Custom Carved Leather Door Panels 1951 Ford Pick up

I started these panels 3 months ago, and I have finished the first one. I make custom leather for Motorcycles and Guitars mostly, and over the years I have been trying to find the right person to allow me to do some door panels for their hot rod...so here is the fist one.
We came up with a Ford Logo design in pinstripes and all the artwork from traditional tattoo and new school art along with some original artwork such as the Ford Logo.
This Pinstriped Style Ford logo is protected by Chancey77 so if you want it...you have to buy it from me
This was a real joy to work on and I am looking forward to the next door panel...but here is a taste of things to come in the newest way to really pimp the inside of your flat paneled door!
Removable Zippo Case and insulated drink holder where some last minuet additions. We are going to be doing the whole inside of this truck with fully carved leather. It may take the next year, but it will be worth it
Cheers from Chancey77 Custom Leather!

 

Looks killer!

 

it gives the look of 'flash art' the way the art is scattered accross the panel. definitly a cool idea. i really like the cat too. is there some sort of padding between? it looks like it puffs out a bit? nice work.

 

Ya I did use some 1/2 black foam..normally used to wrap pipes with and comes in sheets. My buddy got some from work. It comes in 4x8 sheets and there is always a pile of scraps laying around...so it was a sweet score!
Also because of the padding we had to modify the door and window cranks. For some reason Ford Made the door handle shaft out of metal but the window Crank shaft out of Aluminum..not sure why they would even consider that...so the window crank shaft had to wait until he was at work to modify...but it was just going to easy I guess...LOLOL

 

Nice work!!!

 

I've been learning to do a little leather tooling for the last few years, and I've been trying to come up with a way (other than a cup holder) to display it in my Plymouth. I never really thought making an entire door panel? What color are his seats? Thats a cool idea. Keep up the good work!

 

That looks like a mess.

 

Yeah, I'm sorry, but I feel the same. Looks like a summer art project that Johnny did at Camp Runamok

 

I give you props for the art work. But,,,,,,did you just get on here (the HAMB) to advertise for free? Normal Norman

 

It looks like you couldn't make up your mind for a theme and threw a whole tatoo pattern book at it.
There is a lot of work there and it appears to have been reasonably well. Just disjointed.

 

Not sure what to say. I better shut up.

 

My buddy was wanting his truck to look like it had tattoos like him...so he gave me the artwork and I came up with some and in the end...wether you love it or hate it..it is what he wanted..so this particular style isn't yours...well, then rolls and pleat and whatever everyone else has is still ok with you...personally I prefer to be very far away from the box that most people live in. It takes all kinds of rodders to make this crazy scene we are all in. Loud low and rusty- bone stock trailer queens..personally i love it all, if it is gas powered and something I have never seen..then maybe it takes a little getting used to, but I would expect to start seeing a lot more custom carved door panels after this. This is just one example of a couple guys imagination ( if my truck was tattooed what would it look like?), But really theme and style are just a matter of perception and taste, so I expect there to be some haters out there, but in the end, there is only one person in this world that has to live with it.
Personally my mom taught me better than to bash people that are different from me...so I will leave it at that
My car is a prime example of what a lot of people hate to see. but then alot of people LOVE my SECTIONED 55'- 2 door 2 seat fairlaine...
Again I love it because NO ONE ELSE HAS IT!
And just like the reason I started doing motorcycle seats...because I was so tired of 1 color designs that bore me I now have my sites set on RAT Rod Door Panels... BTW this was my original plan (in the picture below)...but My buddy wanted something way more over the top! So I gave it to him
I had originally made a very small mini version that was very simple and more classic, but in the end we both wanted something that would NEVER be forgotten...and LOVE it or HATE it...YOU WON*T EVER FORGET IT! My Job has been accomplished LOLOL

 

i think youre very talented. amazing work

 

Tooled leather IS traditional for interior work. Not common, but it has been done before. Here's the Vega '39 convertible sedan done in the late 40's or early 50's.


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Are you sure you want to set your "sites" so high..Door panels for shit rods.. What the hell, might as well shoot for the stars..

 

And Johnny just connected the dots !
Looks like shit !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Looks like shit really

It's not for me but the quality of the work is great. The way you wanted to do it would have looked better, but as you said it's what the customer liked/wanted. Take the comments in stride, when you put your work out there for opinions you will get all kinds...again great work.

 

A traditional tooled leather design like this one would be cool.



The tattooed look is a heinous monstrosity on par with parachute pants and the sandals with socks look.

 

Tooled leather, whether in classic patterns ala saddle work or scattered picture patterns/lettering has never been a common sight in automotive, cycle , boat or aircraft upholstery or decoration. Why? For me, it belongs on belts, buckles, horse harnesses and saddles, cowboy boots, cowgirl boots, wallets, etc. Too "heavy" for automotive use by and large. Something like logos, lettering, names, etc. "sewn" into conventional upholstery... just not quite...well, right.
I appreciate the craftsmanship but...

 

It looks like the work is well done, but I don't think traditional American tattoo flash belongs anywhere in or outside a vehicle

 

That tooled leather seat is awesome. Any other info on that car?

 

I appreciate quality work, but i'm a "less is more" kinda guy, personal preference thing though.. if your buddy likes it.. power to him... too busy for my taste...

 

the bike seats in your album all look really good but the door panel seems like it would look better with more of a big center piece to focus on instead of a bunch of pieces scattered around

 

These are pretty much my views also. Basically, excellent work but way too busy for door panels. As you said, the customer likes it and that's all that matters.
Keeping with the leather theme, my best friend, and school mate from grade school thru high school had several heart atttacks. He still has a large metal building packed with 39 Mercurys and 46 Fords plus parts. Still drives the 46 Ford convertable he had in high school with SBC.
When he couldn't work in the garage for years he played with leather. Been doing it many years now and pretty damned good. But, like most leather toolers he did western themed things.
One year when back in Illinois visting Jim my wife got the brainy idea to have some purses, billfolds, belts, ear rings, and other crap made with our old cars on them. Jim went wild and made some great stuff.
Later he made me a couple of biker type vests and wife some larger cool car cruise themed purses.
I've tried to get him to do some of his own fat fendered Ford interiors using leather inserts. Love to have some bowties or something inserted on my 55 Chevy seats and door panels. Nothing too large or overpowering. This is how I see it done. Also for something like the old Ford truck or my own Chevy panel truck maybe a full leather door panel with ony a few imbossed patterns on it.
The big thing is the cost of leather and all the time involved. He gets very few customers because they don't want to pay for the material or labor. He is doing motorcycle seats and pouches plus cell phone cases. I feel badly because he gives us such great deals.
Just keep doing what makes you happy and don't worry about what us old fartheads write.

 

Agreed.
I like the unpainted one way better, but in a car???????
And the Ford logo.........if it aint broke......I don't think you have to worry about any one stealing it.

 

Another from the old days. I like it....

 

Fantastic work man!

 

what weight leather did you use? (sorry if I missed it earlier in the post...)

 

Years ago, a buddy of mine bought a primer black Chrysler 300 off an indian who had made his own leather door panels. We still laugh about it.

 

I love your talent and vision. That panel would be a good way to showcase your different designs (like flash of course), but I have to (respectfully) agree that it looks too busy. There isn't a single focal point or a "flow" to the piece. Just too many unrelated pieces in a small area. Use 1/4" or less padding for a less puffy look.

You have something there and you really should not take to heart anyones immature, disrespectful comments. Nobody gives a crap about your opinion if you can't share it in a respectful manner. There is an "ass for every seat" and you have something different to offer.