Door skins suppliers

[Dlorah]

Can anyone with first hand experience recommend a supplier of door skins?
Secondly has anyone had experience of The Radford Panel Company (Warwick)?

[Stagsongas]

Diorah,

I'll be able to let you know soon....

I bought both skins from Paddocks, choosing the SOCTFL items in the hope that they are twice as good as the stock offerings - because they are twice the price.

Buy cheap, get cheap is one of my guiding maxims and it usually works well.

Regards

Steve

[Dlorah]

Thanks for the response Steve. Trouble is you rarely buy twice unless its a disaster the first time. If you buy less expensive you may spend more in the long run if it's a wrong'un. But if you pay more you will always wonder. I spent the considerable extra money on the SOCTFL inner front wings with the inner flanges and had to cut the flanges off and lap onto the sound old material as the flanges did not fit/match. I was pleased with the fit to the outer wing arch though, after a small incision at 11 o'clock. I'll be interested in how you find the SOCTFL skins.
Regards
Alan

[Stagsongas]

Alan,

I think all panels need fettling and persuasion, mostly because the car changed shape over 40 yrs and we do not have the jigs the factory used to construct the final assembly.

I good example is that Mini front wings were these are almost impossible to fit up to the bulkhead tops as they were at the factory, and the maker's original was no better in this respect than the pattern parts. Still, with the door skins I was happy to give myself the best chance with the SOC items and support their re-manufacture as this process will become more and more important in the coming years.

Today, how I wish SOCTFL did a repair panel for the bottom of the INNER rear valance, the whole thing is unavailable now and I guess I'll have to make one

I will try and remember to let you know how the skins go, it will be 90% prep. and making the odd tool as usual!

Regards

Steve