Custom interiors, modified door panels?

[dave73chally]

I'm getting my interior done in the next year or so. I have aftermarket gto seats up front so I'm getting custom covers made. In the rear, I'm having the stock seat re-foamed to match the contours of the front seats and covered in the same as the front. Dash will be covered in the same leather and stitched.

Then comes the door panels, will most likely leave them as is but the upholster asked if I wanted to cover them in leather. I'm leaning towards leaving them stock and updating the woodgrain insert to either carbon fiber or maybe a diamond stitched leather pattern. That being said, post some pictures if you modified your door panels, curious to see what's out there

[burdar]

Good question!  Most people just install aftermarket buckets and call it good.  I've never like that.  The seats always look out of place to me.  I'm glad you're redoing the rear seat to match.  That will help a lot with the overall "look" of the interior.  If it were mine, I'd definitely have the door panels covered.  Have them covered in a matching material so everything looks like it was planned that way from the beginning.  Then you can add an accent where the original wood grain was.  Have the kick panels and console covered as well. 

I'm afraid that if you leave the panels "as is", the interior won't flow well and it will look pieced together.  With the door panels, rear panels, kick panels and console all covered, you'll really bring the whole interior together as one.

What color are you thinking about?

[Fatback]

I am thinking about doing a custom interiors, modified door panels my headliner and carpet are black the dash, council are brunt orange. I will do the seats black with the inserts brunt orange I want my door panels to look the same. Not painted black at the bottom, please send me a picture of yours if you have them and good luck with you project.

Fatback 

[burdar]

http://www.ronsusser.com/listings/images/15884/121881.jpg

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6065/6023631622_35c3c5764a_z.jpg


What about Cuda door panels in a Challenger?  Is there any way that could be done?
http://www.amcarguide.com/wp-content/gallery/foose-terracuda/10-chip-foose-custom-1970-plymouth-barracuda-terracuda-seats-interior.jpg

[dave73chally]

Color scheme will be all black carpet, headliner. Seats will be red. Dash black with red stitching. Door panels black with red, just not too sure on design yet. I like the 1st pic you posted, clean yet stays with the original lines.

[GreenFish]

I like the lines of the original door panels in cuda's and challys. I hate the hard plastic though. Covering in leather would be awesome as long as it could be done right and not just look like you stuck leather on a door panel. I also like the look of swede or something different on the inlayed portion of the door. Red stitching is always nice. 

One of the fears I have of re-doing the interior or anything else that is expensive to change is to stay away from trends.  Because you spend lots of cash and in 5-10 years it will look dated already. Just my .02

[moparelwood]

Here is what I did with my Cuda. Just covered the panels. The original shape screamed two tone to me. It is a little dated but so am I. I did them to match my cloth Recaros here they are without the panels installed. One day I will updated the rear seats and have the contours of the panels continue across the seats. THis was a quick and dirty job done many years ago.

[GreenFish]

Moparelwood, i like your door panels. Updated but still sticking with the basic look, Can we get a closer look?

[HP2]

Agreed, as well as the process. Prep work, cleaning, adhesives, plus materials and methods to avoid frayed edges and a cheesy look.

Might be a better process to experiment with before dropping coin on all the new panels I'll need for my interior.

[ejcbud1]

Here are some pictures of my 72 Challenger door panels that I modified. The back side of them is rough but no one will be the wiser!!

[PlumCrazyChris]

Our cars had some of the best interiors of the era.  I say don't change them too much.  I have to say I love my late model seats though.  They really change the feel of the car for the better.  I would think that just covering with a dense, thin foam and leather would be a nice touch. 

[70chall440]

Here are some pictures of my 72 Challenger door panels that I modified. The back side of them is rough but no one will be the wiser!!

Do you have any finished pictures, nice work.

[70chall440]

Our cars had some of the best interiors of the era.  I say don't change them too much.  I have to say I love my late model seats though.  They really change the feel of the car for the better.  I would think that just covering with a dense, thin foam and leather would be a nice touch.

What are those seats out of?

To that point, I think it would be cool if members with modified interiors posted pictures and information about how they modified their interiors, what seats they used, how the made them fit, how they like them, etc. These questions come up all the time on here. This would make a good sticky (if it isnt already)

['Cuda Hunter]

EJC has not been active since january of 2017.

[70chall440]

Well those panels should be done then...