Did some searching but could not find an answer. I've got an 85 GS and the door panels are shot. I thought about just getting some aluminum panels from LRB or T3 but I came across a set of panels from an 81 that look pretty good for a decent price, the only difference seems to be that they don't have the hole for the manual window crank but I can cut that in. Does anybody know if these door panels can swap between year models?

 

you will find that they will go on the car, but the window crank handle will hit the door pocket

back in the day these just went to the upholstery shop, the vinyl part lives a short life and it was easy to fix

 

Back in the day, I reupholstered my own! It's super easy. The user @MrILO did this recently and had good photos, hints.

 

I've considered trying to redo the existing panels but I have no experience with upholstery and these are really in terrible shape. The backing panels are warped and all the plastic is twisted up and breaking apart. Basically I've only kept them as templates to try and build whole new panels and I'm not sure I want to tackle that. I'll get some pictures when I get back home.

The panels I found for sale have the same shape and look like the same pockets under where the window crank hole would be, they look exactly the same just without the hole for the crank handle and coloring is a little different. The part numbers between 80-83 and 84-85 have different prefixes but I kind of expected that with generational changes. I think I'll give it a shot and see what happens, it'll still be cheaper and easier than trying to rebuild what I have.

Thanks for the tips and info!

 

My father recently bought a medium sized storage unit full of vinal and automotive leather.
I have a maroon red almost spot on match for the original red on my 7.
We have preety much every color except black and white in vinal ( it's good stuff , from the 60's) .
If you want to re upholster them PM me , i can give you enough to do three doors for relativley cheap .

 

Here’s what was in the car when I got it. The driver side had been removed and was sitting in the back, the passenger side had been left with the window open for who knows how long. Supposedly the car had been sitting for 4ish years when I got it but I don’t know if the window was open the whole time or not. It was under a carport but the passenger side was against the open side of the carport.