71/73 Door Panels

[Deane M.]

What would the difference be between a 1971 saddle colored door panel and a 1973 saddle colored door panel?
Have a 71 car found 73 date stamped door panels. (pretty sure its just the date stamp).
Thanks.

[Paul O.]

Re: 71/73 Door Panels

Deane

If the panel is a true 1973 Dark Saddle it is slightly lighter then a 1971 Dark Saddle. If memory serve me 1970 and 1973 Dark Saddle were of the same shade and 1971 and 1972 were the same.

[Edward J.]

Re: 71/73 Door Panels

Deane, the panels should be the same.just the trim levels might be different. the deluxe panel may have a few extra holes punched.

[Deane M.]

Re: 71/73 Door Panels

Ed, both car and found OE date stamped panels are standard vinyl. As such appear the same. I will however confirm same configuration. Paul, to your point.............the pictures of the found door panels definately look lighter than door panels in the car. Oh well. Let the search continue.
As always, thanks guys. I very much appreciate the responses and information!

[Joe L.]

Re: 71/73 Door Panels

Ed, both car and found OE date stamped panels are standard vinyl. As such appear the same. I will however confirm same configuration. Paul, to your point.............the pictures of the found door panels definately look lighter than door panels in the car. Oh well. Let the search continue.
As always, thanks guys. I very much appreciate the responses and information!

Deanne-----



Be very careful when purchasing door panels, either used or NOS. I have seen original NOS panels come out of the GM box after long storage and the plastic cracked like an eggshell. Most likely this resulted from the boxes being stored in a high temperature environment. The same thing could happen to used panels if the car they were previously installed in had spent a lot of time "baking in the sun". The vinyl plastic that GM used was very high quality and can last a long time but, under certain circumstances, it can last a short time.

[Ron G.]

Re: 71/73 Door Panels

Guy's. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that 71,72, & 73 saddle panels are the same with the exception of the date on the underside. 1970 had 2 shades of saddle. One was very light and the other was a rare very dark almost choclate or are they called it cordavan which was similar to the 68's. One thing to look for is the finish of the venere woodgrain used on the deluxe interiors. 70 - 72 are of one type finish and 74 and up is of another, but there is a difference.

[Michael W.]

Re: 71/73 Door Panels

There were two 'saddles' in '73

415/416 medium saddle
418/422 dark saddle

[Deane M.]

Re: 71/73 Door Panels

The seller calls them "Dark Saddle" They look lighter than what is currently in the car.
Thanks.

[Michael W.]

Re: 71/73 Door Panels

FWIW- the two major repro vendors have different part numbers for '71 and '73 door panels.

[Deane M.]

Re: 71/73 Door Panels

I saw that. It was one of the things that drove me to ask initially.
Thanks.

[Phil W.]

Re: 71/73 Door Panels

I found the same 1973 date stamp on my '71 saddle deluxe door panels. According to a previous owner, the original panels were replaced in the late '70s with GM replacements. The '73 dated replacement panels are lighter saddle than my dash and other original parts. I dyed (painted) the panels with Mid-America '71 dark saddle, I tried some other brands but this was the closest match for my dash, seat covers etc. The dye is more of a "chocolate" color as described above but it's a big improvement on the lighter saddle of 1973 dated panels.

[Deane M.]

Re: 71/73 Door Panels

Thanks Phil.