Modern door panels for Vanagon

[metahacker]

interesting

i really like the direction you are going with molded forms, multiple finishes (particularly with the ability to upholster in fabric), accommodating more storage and speaker mounts...etc

now, since you are essentially asking for critique,
i'll give my honest reaction, solely in the spirit of feedback

the "design" feels more like random "decoration" not something driven by design thinking as it does not appear to attempt to incorporate any of the original design philosophy of the vehicle in any way, it just feels like a random set of elements designed in a vacuum giving a 1996 concept car vibe

it does not feel "vanagon" in any way IMO, kind of like how throwing '98 Supra tail lights on a Vanagon rear end would feel.

i can see how a Westfalia interior could inspire the use of the radiused corners and such, that is logical, but the design as is just doesn't seem like the right direction. the ideas behind it are solid, though.

it doesn't latch on to any of the common design themes for modified Vanagons either... as in the techno architectural military industrial kinda looks...and is clearly not "vintage VW" either...

i could see it in a RAM ProMaster or something..maybe a Sprinter... but not a Vanagon.....

[MaineRich]

Here is a picture of my door panel.

[E1]

Man, those look mahvelous.

Taste aside, speaking only of design with the least buyer resistance, the storage space may be a bit too mod strictly for the period — but a gradually-radiused top edge would sure do it.

Have an area for speaker holes if wanted (maybe in stock spot?), with an optional swiveling speaker base/mount to angle the speakers, and an option for hole cutting @ maybe $10-15/hole… and that fits retro, retromod, well-restored, customizable, and usability all at once.

But as I recall, the OP is doing these as molded pieces (“fully-formed and shaped,” are these formed from plastic sheets, or covered, or…???).

Maybe there’d still be options for this ^ look if so… fire extinguisher mount option?

Per the OP, I wouldn’t want armrests. I find those a dangerous way to drive (not so much using the factory flip-downs, but even then…). Same with cup holders, regardless of popularity, personally we use wide-mouth Yeti cups on the floor between the seats. But regardless, we don’t want liquids hanging on our doors.

But design by proxy may still prove to suck for our OP.

Hope this gets more opinions!
_________________
If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?”

[Tristar Eric]

Great feedback!

It's hard to please everyone I know. This process is in the design phase for a reason, we want to get it right. For me personally a new door panel needs to check a few boxes. Does it look good?, does it fit the period without looking like something else?, does it cure some of the problems that factory door panels lack?.

Here's a few more pics of the direction...

_________________
Vanagon/Transporter flares here: www.terrawagen.com
[email protected]

[16CVs]

Is there enough area on top of the speaker that you could mount your power window switches using the stock bezel?
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[E1]

Looks better…

Right now being all jacked up on coffee and staring at snowy alps, I got to pondering distance from seat side to cubby area… how to maximize space with someone sitting in the seat(s) and knowing available space for a “non-square or flat” cubby design — fitting both a 110 lb. person or 250, forward seat position and all the way back.

Race seat foam… it’s used to fit drivers perfectly… four Hefty bags needed total, two sitters at the two weights, seated both fore and aft… add catalyst, close door, foam expands to fill everything between seat and maybe a flat, Masonite, dummy door panel for the process.

The foam isn’t cheap, but there’s one way to find max size.

What you’d end up with is “plugs” to measure and determine all touch points on a “non-flat” custom-contoured cubby, then back away the cubbies’ closest point maybe a half-inch.

I truly believe there’s no such thing as “too much storage space,” we use stock ones both left and right — and they’re *packed*.

For a flat cubby, of course much easier is just measuring the minimum distance from seat to flat-faced cubby, which I’m sure you did, but it’s still critical to know how much stock seats deflect *per body weights*.

>>> For thoughts of separated “boxed” areas in the cubbies, or just a sample of general uses in one case, or more than likely, utterly-useless drivel…

Left Cubby, from rear:
— Battery load tester
— Multimeter
— Rear: Antique rectangular can: small scissors, jewelers drivers
— Front: Digital tire gauge, tape measure
— Rear: Matched can: Sharpies, pens, small screwdriver
— Front: Leatherman

Right cubby, from rear:
— Eyeglass cleaning kit in Ziploc
— Bug juice in Ziploc
— Three eyeglass cases
— Two Element E100 extinguishers
— Sharpies, pens, markers, crayon to mark tire flips/rotations

There is nothing in the cubbies we don’t regularly use (EDIT: Except the extinguishers! ). I love cubby storage, partly as I’d rather convert the glove box into a humidor.

Keep developing, and still hope that many more throw down here. Many to most are afraid of “offending” in creative cases, which they shouldn’t be with a pro-run deal. So personally (for my own stuff at least), I always encourage honest input as success can depend on it.

The greatest things rarely come from just one head.
_________________
If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans
The caveman’s first question to the headhunter: “Hey, you got any coffee?”

[Tristar Eric]

[dobryan]

I like what you asre doing.

All my buses have seats with armrests so armrests on the door would just be a hindrance. FWIW.
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

[16CVs]

Give it a more modern feel. Possibly keeping them out of the way of the windows. Would need to check on wire length to ensure it would reach.

The down side would be spilling into the switches. But modern cars have that and it seems to work.

I would keep the mirror control in place as that is rarely used.
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.