is sms auto fabric a reputable company to order door panels from.

 

Yes, especially for cars not served by the mainstream aftermarket. My friend Scott got a set for his 1962 Cutlass convertible from SMS and is very happy with them.

 

You should be okay, I've never heard of anybody having any problems with them. I've dealt with them a few times and everything was A-OK.

I take it these are door panels that you can't get anyplace else?

 

Door panels take a while to get, they are custom made. Ive heard they charge your card right away so beware of that.

I just dropped some serious coin there last week on door panels and seat material for my F85.

 

ok thanks to everyone for the info

 

thanks to everyone for the info

 

SMS did the door panels on my 62 Dynamic 88 convertible. I am very, very pleased with the results. I shipped the panels to them in Oct, and received them back in January, along with FREE extra material to recover the armrests.

I knew going it the process would take a while, and that it would not be cheap. Quality work takes time, and one gets what one pays for.

 

thanks for the info

 

my friend took them to '58 Dodge and it took 22 months to have them in Italy.

it is normal that we spend all this time?

 

SMS is well known for exact replacements of original materials and patterns. I believe they use cardboard backing for door panels like the original. As with the original, cardboard can warp etc. if it gets wet. If that matters, or if you don't want to make up plastic vapor barriers like the factory used, look into plastic backing. If the cardboard was embossed, of course you probably won't be able to reproduce that with sheet plastic at your local upholstery shop. As for the original materials, if you had a cheap F85, for example, the new seat material, etc. will be just the same and aftermarket stuff like Naugahyde is much stronger and longer lasting. However, once again, the factory stuff was often heat embossed and SMS can do this I believe, but your local upholstery shop will have to approximate it with stitching.

 

Yes, SMS used new cardboard backing. Yes, my vinyl covering is embossed. Yes, it takes a while. As I said, Oct to Jan for me. I knew that going in, and kept in touch with them monthly by email to assure they were on schedule. They were very communicative and delivered within the originally quoted time frame.