Original door panel question

[slomazzo73]

All four panels in my car seem to be original material; The back left panel even still has the factory yellow VW instructions for folding the seat down/seat belts, etc. That being said, I'm sure they are factory, however, the vinyl is flat as as the board on all of them. To get to the point, I have seen panels that have a bit of "puffy-ness" to them ("profile" would probably be a more proper term). An example is shown here.

The picture is from a '71, yet, I have a '73. Could this be why? Does anyone know of. or have had their car since new that can corroborate any of this?
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1973 (Vin: 113-xxx, Model 113 841) Deluxe (non super) Beetle. Born Wed., Aug. 23rd, 1972. Flat windshield, upright spare, generator and oil bath. 95% Original.

[a.wilson]

Of all the bugs I've seen in small, local VW junkyards. The later model bugs always usually seemed to had more thinner panels (without padding between vinyl and board).. than the fatter panels.
Though but I've seen both grades.
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Be kind to all critters. America's "H8TERZ" can drink sludgy used Motor Oil!


oemwolf

[Joel]

After about late 74 or so the padding in the door panels was either completely removed or swapped out for something much thinner.

I know my 12/74 standard had the flat non puffy ones like you mentioned but everything of mine before that has had a thicker padding which gave that puffy look
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Quick little bug, you got a Porsche motor in that?
1974 Germanlook 1303 2.5 Suba-Beetle

[alex857]

Hi,
I think that the "puffy" ones you refer to are from 8/67 to 8/72. With the introduction of the 1303 came this slight change in the side panels, also the structure of the vinyl changed slightly.
Aircooled greetings from Germany, Alex