chime in if you know of any). That’s all, just wanted to share my experience and pictures!
