We've taken our first step into a larger...well, grayer, world. I installed the newly salvaged door panels in the car today. These mark the first of the new 'soft' goods in the gray/black color scheme to go into the car. Next up will be the purchase and installation of a new black headliner and new black carpet, along with black sun visors. Then the gray seats will go in last. I'm also on the lookout for a set of black front seat belts with the plastic trim, since before long the tan ones will have to go.

But, back to the door panels. I salvaged these off a wrecked car and they were in pretty good shape overall. They had the typical torn retaining holes along the top from where they were hastily removed at some point in the past, and the cardboard backing was water damaged and torn in places. But they were flat and the upholstery was in great shape so they were worth saving. I started out by reinforcing the backs with aluminum tape and then adding some sound deadening material to cut down on road noise. I reinforced the retaining holes at the top and installed the top rails from the car on them. I then gave them a good bath and vacuum, and got them installed. While I was in the doors I tightened some loose screws and fixed the moisture barrier.

All in all I think they look darn good. I did determine that we need a new driver side arm rest, as the vinyl is coming up along the back edge of our current one...I usually see these in good shape in the salvage yards so getting one should be too hard or expensive.

Before:

After:

The sunlight really washes them out in the photo, the bottoms are truly black, not gray and the stripes along the top material are black too.