Door panels

1985 Motorsport Capri · Sun Sep 08, 2019 4:15 pm

Just noticed that 85 (and maybe 86) Coupes received different door panels than the RS.
Had chucks 85 coupe next to my 85 motorport capri and found a big difference.
On the RS (and GT) upper section of the factory door panels, there is a perforated patteren in the vinyl.
The coupes have a smooth vinyl section instead.
Big difference.
I couldnt find anything in the archives mentioning the change to the coupes.
This may come in handy when restoring a coupe.
I have two great side by side comparison photos I can't figure up how to post them to the board

fascat · Post by **fascat** » Mon Sep 09, 2019 2:22 am

I just looked at my 86 Coupe, it has the perforated pattern in the upper section of the door panel. As far as I know, they are original to the car.

1985 Motorsport Capri · Mon Sep 09, 2019 8:45 pm

I would like to find out.
Maybe an 85 change.
I wonder of these smooth vinyl panels were from the factory base model capri and were put on in error or intentionally as part of thr d32 build.

fascat · Post by **fascat** » Mon Sep 09, 2019 11:05 pm

It would be great to find out. Anything is possible with the way these cars were built. I looked through my saved pictures of 86 Coupes and all the ones with interior shots have the perforated upper section. The ones I saw are 001, 007, 012, 020, 031, 046, 049, 076, 077, 097 and 109.

Post by **negusm** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:14 pm

Early 85 change from 84.

FEP has examples in an old thread.

Post by **negusm** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:17 pm

Here is an 83 panel with that grey faux top area.

http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/Parts/E3 ... _Front.jpg

Pretty sure ...and I think ONLY on the Capri... early 85s got that same top area...then they switched.

-Mike

Post by **negusm** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:52 pm

http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread. ... faux+panel

This is an FEP thread where I mentioned it.

Don't have any pictures though of an actual 85 non-perf grey panel.

-Mike

Post by **negusm** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 6:00 pm

I think the consensus was that EARLY low-end cars got most of those "smooth" door panels. So Mustang LX and Base Capri GS.

This was a Ford change. Does not show up in the codes that we ever saw...unless Foxchassis later figured something out.

It does seem odd that an asc got them.

-Mike

1985 Motorsport Capri · Thu Sep 12, 2019 7:01 pm

Chucks 85 coupe was a late aug 85 build. My 85 motorsport "prototype" was an oct 84 build.
Chucks has the smooth. Mine has perforated.

Post by **negusm** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 7:04 pm

Well, it's a mystery then.

One of many.

-Mike

tfs2121 · Post by **tfs2121** » Tue Oct 08, 2019 10:10 pm

My car is an August build and has the perf panels. I also had chrome door pull cups on one side of the car and black on the other.