Projects HOT ROD DOOR PANELS

We've seen the hot rod dash and I'm followed suit. Now it is just about upholstery time and while I have a couple of ideas in mind I would like to see some pictures of your door panels.
Map pockets?
Door pulls?
Carpet on the bottom?
Check straps?
Here is couple I have saved from previous threads and on line searches.

This is a bit more industrial than I desire but I like the little map pocket/stash bag on the bottom. BTW, me seat will emulate this design, slightly different leather tones.

This one is so clean and simple, I love it but mine may need a bit more going on?

Too modern? I like the carpet on the bottom because I wont kick the leather every time I stumble out of the suicide doors. Cool pocket, cant see if it has door straps or a pull. My doors are painted on top (roadster) so I will have some body color inside the car. Leather is both dark and tan distressed (2 tone) , brown square weave carpet.

Any assistance is appreciated.

 

I don't think I have much to contribute, this is my finished door panel.

 

For me, the clean and simple always wins, but your car's theme would demand a "bit of bling". As said more than once on here, your car, your choice. We all know you'll do it justice!

 

Ah, the minimalist movement. Like drinking whiskey neat vs a fancy cocktail, I get it Douglas. In those terms, I'm not looking for a Moscow mule or a Washington apple here, just a good bourbon in a Waterford crystal glass served on a leather coaster by a red haired lass with a tattoo of a flathead ford on her calf. Put that into a door panel design and I'll order a double..

 

this is my 32 interior.

 

IMO, where guys go wrong is 'sculpting' or excessively 'detailing' the interior. The last pic above is an example of that IMO, although not the worst one I've seen. Same goes for the first pic, although it's closer in some respects but worse in others. This became popular during the 'street rod' days and has started leaking into supposedly 'trad' cars. This was only seen in show cars 'back in the day', and very rarely at that.

I get why guys do it; if you have a monochrome interior (which seem to be the rage these days), it adds 'interest'. But it also looks like they took the interior out of a late-model and transplanted into their car. Back in the day, if you wanted something a bit more flashy, chrome trim, contrasting colors or accent panels, maybe mixed stitching were the paths taken. Some time spent looking at interiors from 'back in the day' will quickly show the differences....

Again, this is my opinion.

 

Great looking 'trad' interior...

 

Just go late model on the door pulls...'33-4 Ford

 

Well considering I'm a bit of a hermit (wifes description) I'm not up on the current lingo, barspeakwise, but I did order a Makers the other day and the little likker lass asked if I wanted it neat and I told her she could spill it all over the place as long as I didn't have to pay for the spillage.
Where was I, oh yeh, door panels, nevermind, no time for that, I gotta go to the likker dispenser as I'm out and parched with this frick'n hot weather.

 

I was running with no panels for too long. I made some with Masonite and snap fasteners, then took them to the upholstery shop where I had the seats made. I feel downright civilized now.

Not exactly a hot rod, but still...

 

Mine is about as simple as you can get.

 

I'm following this.
That bit of carpet at the bottom of the door might look busy to some folks but having a daily that always has scuff marks in that area from shoes hitting it I can see the value. Remembering back the "custom" door panels in my 51 Merc had carpet there when I bought it in 1963.
I might save that second photo from the top for if and when I get my Model A Victoria to that point. The truck will get a bit more of a custom look on it.


"

 

Simple but timeless. I love a white interior. The brown of the first pic has a nice "lived in" look to it. Some people buy older leather sofas with a tear here or there for a song. If there's enough leather left to do your (smaller) interior, it could be a good option.

 

Love that interior. That's what I am looking for

 

Love the 36 dash btw

 

Billy Bamdit
sent ya a PM

 

My '34

View attachment 3971090

 

^^^^^Sweet door panels! I take it you shut them with the door handle? Simply beautiful! (and great fodder for my design, exactly what I was looking for).

Are those seat heater switches I see in the seat riser? I did the same but added a power port there as well so no one could see it without snooping.

 

They are - I added a lighter for charger/GPS.

 

I made am aluminum switch panel for the front of my seat, down low in the center, that houses the seat heater switches and the power port. You have to know where to look to find them. When I have the seat upholstered I plan to add a small pocket in the leather to put my cell or ipod when driving so they aren't just lying about.

 

I made these for my A, simple black stitching with 1/4" sew foam and a little bit of Stainless made a big difference. I will never do another map pocket, what a PITA that was, and it still didn't turn out that nice.

 

My old '32 truck....not quite what I would have done if I had it done ,but close.
Had been done when the truck was built a long time ago I believe.
I liked the chrome door pulls on the top of the doors

 

I am having mixed feelings on the map pocket. From the pictures thus far I am thinking I am shying away from the elastic pocket and if anything I like the flapped pocket. I can see that you can easily go overboard trying to do too much is such a small space. This thread is helping me a lot, thanks everyone!

 

I like the one in alfin32's post #20, but obviously that doesn't fit the style of your roadster. I tend to agree that no map pocket in your car is the right answer.



For door pulls I believe that the ones Bruce Lancaster showed in post #8 fit your build nicely.

 

Map pockets went obsolete with the advent of Google Maps, Smartphones and GPS.

 

I like those handles and I tried ordering them from MACS a week ago when Burt posted them. They billed my card and then sent me a notice they were on back order till 2049 or some such date. I went back to the drawing board and found a set on line that I ordered through Amazon, should be here today. A little different design but so is my car. If they show up I'll post you a pic of them.