'70 Challenger Convertible Interior Panels

[filmsurgeon]

Option 4.

Options 1-3, none will match.

Options 5-8, will look like crap and won't match.

Went to Just Dashes on Thursday to show them my panels (doors, rears, seat backs) to get a quote.  $1,550 minus 10% discount = $1,400.  Each door panel is $190; each seat back is $190.  Here's the killer; each rear panel is $350.  "Why?"  Because, when they do these convertible rears, they do both front AND back sides.  "Why?"  They said, "because with the top down you can see into the back side of the panel.  I said, "how about you just cover the front side of the panel, and I'll take care of the back with paint.  They said; "No, we won't do that for you".  I said; "Why not?" They said; "Because we don't want something going out of our shop without it being totally ready to install in you car, and we have a reputation that needs to be maintained, etc, etc, etc, blah, blah, blah.  So, I don't know.  Just Dashes much more expensive than I had assumed.  Are there any other shops/companies that do this kind of work, or is Just Dashes the ONLY game in the Country?  What successful experiences/approaches has anyone enjoyed?

[filmsurgeon]

Check this out.  I wonder what their idea of "restored" is.  Regardless, $3,500 is simply outlandish!!

"70 Challenger Convertible, Restored WHITE Interior Panels. NICE! Will fit 71 but correct for 70 3500.00"

http://www.totallyautoinc.com/usedparts/upinterior.html

[ragtopdodge]

JD is it, unless you want to go the Palco/Accuform route.

Folks will spend $3500 on a set of heads or a rear end.  I think for one of the most visible parts of the car, it's worth it getting done right.


TotallyAuto...1st I've heard of that they resto panels.  Maybe they're able to get it closer to the OEM grain.  Dunno.  I guess if you have a super duper rare 'vert, maybe worth it if that's all you can get.

Dang Metro!  Wish they would repop the rears!   

[VTMopar]

Well, no consolation for you, but you're not alone.    I, too wish Metro would take the business risk, and make the investment for rear panels.    As already noted, white panels are especially subject to damage......

One thought I've had is to take an old panel and try and use some textured paint to see how close I might come .......  I even tried to "soak" a paper towel in SEM white paint that I thought was close in texture to repair a small section.     I ran out of paint and never finished.....  But I thought I was getting close.    Also, there are cheap textured paints now, although I'm unsure if re-spraying over them with SEM white afterward will work..... 

Perhaps all a waste of time and a few $$, but we don't have any good options......

Vt Mopar

[filmsurgeon]

JD is it, unless you want to go the Palco/Accuform route.

Folks will spend $3500 on a set of heads or a rear end.  I think for one of the most visible parts of the car, it's worth it getting done right.


TotallyAuto...1st I've heard of that they resto panels.  Maybe they're able to get it closer to the OEM grain.  Dunno.  I guess if you have a super duper rare 'vert, maybe worth it if that's all you can get.

Dang Metro!  Wish they would repop the rears!   

Funny that you mention Metro again.  I was thinking about that same thing last (as I usually think about it daily ever since I learned about their other new panels). But last night I was feeling exceptionally frustrated that they don't (and never did ) make the convertible rears.  I said to myself, "if I win the lottery, I'm gonna contact them and pay for the ENTIRE "pre-order" minimum.  Whether it's; 100 Challenger + 100 'Cuda, or 200 each.  Whatever the minimum quantity, I'd pay for ALL of them just to get my one pair of white Challenger rears.  Then I'd sell the others for "NO" profit.  I wouldn't care how many years it would take.