2500 Door Cards

[Mr Tiger]

I've been thinking of adding the alloy / stainless trim strip to the top of the door cards on my 2500 and it's been pointed out that the door card material isn't supposed to go over the top onto the horizontal ledge part.



It's looking like my door cards are even less original that I had first thought.



I may now leave well alone for fear of ruining what's already there, unless anyone knows of a decent pair I can get my hands on

Any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks,

Chris

[prideaux]

Hi Chris it may well be the later door cards where done that way i am sure Adrian will confirm yes or know
The chrome strips would cover the screws that you have showing though yours looks interesting though and well done however i suspect the later door cards did not have any by doing the door cards that way the factory would have less to trim ie no capping piece and no chrome trim and save on parts man power would love to know tough.
Andrew

Edited by prideaux on Monday 22 September 20:49

[ATE399J]

The material they are made from looks original to me. I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss them as replacements.

[Hansoplast]

Hi just looked at mine and think Chris cards are nicer because less lines. So Chris you better keep it that way.
But what is more original I cannot know beter than A.

The material on the cardboard I found with the trimmer and was original vinyl for the German Opel Kadett.
Only the visible fixings of the cards is less nicer as type that are covered by the vinyl. Nearly invisible.

Hans

[prideaux]

I was Hoping Adrian would come on and tell us if they changed the way the top was done on later cars as all i have seen have seperate toppers
A

[Adrian@]

Chris ,
My thoughts are you need to look at a 3000ML from the same period, (where as the centre of the door would normally be stuck straight to the foam of the panel on the earlier cars), it looks like the centre has been trimmed with a beading the shape of the later M cut-out. I would rely on looking at the rear of the panel to look for the chassis number as a match to the car (only when you need to take the panel off).
Apart from the trim being held on with the black stud things (OE would have 3 tap-its under the door and one on the leading edge, then steel panel clips (about 12-13) holding it behind the trimming
Adrian@

[prideaux]

Adrian@ said:

Chris ,
My thoughts are you need to look at a 3000ML from the same period, (where as the centre of the door would normally be stuck straight to the foam of the panel on the earlier cars), it looks like the centre has been trimmed with a beading the shape of the later M cut-out. I would rely on looking at the rear of the panel to look for the chassis number as a match to the car (only when you need to take the panel off).
Apart from the trim being held on with the black stud things (OE would have 3 tap-its under the door and one on the leading edge, then steel panel clips (about 12-13) holding it behind the trimming
Adrian@

Hi Adrian what about the top the way the capping is part of the door card is that usual on the later door cards as i had not seen that before
A

[GAjon]

On my 73 ML the door trims do lip over the top edge as in the OP pictures, although a different material.

[Adrian@]

As ever the evolution to the norm is by the creation special/limted editions, it is common to see the pretty things come through (as I said look at the ML, a picture might appear, from JL). I would be happy to see that door in the 72/3 era car, with a trimmed centre panel, the cloth is as I would expect, the only way of telling is by pulling it apart (for no good reason, so you would leave it as it is).
Adrian@

Edited by Adrian@ on Wednesday 24th September 09:15

[Mr Tiger]

Thanks for all the replies. Mine was registered in November 1971, if that makes any difference. I don't know when it was built. I'm still hoping to hear from Richard Sails.

It would be great to see some pics of a 3000ML.

The centre section on my door cards have been replaced / repaired with carpet material. The previous owner said those sections were either missing or badly damaged.

Does anyone know if this material is still available?

Cheers,

Chris

[GPW41]

"It would be great to see some pics of a 3000ML"

I agree. Perhaps a thread like the old TVR pictures thread purely for M series cars would get a gallery created...

Not that I have any to post in it yet unfortunately.

Dave

[Adrian@]

Mr Tiger said:

Thanks for all the replies. Mine was registered in November 1971, if that makes any difference. I don't know when it was built. I'm still hoping to hear from Richard Sails.

It would be great to see some pics of a 3000ML.

The centre section on my door cards have been replaced / repaired with carpet material. The previous owner said those sections were either missing or badly damaged.

Does anyone know if this material is still available?

Cheers,

Chris

The carpet 'centres' is not a '70's thing, if you look back to the Grantura's (OE pictures and original cars) beaded edges and carpet centres/half doors are common...move forward to Griffith's/Chimaera's and the lineage 'note' is again used with carpet centres.
Adrian@

[prideaux]

From Talking with Adrian today Chris you seem to have a rare original factory feature there leave well alone
A

[Mr Tiger]

Thanks for letting me know Andrew, that's very encouraging. I wouldn't have started this thread if you hadn't suggested it as I thought it too obscure. I'm very happy to have been proved wrong.

Cheers,

Chris

[Adrian@]

Not that rare, (when you have seen a lot of cars) as I said to Andrew, there are limits to what a trimmer can and cannot do using the materials 'chosen' by the customer. In the days when the factory was a accessible place, a person might choose to trim the door cards in basket weave or leather, when, leather will not stretch the two button version will not work, where, the basket weave is too flexible AND a good trimmer, would want the 'weave' to be uniformed and in straight lines, it would look very messy if it is pulled in different directions.
Until you take the cards off, we will never know 100%, things like the method that the carpet is attached (I suspect tap-its) tells a story. Visits to the factory would often have the trimmers showing off the 'next look' and in the days AFTER a motor show where a car might be trimmed to a certain standard, often led to screams from customers wanting the 'show car look' on their new toy!

SAD as I am I have a point where I know that ty-raps were first used (brass straps with a rubber shield covers had been used) and the black mushroom tap-its have a end point too.
Adrian@

Edited by Adrian@ on Friday 26th September 07:47

[Mr Tiger]

I've just found a pic of a 3000ML interior from an old Sales Literature thread. Thanks DavidY.



It would be great to see some more ML material.

Chris

[prideaux]

That still has a separate Topper yours is the first I have seen where the topper is integrated though
A

[Adrian@]

prideaux said:

That still has a separate Topper yours is the first I have seen where the topper is integrated though
A

Andrew you are being painful...that ML has visible door buttons, along with a separate centre panel door card BOTH obviously OE, and seats that look like basket weave ...2 out of 3 ain't bad, it's called evolution.
Adrian@
edited to say,TBH I dont think the ML was basket weave...you are still being a pain...LOL

Edited by Adrian@ on Friday 26th September 20:55

[prideaux]

Adrian@ said:

prideaux said:

That still has a separate Topper yours is the first I have seen where the topper is integrated though
A

Andrew you are being painful...that ML has visible door buttons, along with a separate centre panel door card BOTH obviously OE, and seats that look like basket weave ...2 out of 3 ain't bad, it's called evolution.
Adrian@
edited to say,TBH I dont think the ML was basket weave...you are still being a pain...LOL

Edited by Adrian@ on Friday 26th September 20:55

So are you your giving us the run around the houses the original question was regarding the Door topper and the chrome trim you answered the question about the trim which is what I thought as well however the integrated door topper I had not seen and you said see the 3000ML door card and its not there I agree its evolution just never seen another and thought you might have I HAVE NEVER ASKED ABOUT BUTTONS NEVER ASKED ABOUT CARPET JUST DOOR CAP TOPPER
A

[GAjon]

The car in the background of that picture is the proper ML with the door trims that hook over the top.