[PDC]

So, I have decided to replace the now 49 year old upper door panels in my '73 Trans Am with Black Deluxe Interior. I have done this job twice on my previous '73 cars - and I learned from my mistakes (!) - so this should be a pretty easy install. I also installed pre-cut F-Body Dynamat to the doors last week while waiting on my upper door panels from PUI.

Most of the Black Deluxe upper door panels have the locating holes for the soft 'Pull Straps' punched through the vinyl, so you are sort of stuck re-installing the pull straps. However, the panels I just received to not have the locating holes punched through the Vinyl for the pull straps - and I am seriously considering skipping them.

Here's the deal - on 2 of the 3 '73 Trans Ams I have owned, at least one of the mounting screws for the pull straps has gotten wallered' out to the point where the strap would not stay affixed to the door panel.

And as I look at the panels without the pull straps installed, I think they look sleeker and 'cleaner.' And the 'pull cup' in the lower plastic panel is screwed tightly into the metal ledge affixed to the door, so that is by far the most 'solid' place to grab onto to close the door.

I have a pic of Black 'Deluxe' door panels with the locating holes for the pull straps - and then a pic of Red Deluxe door panels with no locating holes for comparison. My new black panels are smooth just like the red ones in the pic.

I also have a couple of pics of 73 - 76 cars with 'Standard' interior and neither car has the pull strap - maybe the strap was exclusive to the Deluxe interior??

So I am about 90% sure I am gonna leave the pull straps off - at least for now. If I decide down the road that I really want them, it might be max 30 minutes to pull the panels and install the straps. But once those holes are punched through the vinyl, there's no going back.

Thoughts on Deluxe Door Panels without the soft 'Pull Strap'???