Club 80-90 Forums

Hello Everyone
I'm a new owner of a 1985 1.9 watercooled T25. I am in the process of starting to re-fit the "auto-home" interior. I am wondering what the best way of transforming the cupboard doors. I am thinking new self adhesive vinyl with new T-Molding. Does anyone have any experience of this work and what the pit-falls are? I am worried about peeling off the original vinyl covering, does it come off ok? Or will I end up scraping tiny pieces off for hours? Is it better to put the new vinyl over the top of the old?
Any info would be great before I start and then realise there could of been an easier way.
Thanks
Mark

I was thinking of doing that with mine when I started working on it, but my vinyl went brittle and would have been a nightmare to strip off. As it wasn't in bad nick, I decided to just re-edge them all with new trim to match the new interior, and in all fairness was pleased with the result that gave.
You would have to sand it off it it won't peel easily and that is not the easiest jobs in the world.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do though - am sure the end result will be good!

The finish on early autohomes is normally good,id leave it,youl devalue it if you stick anything on it.,in my opinion.

Thanks for the replies, it sounds a bit harder than I first thought. dbz864, I'm all for keeping the original look but its all a bit brown at the moment, the original vinyl is a darkish wood effect and just looks a bit drab. Is it important to people to keep the original décor, I mean does it really devalue the van if I change the original décor?

It is your van and do what you want. It is not a split or a bay and never will be. Unless it is a Westie then go crazy i imo.

Just stick new stuff over the top. If someone really wants to live in a 80's colour scheme in the future they can just peel it back off.

I chose a VW vinyl. Nicely textured to be a little different.
I removed the old vinyl as it was peeling off anyway.

original.



recovered

Hi Mark,Like someone said its your van and your money do what you want! Like said sticking vinyl on it is no problem as it can come off.If i see a van for sale(thats what i do for my living) thats been "modernised" i wouldnt bother going to look,as ive yet to see one thats been done correct.Might look great to you,but itl often look toss to someone else.None of this maters if you have no plan on selling(ever)Before i get shouted at,its my opinion and im entilted to it .To the person who said it nots a bay or split it never will be.Correct its a t25.If you were buying a bay,would you buy one with a diy interior or a original westy,before you say westy are very expensive ask yourself why?
What looks classic now will look retro in time.What looks modern now will look funny in time.

Wow! thanks for the photo's! think i'll have a look at VW Vinyls and see if it fits in with my colour scheme. I'll try and post some before and after photo's on here as well so you can all see what a mess I made of it!