Upgrading Door Panels? - Opinions Wanted

[Grego 92]

I had no idea that the 2nd Gen Camry had a factory leather option. I came across one at the junk yard that I think was a 91' - LE V6 with the Sunroof and Leather interior. Since I have the leatherette seat covers in grey, I thought they might match better. What do you guys think from the photos? better, same, or leave the cloth? I'm leaning toward the leather inserts, but haven't fully decided. The bottom part of the doors were the same as mine, both had carpet material, so no leather to grab for that area.

Drivers Side Before:


Driver Side After:


Passenger Side Before:


Passenger Side After:


Rear Right:


Rear Left:


Installation Notes: The inserts have tabs on them that go into holes and then just pressed down to keep it in place. I THOUGHT that's how the the carpet/suede material was inserted on mine and could just swap them out, it is NOT, there are no holes there for the tabs as you will see if/when you remove the door panels. The cloth material must just be glued on there. I thought I would just make some holes for a few of the tabs, but I didn't need to. I just folded the tabs down, placed the inserts right on top of the cloth material.... and the door handle and the window switch (for the rears) hold them just fine. They are rigid and formed so they don't really move at all. I might make one hole in the front panels toward the rear for a tab to go through if they start moving around, but they are fine so far.




The car also had a much higher padded leather arm rest, leather parking brake handle, leather steering wheel, and of course front/rear seats. The steering wheel and seats were too messed up to grab, and the arm rest will need to be re-skinned if I decide to use it. I will put the parking brake handle in when I'm really bored one day or when I ever have to remove the center console.

[Bee-Rad]

You didn't know leather was an option? It's exceedingly rare, I've only seen it once at the junkyard in blue, the seat pattern is similar to a Cressida.

I'd say keep the leather inserts, it compliments the car's interior... it just looks a wee bit monotone.

[Grego 92]

That's the first one I've ever seen. I would suspect they are rare since it would seem most who wanted/afford a full factory leather interior with a sunroof at the time would likely have just gotten a lexus or maybe cressida with leather.

Yeah, the monotone is what makes me question it....but that's how it looked like the one I got it off of.

[Sturdavj]

I vote for leather, it makes your ride the rare

[Grego 92]

Not to bump my own thread, as I've already decided to keep them on.

But, to let anyone who cares know the blue leather interior camry that I think Bee- mentioned is at the main Wilmington yard in L.A. I saw it today and the panels are there and the leather passenger seat, steering wheel, and parking brake handle is in really good shape, I didn't look at the rest though, but I bet the other seats are in good shape also....good luck! If my interior was blue, that thing would've been stripped

[sfjen]

Aloha Greg-

I am still kicking myself because I had found a low mileage 1 owner 1990 V6 LE with all the bells and whistles. It had power everything and leather everything, sunroof and garage kept and only serviced at our local Toyota Service shop. The passenger seat was even power! I wanted to get it for my mother and hope another one comes up. I was second in line and the first person bought it.

Anyhow, I wish I were down by you because I would like those blue leather items you mentioned for the door panels, the steering wheel. So often the vinyl-rubber around the wheels becomes loose over time but I would like one of those blue leather steering wheels. The inserts and even a seat or the armrest.

Good score for you and looks great! By the way, did yo have a lot of difficulty putting in the Lexus wood grain inserts with your original door lock and window switches? Just curious as I just got a pair of them for the front doors.

Mahalo!

Originally Posted by Grego 92

Not to bump my own thread, as I've already decided to keep them on.

But, to let anyone who cares know the blue leather interior camry that I think Bee- mentioned is at the main Wilmington yard in L.A. I saw it today and the panels are there and the leather passenger seat, steering wheel, and parking brake handle is in really good shape, I didn't look at the rest though, but I bet the other seats are in good shape also....good luck! If my interior was blue, that thing would've been stripped

[zhangzheng]

doors now look exactly like a es250

[Grego 92]

Originally Posted by zhangzheng

doors now look exactly like a es250

Not too much, but does give it style....I like them.

sfjen...not totally plug and play. I remember having to cut some plastic with my dremel. I don't remember what I had to trim, but you'll know and see when you do it. I think I used the switch portion from the camry and just the wood plates from the es250, don't exactly remember though.

[Bee-Rad]

The doors to look pretty close to an ES... only differences I can see are the door handle and lock (the ES has the lock button together with the handle) and the lack of a courtesy/puddle light in the door panel... the Camry just has a red reflector on the side.

On the topic of leather seats... I need a new driver's seat to make mine as cherry as can be Dx.

[blu_91_cam]

Originally Posted by Grego 92

Not to bump my own thread, as I've already decided to keep them on.

But, to let anyone who cares know the blue leather interior camry that I think Bee- mentioned is at the main Wilmington yard in L.A. I saw it today and the panels are there and the leather passenger seat, steering wheel, and parking brake handle is in really good shape, I didn't look at the rest though, but I bet the other seats are in good shape also....good luck! If my interior was blue, that thing would've been stripped

Any one in the LA area willing to help me get a hold of this interior? I'm really interested and I have a blue on blue 91 camry and leather would be awesome! I would be willing to compensate anyone for their time and shipping. Grego 92?

Grego the leather looks great! Congrats on the install and thanks for the write up on it.

[Bee-Rad]

I have to tell you, shipping would be extremely expensive. The seats themselves would be $90 and the rest about $20-40 total, but shipping would be very large and heave, most likely exceeding the purchase cost.

[Grego 92]

I think it would take a professional "ebayer" to get and send that stuff for you. I had a heck of a time sending off some dome lights to someone! . I won't even attempt to send anything again it was such a horrible experience .

Hey Bee- isn't the top of your door panels, the area you rest your arm on when your window is down leather?

[Bee-Rad]

I was able to take a look at the Camry today. The leather is remarkably intact, with some cracking on the bolsters of the fronts only. It may need some reconditioning and they were very dusty.

Anyway, no the tops of my door panels are the same vinyl as the Camry.

[blu_91_cam]

Oh I wasn't expecting to get the seats just the door panel inserts, e-brake handle, and center console. Thanks though if anyone else is able to help out I'd appreciate it.

[Doctor J]

Leather seats and door panels can dry and crack under California sun (unless you have a garage. on my Supra I found cloth seats to replace the cracked originals