help me design a door panel

so im finally getting around to doing the interior of the 64. have all the supplies, and saving money for chassis parts, so now is a perfect time. it don't cost me anything...

anyway, heres a picture of the origonals: [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/1964%20elcamino/032_zps6232b1f0.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/1964%20elcamino/20151005_072231_zpsaqul624n.jpg.html][/URL]

now I made a replacement mockup. the origonals are pretty flat with some embossed in strips and a triangle. the mockup is completely flat with much richer grain and color, as well as 1/8 inch of padding.

[URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/1964%20elcamino/20151004_135131_zpsspasxs7m.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/dusterbd13/media/1964%20elcamino/20151004_135414_zpsmoxfaywr.jpg.html][/URL]

I feel like its missing something. other than the obvious handles and armrest. does it? or is it good the way it is?

Michael

I would like to see a seat color matched surround of the armrest and crank. Trim the edge in a chrome strip. A couple of ribs top and bottom would do well to break up the slab.

The seats will be dyed red to match, as well as the center console.

Theres a piece of chrome that retains the top of the panel. Were you talking about adding another?

And can you describe the ribbing better?

In my opinion it needs a bit of detail. A plain, unembossed door panel always looks very homemade to me. The bland pieces on my 91 Miata was my biggest gripe about it.

A piece of chrome trim as a divider would break up that sea of vinyl. The cranks and armrest will help too.

I found this image

I would try and copy the two vertical trim pieces with some sort of universal aluminum trim and use a third piece as a horizontal.

For my Fiat I was inspired by the factory embossing on my crumbling originals and put a similar detail in the new pieces.

That one obviously had no padding under the vinyl. It wouldn't have worked with it and frankly I couldn't have sacrificed that 1/4" of interior space

I did a Rabbit interior with a no sew method that looked pretty alright.

The panels were stapled to the luan plywood with cardboard strips to give a crisp line and folded over

I am admittedly, weird about interior stuff. That is what I spend most of my time looking at whilst driving the car so it is important to me.

The stock 64 ss reproduction panels you linked i don't like. That's why I staryed down the rabbit hole of making my own.

I think that your right though. Needs some horizontal lines for details.

How custom do you want it to be? The possibilities are endless, but at the same time something really custom might look out of place in an otherwise stock interior.

I do agree with Jumper... the interior is one area of my (eventual) 1800ES build that I plan to have fun with. But I plan to redo everything: dash, console, door panels, etc.

the seats and center console are not stock. rest of the interior pretty much is. so something simple that integrates into the interior. also, something simple in keeping with the original intent of gentlemans truck from 1964. I just had some more thoughts:

1. piece of polished aluminum trim, about 1 inch wide, 3/4 of the door length splitting the distance between the arm rest and chrome strip.

2. a character line at the bottom of the dash, and matching where the character line in the kick is as well running the whole length of the panel

3. something like this, only with embossed looking grooves instead of stitching/different materials:

needs more speakers....

Also, do not be afraid to play with parts from other cars. You could edge and attach some carpeting to the bottom so that your feet do not touch the vinyl when you open the door. My Fiat Spider has a ribbed and chromed panel at the leading edge of the bottom of the door panel that runs about a third it's length just for that purpose.

I think an armrest, the window cranks, the chrome strip and a speaker or two will get you pretty close. The 911 RS America door panels are like this and look quite good in person.
Could you run a couple of rows of black stitching down them? Tie the whole red/black ting together? I think a twin line of stitching that would disappear under the armrest and come out the other side giving the door a clear top/bottom would be enough.

No way to do stitching. Keep the ideas coming. Ill keep thinking and staring. It'll click at some point.