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Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 17 Jan 2012, 13:16
by mpl_gr
Hi, as the title says really. I'm replacing all four wheel arches and both cab steps on my van and was wondering if anyone could suggest a good supplier of replacement panels? I have already done the o/a outer sill and b piller with schofields panels which seemed good but wondered if there was anywhere better.
Cheers

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 17 Jan 2012, 13:43
by kevtherev
Unless you can get VW panels ...then no

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 17 Jan 2012, 15:20
by faggie
myself i would only ever fit genuine vw panels but some of the panels i have fitted to customers vans where better from jk than schofields the arches and front steps where terrible quality and needed a lot of fettling to make them fit , i would pay the extra and fit genuine panels

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 18 Jan 2012, 07:30
by mpl_gr
Cheers guys, I will price up vw panels and see how far the budget will stretch.

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 18 Jan 2012, 12:31
by Plasticman
most are out of stock but pm faggie and he may sell you the originals hes collected :lol:
mm

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 19 Jan 2012, 18:24
by Cruz
Virutally all the panels are now obsolete from VW so the only viable option for most people is to go with the ratty repros :cry:

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 19 Jan 2012, 23:52
by Jonnyb416
My van being my first project, I may never see an original panel. Jon.

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 20 Jan 2012, 07:34
by kevtherev
pssst I got one here :D

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 20 Jan 2012, 08:04
by Titus A Duxass
VW Classic parts has a surprising number of panels but not most of the normal rusty bits.

Go to the shop.
http://www.volkswagen-classic-parts.de/shop/

Then select.
/ Bus / LT / T 3 / Karosserie / Außen

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 20 Jan 2012, 09:39
by Cruz
No front wheel arches which will be my problem soon

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 21 Jan 2012, 15:00
by faggie
i have most genuine panels as i stockpiled them years ago sorry but for the time being i am not selling , but if you are willing to scan the internet most panels are still available only recently i picked up a new late model tailgate

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 21 Jan 2012, 18:24
by Plasticman
Nice to source, stash and covet them int it
mm :lol:

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 22 Jan 2012, 16:38
by Cruz
Looked at ebay for 3 years and no new genuine front arches, only rippled repros :cry:

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 24 Jan 2012, 11:27
by waltraud
Surely for the price its got to be worth considering a decent , 'rust free' and yes i know this is relative, item cut off an original metalwork van. Mr Cheese on here (T25 Direct based in London) regularly gets decent panels off vans that are breaking at what i think is a good price, have seen his yard and some of the stuff they are selling and restoring and it seems like a sensibkle way forward (assuming the panels are as advertised.) Having purchased a repro front arch and feeling disspointed with the poor fit, rippled curvature and general paper like quality i decided in the end to keep as much orig metal as poss and only use the few small bits that were rusted badly, keeping mopre of the orig van in tact- must also be better for structural integrity if and when this is possible.

I hope those of you with a stash enjoy the investment but don't get too old before it accumulates to reward you- in whatever way you might enjoy- cash or the pleasure of helping or both. :) :idea

Re: Best place to buy panels?

Posted: 27 Jan 2012, 11:52
by faggie
hi not really collected the original panels as an investment more for if the worst happens to one of my vans i have the parts there already