Modern door panels for Vanagon

[Tristar Eric]

Let's say there was a company that makes cool Vanagon /Transporter parts, and let's say that company was interested in making a revised door panel that incorporated some modern amenities. What items would you like to see on a revised door panel? a few that come to mind are:
1. Speaker recess for 6" speaker
2. Cubby, storage bin / area
3. Cup holder
4. Modern entrance light that shines below door when open
5. Arm rest integrated into panel
6. recess for roll up windows

Let me hear what other modern or custom additions you would want to see on a fully formed, shaped door panel.
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Vanagon/Transporter flares here: www.terrawagen.com
[email protected]

[dublife13]

This site is annoying. I typed out a response before logging in, went to submit, and then had to log in; however, my response has disappeared. I'll summarize what I had written.

Wants

-6" speaker spot
-crank window hole
-arm rest at window sill height
-door close handle
-sound-deadened / insulated
-not flimsy abs plastic like the others

Not interested
-cup holder
-lights

Indifferent
-small pocket / cubby

[vanis13]

7. reasonable price (We are not the Sprinter crowd)
_________________
83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace

www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make

[MsTaboo]

[dublife13]

[quote="MsTaboo"]

[Crooked Designer]

Waterproof material.. could be just on the back so you don't need vapor barriers.
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'85 Westy full camper, Subaru 2.5L, 5 speed SubiGears + 5speedbus shifter kit

[a914622]

What is like:

-speaker hole
- cubbyhole
- top bump out the can be an armrest as well as holding a pull out window screen . ( not sure it’s legal on the front windows?? But nice when parked) like modern vans

Indifferent to light's

No on cup holders. No to rear vents
_________________
87 gl powerd buy 2.5subaru
75 914 getting 2.2t subaru scratch that SVX subaru

[Jake59]

I put in these metal door pockets from VanCafe with 5-1/4" speaker cutouts.

Sorry this was the only photo uploaded but you can zoom in and see that I cut additional holes for the tweeter that came with the Rockford Fosgate speakers.

https://vancafe.com/door-pocket-pair-with-speaker-mount/

https://rockfordfosgate.com/products/details/r152-s/
_________________
Curent ride: 87 2WD Westy, 2012 Jetta Sportwagon 2.5S

Past Rides: 62 (23 window) Bus, 64 Ghai convertable, 68 single cab, 72 Super Bettle, 78 Bay window Bus, 84 GTI.

[16CVs]

[metahacker]

a nice appearance with a way to have a real finish - not just urethane/ABS.

an area that can be optionally upholstered e.g. in seat fabric, would be nice

something that looks like it could have possibly came stock would be nice, although some may want the "tactical" (e.g. blacked out, textured, CNC, industrial/military, whatever) sort of look too, im sure.

the obvious bits are what everyone universally wants - generous pockets (perhaps with a divider to make pencils/pens not get lost), cupholder, speaker accommodation ..
many also enjoy elasticated net/ "molly" style stuff

good ergonomics with regards to arm rest integration (some people may not care as that's handled by the seats) ..

door pulls ...

again, it should do all that and not look like a big ugly utility obsessed POS that has no even the least some modicum of respecting the original VW/period design philosophy .. :) did i mention it should actually look good? :)


as for more, off the wall, out of the box stuff......

an optional easily reversable external power window motor that simply goes over the window crank shaft splines, like the old hitachi kits :)

also some perfectly matched umbrellas and inserts to hold them inside the opening in the door everyone jams them into would be a nice accessory too :)

people are already doing it...might as well make it as nice as a rolls royce ;-)

[Tristar Eric]

Here's a few renders so you can see the direction we're heading:

Nothing in stone yet, but we really like the idea of a cloth insert. Looks like there will be 2 versions, one for roll up windows and the other for power.

We really need to talk about speakers though. Is a 6" even what folks want? maybe a tweeter next to it?

Version 1

Version 2

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

[E1]

Honest input…

Looks great, design-wise… but waaay too modern-looking for vans averaging forty years old. Maybe offer a second, stock-appearing style like Metahacker suggested?

On a Tesla or other new car, they’d fit right in.

On a classic car, originality fits a broader market — as history has long proven by nearly all classic car aftermarket part sellers. Your second design fits the simplicity and era of VW design much better.

Know, too that in public formats like this, people tend to only comment if they love it. Those who don’t tend to say nothing, and that skews if not invalidates the entire process — to the presenter’s disadvantage in finding actual mass approval or disapproval.

Will add that the lower a speaker is, the less it’s heard. Perhaps angling it up towards the driver and passengers would avert some of this.
_________________
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?”

[Xevin]

[16CVs]

Maybe dump the vent at the back of door. 88 and newer they are blocked off and I’ve never seen anyone move the door anyway!

Someone could cut it out if they wanted it.

Stacy
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1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
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Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
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[MsTaboo]

Not linear enough. The radiuses are too large. Any way to add the pressed indentations similar to stock (and cloth inserts to match seats)?
The speaker/pocket looks ok (ish).

What type of materials do you plan to make the panels out of?

The biggest problem I have with the ABS type panels is the hard surface. A soft padded vinyl type panel will help absorb sound.
The ABS panels remind me of the birch wood panels I used in my Baywindow bus, made the inside of the cabin really loud.

If you're thinking molded plastic it might make more sense to just make the speaker/pocket portion so owners can add to existing door panels.
Similar to what RMW is doing but lighter than the steel they use and closer to what VW used.
https://vancafe.com/door-pocket-pair-with-speaker-mount/
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Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec

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[pointillist]

Not the best picture, but my Doka came with very basic vinyl door cards- no cutouts at all. I added 6” speakers at the bottom, and made a fabric panel (fabric over thin luan) to make the panels match the rest of the van and soften things up a bit. Had to add a spacer for the window crank to clear, and a spacer for the arm rest, but was pretty easy and I’m happy with it. I think adding some sort of fabric insert to the proposed panels would soften the look a lot and make it fit better. You could even just have some sort of insert that people could cover in their own fabric too.

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89 VW Cabriolet
91 VW Doka
Doka Build Notes
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[E1]

I don’t know about Yous Guys (I’m still a Packer fan), but am curious just how many vans even utilize a stereo… probably “most” have a stereo (we don’t yet), meaning, any design that trades valuable storage space for a mandatory speaker area that serves no other purpose may not apply to many potential buyers — and/or those not using a 6” round, but using another size or shape, and/or a tweeter, Yada Yada Yada. Too many potential variations to presume a single 6” round — and designing in commitment of that.

VW’s solution of high speaker placement seems ideal to me, as does having as much storage as possible.

I added a second, stock cubby and use every single inch of both. Invaluable space.

Tristar, as a Creative for fifty years (and five months), I am sympathetic to hearing critiques from the masses. I get it. So hope you don’t mind the candor… but that said, threads like this can be equal parts productive and maddening, and why any creations thrown out there like this is like choosing a logo via a roundtable of viewers.

That almost never works, but hopefully the thread helps you anyway. In this case, the more input the better in finding what the majority wants, but the pitfalls can be deep indeed.

It's always a challenge to blend modern and retro. But it can be done, and I do it all the time in my own work.
_________________
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]

Let's address a couple of things. One is design and the other is manufacturing.

Design. Lending or leaning toward a more factory look is a desirable feature we totally get it. Making panels that feel like they're at home, agreed. At the same time incorporating more modern features and addressing the short comings of the factory.

Manufacturing. Currently the options for door panels are aftermarket flat cnc cut, from a single sheet. Basic, boring, but fills a purpose and affordability.
Option 2 is a factory style replacement made exactly the way they were made originally, chip board, glued on vinyl, pressed accents. although the exact materials are not available but close enough for a stock look.

What we propose is a formed solution, because that's what we do. We have the ability to Thermoform the shape we want, add the details and make a more modern version. With the constraints of manufacturing we can only do so much, but a balance of new and old is where we are heading. It's hard to please everyone, and we accept that, but at the same time we are investing in making products for our hobby cars. Having choices is nice, modernizing is definitely a bonus in an older car. Follow along, we love the comments so far.

Here's a two factory door panels, one is a GL with roll ups, the other a Caravelle Carat with power.

On the topic of cloth inserts: Yes this is our intention, a drop in insert panel that can either accommodate roll up windows or power windows. You wrap it in the choice of materials you want.
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Vanagon/Transporter flares here: www.terrawagen.com
[email protected]

[SCM]

[Rusty84camper]

Here is the sew fine door card I recently installed. It is WAY too thick in certain spots, required some real elbow grease to get it to all clip on and cranks and handles to sit properly. Still working on it. Get lots of compliments in real life about the door cards, some think it's stock.