Looking to reproduce Dino Door Pockets

Ok, Rob and Shawn. Observations accepted. I apologize: the phrase 'the original pockets were without any metal strip' is wrong, even if I found some images of M series with pockets without strips (first 2 pics attached, for example).

Some weeks ago, while visiting my 230 SL 1964 in phase of restoration in the body workshop, I saw a 500 L , subject of a very extensive restoration. I saw its new pockets about which we discuss and brought that to home to see if they could fit on my car too (my ones are 45 years old). I did not find differences in the measures, the shape, the threaded pins and their position and many other details. Today I returned to get the 3rd and 4th pics, to show to you.
If a difference can be found it's on the smoothness of the lower surface and on the color: it can be defined a dark, very very dark gray and not a black like my door pockets.

Now allow to me a short O.T. :
you have no idea how rich can be a town of 70.000 inhabitants in which everyone is involved in shoes production. Vigevano was a worldwide known shoes and shoes machinery center. And so in my town you could find: 2 250 GTLusso, 1 Daytona, 1 275 GTB, 2 250 spider California (1 was sold for 800 Euro!!!) and 3 Dino/M and 1 /E (My Rosso Dino, 1 White, 1 Light blue, 1 Brown).
About the Dinos, I knew personaly all the owners: the White Dino was one of the first/M and the blue one had VIN near to my 01944 (I remember something like 017xx ). We often met together and we exchanged impressions on our cars. One of the reasons of the discussions was the presence of many Fiat details and the very poor appearance of the pockets, on their cars without the metal strips so as in my car. About the brown/E one I don't remember that detail.

So the phrase that 'my car came without any metal strip on the door pockets and so other Dino I saw at that time' is correct, I think.

At last, I examined the pockets on my car and I didn't find any sign of nails or something like that. But I will ask to my mechanic in Milan about this and will report to you. He was a chief in via Fioravanti, at Crepaldi.
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If you want to see if these are to your liking

TASCA PORTAOGGETTI PANNELLO PORTA FIAT 500 L - ALTA QUALITA' - Vendita ricambi per l'utilitaria FIAT 500

These are the ones of the previous picture. The part over the groove seems flat , but it's no so

 

I've bought a pair of those for a restoration project. They are really perfect if you have no originals, no other repro could do better in my mind.
The only problem is to reproduce the metal stripe.
If one is able to maufacture it, all of you will have a perfect solution and there is no need to wait any longer.

 

The top part above the metal band on my originals is ribbed where the readily available ones look smooth.

 

I post a better picture of the pocket arrived from 'Passione 500' . As you can see it's ribbed .
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As I said before, it's near perfection.

 

I agree, looks very good!

 

If the available pockets from Passione.it are indeed exactly like the ones in the photo then I too would agree that (with the exception of the metal trim) they are an excellent substitute for the original ones. The reproduction Fiat 500 pockets I spoke of in my earlier post did not look like the ones posted by Flavio which explains why I thought them to be a cheap substitute for what is correct.

What I will say is that the production of these better pockets must be a somewhat more recent development as previously I looked and looked at Fiat 500 suppliers including passione.it (whom I was familiar with from my Fiat 500 restoration days) with no luck. That said the pocket style without the ribs as shown in their website image is also a variation I had not previously seen. I give that information as a warning because from my experience the Fiat parts suppliers are not big on these details so the supply of these now 'correct' pockets may not be stable. For 20 Euro a pocket it is most worthwhile to stock up while they are available because the next batch may be different.

 

I checked on buying some of the door pockets and the shipping for 4 pockets was 130 euros. Asked my Stratos buddy who lives in Switzerland if they could ship to him. As luck would have it he was in Torino about four miles from the shop so he stopped in to get them. Unfortunately all of them were marred with scratches, save one, so he bought it for me. He thought they must have been packaged poorly for shipping hence the scratches. Worth mentioning if you plan on ordering any.

 

Maybe the scratches are due to poor plastic quality...?

 

I think the plastic is OK.

 

Drat, I ordered 1 a couple of days ago, to compare to the one I'm using to make the mold. Suspect it'll be scratched(sigh).

 

Verell,

I sent you the NOS door pocket I bought from Dennis McCann probably 20 years ago for this project so it should be correct. As I remember it was perfect.

 

???



I read only now

 

It may also be worth pointing out that this supplier also stocks the correct clips for holding the door cards in place on a Dino.

Large metal clips for the lower edge of the door card (2 required per door card) -

MOLLETTA LUNGA IN FERRO FISSAGGIO PANNELLI ANT e POST FIAT 500 N D GIARD - Vendita ricambi per l'utilitaria FIAT 500

Small retaining clips that fit into the rear of the door card (5 required per door card) -
MOLLETTA 90 ° IN FERRO FISSAGGIO PANNELLI ANT e POST FIAT 500 N D GIARD - Vendita ricambi per l'utilitaria FIAT 500

Note: The clips above require little white plastic receiving cups which are fitted into the inner door frame to allow the clips to pop into. These can be found at various Alfa Romeo specialists e.g. IN079 SPIDER DOOR TRIM PANEL CLIP RECEIVER - Classic Alfa

They also stock the Weber carb key for the tool kit -
CHIAVE DOPPIA A TUBO 8/10 PER SCATOLA PORTA ATTREZZI FIAT 500 - Vendita ricambi per l'utilitaria FIAT 500

Here are some photos of a door panel to show where the various retaining clips should be fitted.
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Dumb question...is there a right and left one or is it a universal fit? My Italian is non existent.....been waiting a long time for these and plan to buy a pair. Thanks for the help!

 

Are these the item that need replacing over time because the slotted trim screws can no longer `grab' and pull the door panel tight?

 

The receiver cups clip into holes on the inner door frame Ron and the metal clips on the door panel that fit into them do cause them to pull out of shape a bit. Over time they may get brittle and break or may get damage and not replaced if the door cards have been removed at some point. They hold the door card quite firmly in place when new. I don't know why Ferrari didn't use them all around the door card and discard the four screws which look a bit unsightly.

 

Insurance...........

 

Good point Tony. They probably figured one of the three fixing methods might keep the panel in place so best to use a combination

 

Pretty close to perfect, there are a couple of minor molding defects on the bottom, and a few very very light scratches that you have to catch the light at just the right angle to see. Probably couldn't see them if was installed in a Dino.

I ordered the one from Passione.it to see how close it matched your part.

BTW, Just got notice from FedEx, my silicone finally shipped yesterday. Coming from Colorado, should arrive next Friday.

 

Champ, wrote them, but looking at mine (originals), the are the same R & L

If you want, can wait for their reply, but I am 100% certain, and at that price,
we couuld order 4 and share the freight. Let me know, pm, telegram, whatever.
If anyone else wants in, we can order even more.

Regards, Alberto

 

There are lots of people selling those. Just Google TASCA PORTAOGGETTI Fiat 500L. Prices from 8 to 20 Euros. Problem is seeing the detail of the upper ribbing in the pictures.