What is used to replace the shiny sliver looking strip on these Starfire door panels? Is that material thin brushed aluminum? Do you have to have these custom made somewhere?

 

66 is a type of Mylar. DK how you'd reproduce it but talk to a trim shop that does street rods.

Interesting that that's a power door lock car.

 

Call SMS in Oregon. They did well by me, but I have no idea what the stuff is. I can report that the doors and quarters look close to factory and and the facing is durable.

SMS did my ‘66 Starfire panels in 1998 with a good looking substitute. It’s more a tiny diamond pattern than factory aluminum stuff, but looks very close to my eye. I’m not super critical, but it looks good to me. I really chose them since they have the heat-seam-sealing machine to make the sewn patterns look right, but they got that aluminum stuff close too.

Since I’ve had my S/f for 20 years plus, I always look at the aluminum trim on other ones. These range from boneyard to internet with a few up close and in person. I’ve never seen one where that facing held up over 54 years. So I’m happy with my not-quite-factory replacement.

For your console, if it’s heavily dinged like mine was, head for Metro Restyling for brushed aluminum vinyl facing. It’s not that strong, but really easy to reface when ever you need to do it. You could use that same stuff for the door panels and quarters, but it’s not real bump resistant. On the plus side, if you used it both on the console and door/quarters it’d be a perfect match.

Happy to take a picture of mine up close if you like.

 

CFAIR thanks for the info, indeed when you have a chance please need some pictures. I did buy a 63 Starfire and when it gets here to Dallas I may have to get some material.

 

Here are some shots of the '66 Aluminum trim SMS added 20 years ago to my '66 Starfire. I thought they did great work then and it's held up very well since.

I have no idea what the material is called or whether it is still available. I also don't know much about the '63's so I can't say whether this would be the match you're looking for.

With those caveats, here's a shot of my '66 Driver's Door:

66 Starfire with SMS provided aluminum colored trim. Close replacement, but not a perfect match to the original. Very durable material over past 20 years.

And the pattern up close:

Close up to show fairly subtle diamond point pattern

And the driver's side rear quarter for another close up:

Medium shot showing diamond pattern blending into a field of aluminum. Flatter material finish constrasts well with repolished stainless trim & diecast '65 ashtray.

Hope that helps.
Chris

 

Yes it does, thanks Chris for taking your time to do this!!!

 

The material on the 63 is quite different, brushed aluminum look similar but not the same as outside panels.

Have you started a thread for this 63 yet?

 

Hello Don, do you miss your 63? No did not start a new thread yet.

 

I do miss it, had that car for 9 years which is a record for me. Looking forward to following your 63 adventures.

 

That looks fantastic. I will check in with SMS on the silver band.
Anybody else come across anything they like?
Also, what color is the carpet on panel supposed to be? Mine is multi tone brownish.
Thank you

 

It should match the floor carpet.

 

That’s what I was thinking, floor is black. Gonna try touching up with some carpet dye. Hate the speaker grill there, but least it is period correct.

 

I'd be surprised if SMS will sell you anything but a complete door panel rebuild.

 

Oh, I just got to try this, might need to get creative at the end where it wraps around. Worth trying out for 35 bucks.

 

Gang,

Just to chime in, I haven't changed my '66 door panels since those last shots.

They're not quite the same as factory, but I'm used to them. Once you've looked at 'em for 20+ years, you can convince yourself the pinpoint pattern is factory-close-enough. Eventually I forgot about the factory pattern. Which is different, but not offensively so to my eye. And anyway, all the '66 factory door panels I ever saw were crinkled, split, and looked awful. Yes, they were junkyard cars. I mildly envy anyone who's managed to keep factory '66 S/F door and quarter panels looking good for the past half century.

Somewhere on CO I have some shots of my shifter console which was covered in Metro Restyle Silver Vinyl to replace the ruined-with-dings factory aluminum. The substitute does not match the doors/quarters for pattern, but the color is fine. The plus side is whenever it gets too nicked or dinged, I just cut a new vinyl piece an replace the cover. Neat. Not factory, not durable, but you can keep it up. The factory console and door panels did not match, so I feel fine with them not matching in a different way.

The design flaw with the '64-'66 consoles is that every time you (or a passenger) take off the seat belt, you toss it and it hits the console. Over time this creates a field of dings which makes the console aluminum cover look terrible. Combine that with 50 year old scratched chrome under the tach and you have yerself a restoration project. Mine's done. Some people are fine with "patina". No judgement from me, but I prefer clean & fresh.

After 20 years, my solution was rechrome the top plate that goes from shifter to under the tach, then replace the dinged aluminum with less durable (but replaceable) vinyl. I'm happy. These trim parts bug me since I see them every time I drive the car. I want them to look right. Or close to right. Or close enough that they don't remind me that these cars are _old_.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

cheers
Chris

PS: Drove the '66 S/f today just a few miles. These were nice cars.