[Coupe62]

Does anyone make door panels and seat covers for a 1962 Catalina ? All I can find is listings for 62 GP interier.

[Stuckinda60s]

Try a forum search for Harry Samuels.

[lust4speed]

I just talked to Harry last week - this time he's retired for good. I did some begging, but it didn't sway him.

[PITTSBURGH 64]

SMS makes them.. http://www.smsautofabrics.com/

I had my upholsterer make me a set of seats for my 64, they turned out better then I thought they would were going to........

Harry is one cool dude.... I'll never forget my visit to his shop...

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by lust4speed

I just talked to Harry last week - this time he's retired for good. I did some begging, but it didn't sway him.

I wonder if Harry's found someone to take over his business. He had a lot of things done outside (his carpet came from ACC and he had an upholstery shop sew up the seat covers) but he has a warehouse stacked to the rafters with NOS upholstery.

[Engine-Ear]

Coupe62, I had SMS do door panels for my '62 GP and Catalina Safari.

Feedback: They effed-up on the Safari door panels and asserted that it was somehow MY fault (the anchor nails were grossly mis-located, uh yeah, clearly MY fault). The only way they would fix it was if I sent them back and PAID THE FREIGHT (ANOTHER $80)...BTW, when I bent over and received on this one, I asked the manager at the time whether he would reimburse me for this since this was their error. He said Nope. In return, I advised him that I would forever convey my experience with prospective clients of his (in as fair and balanced a manner as I could), and he said "Go ahead". Well, all-rightty, then.

Needless to say, I was (VERY) unhappy with their customer service, and it taught me a very valuable lesson in my own business.

That BS notwithstanding, though, when I received my door panels for the Catalina, FROM A RESTORATION P.O.V., they had a serious error: they were padded/puffy. The main (vertical) panel of a '62 Catalina door panel is NOT padded/puffy, period. They have are vinyl over a two-layer cardboard laminate.

Once again, when I inquired about this, I got the "so what?" treatment. Maybe they have fixed this, maybe not.

Just my $0.03.

So, if nice used originals aren't available and you have $800+ to spend, you can dramatically improve the look of the interior. BUT, all I am typing is: be advised before you go into it.

[wfbarto]

Originally Posted by Engine-Ear

SMS... BTW, when I bent over and received on this one, I asked the manager at the time whether he would reimburse me for this since this was their error. He said Nope....
Needless to say, I was (VERY) unhappy with their customer service....

Matt....I had an issue with my recent order with SMS too....I basically was out $80 or so as well and it was their mistake, not mine.....they gave me the runaround and I said goodbye...and just chalked it up....their customer service sucks like a Hoover vacuum!

[PITTSBURGH 64]

Thanks for the SMS update guys... I'll file them in the BS section now.....

[61-63]

I had SMS do my '62 Catalina door panels and supply the fabric and vinyl for the seat covers. The door panels are perfect and the fabric and vinyl are a dead on match to the originals although I expected them to be since they sent me samples to compare to the samples in the '62 Colors and Fabrics" book that I have before I ordered. I instructed them to not install the pins on the front and rear edges of the door panels at the suggestion of a friend who has done a number of early 60s Pontiacs. He said they never get them right. As he does I am going to use velcro strips and unless someone opens my door and grabs the front or rear edge of the door panel and yanks on it you will never be able to tell that velcro is what is holding those edges on. I have seen a number of my friends cars and you cannot tell that velcro was used.

The only complaint I have with SMS is that they are slow and they will tell you three months and it turns out to be seven months, and they don't seem to care much. Their attitude toward their customers leaves something to be desired but their work in my experience is outstanding.

I also had SMS make up the vertical strips with the arrowhead for the Ventura style seats in my '63 and although they are only four strips with a silver arrowhead embossed onto each strip the quality is excellent.

SMS' attitude would have to improve if they had some competition but for reproduction interior items on many of the old cars other than Chevrolet and mid-60s muscle care they do not have any competition.

[TomCat1960]

Do the GP door panels fit the 62 Catalina 2dr sedan?

[TomCat1960]

Originally Posted by Coupe62

Does anyone make door panels and seat covers for a 1962 Catalina ? All I can find is listings for 62 GP interier.

Im looking for the same. Have you found anything? I'm thinking about using Chevy Biscayne stuff if I can't find the Catalina replacements.

[tom s]

The first thing about SMS is they lie!Great quality but the lie.Tom

[TomSpo04]

I'm guessing that the answer is no. I need the full set if door panels for my 62 sedan. I'm thinking about using 62 Chevy Buscayne stuff.

[tom s]

SMS is really the only choice for a non GP 62.As I have posted there quality is superb but they will lie on when they would be done.Tom

[TomSpo04]

Originally Posted by tom s

SMS is really the only choice for a non GP 62.As I have posted there quality is superb but they will lie on when they would be done.Tom

Thanks, Tom. My car's not going to be a purest Catalina, so I'll probably use the Chevy door panels. The don't have any emblems, so it shouldn't be too bad.

Tom