[chief pontiac wizard]

Hello,
Has anyone had any experiences with SMS Interiors located in WA?
CPW

[64catdroptop]

Their work is exquisite, but they're slower than molassis in the winter time due to high demand for their services. They're not cheap either, but for a correct interior for a full size, you really don't have much of another choice

I've used them for years and have never had a complaint, but you need to plan ahead. Door panels take about 6-8 months

[Deadhead]

With SMS Prepare for a lot of BS and aggravation. Be the squeaky wheel. In a lot of cases there is really no alternative for correct material.

Harry Samuels will sell you an entire Pkg. if he has what you need. That would likely be a better choice, but no telling if he has what you are after or not. Worth a check though.

[real61ss]

I would recommend Mr. Samuals, he won't have the stuff in stock but he will put it together for you. He did the interior for my '61 Ventura for me and I received the complete interior in less than 3 months. I fought with SMS for 6 months over the interior for my '62 and the then the door panels didn't fit. I found Harry Samuals to be a no BS straight shooting guy.

[Stuart]

I've used both SMS and Harry Samuel, and agree with the opinions above. If you are just looking for vinyl or fabric by the yard, SMS can respond pretty quickly but if you're buying readymade door panels be patient.

http://www.smsautofabrics.com/
http://www.autointeriorsbyharrysamuel.com/

[61-63]

What everyone else has said. SMS sent me the seat cover materials including the embossed seat back panels within a month but the door panels took six I think it was.
Also if you decide to use them and want the rails (upper steel part of the door panels) to be pristine then you do it yourself before you send it to them because they do not clean the rust off of the inner surface or at least did not on mine. And then you may want to tell them to omit the pins that go along the front and rear edges of the door panels and instead use velcro when you install them. Ed Giolma had told me they never get the pins right - I don't know if they would have on mine or not but I told them to omit them and did the velcro thing, and you can't tell by looking exactly what is holding the panels on.

[61 389-348]

I would highly recommend sticking with Harry Samuel if you can. SMS has been a pain the few times I've used them.

[Ragtop Man]

SMS had my door panels for almost 9 months, until I called them and asked if they had recieved them(!)

The rep expressed genuine horror at the wait, and put them at the head of the line.

Got them back in about three weeks from that call, and they are spectacular, as good or better than new.

Ditto on the yardage, that came right away, or close to it.

Harry is right around the corner, literally, from my house. Nice guy. Knows his stuff, too.

Two good choices. Just be prepared to wait with SMS, but they are the best game in town for door panels, no question.

[chief pontiac wizard]

Thanks for all the responses.
They have had my door panels since Jan....will not give me a ship date
I did bead blast and paint upper steel rails before I shipped them to SMS.
Also,
Some vinyl had spots (I'm doing two cars 61 Station Wagon / 63 Cat 2 door)
And the welt cord was spliced together.
Not very good quality in my and my long time upholsters' opinion.
But, like you said....not to many choices.
CPW

[real61ss]

Check the door panels as soon as you get them to see if they fit. My '62 panels didn't come close to fitting and none of the nails were in the correct place

[Ziggy]

For my 63 Catalina, I sourced from both SMS and Harry. From SMS, I only bought the door skins and mounted them on new boards myself. It took only about 1-1/2 months to get new skins, embossed seat panels and material yardage from SMS. For carpeting, Harry has developed and gave instructions to his carpet suppliers for the best hump mold pattern, if you have a center console - bar none. Ask Harry to leave the carpet edges uncut and long. It will allow you to have extra material all around - and, then you can trim the carpet to get a great fit and tuck enough under where you have to. Just my 2 cents.

[lilabner]

Harry supplied me with the interior for my 61 vert. I sent the dash off to Just Dashes to have that done. The conversation with someone there turned to my door panels. He asked how I liked them. I think they were done by Just Dashes..He seemed to know everything about them. You might inquire about door panels from them.

[justaguy]

Is Harry still doing interiors? I have heard that he was going to give it up and retire.

[66 Wagon]

Originally Posted by Ziggy

From SMS, I only bought the door skins and mounted them on new boards myself.

May I ask how much you payed for the door skins?
I want to compare prices to a manufacturer here in Sweden who makes door skins for Pontiacs.

[chief pontiac wizard]

66 Wagon
I ordered two sets.... 4 pieces each vehicle:
(1) for 1961 Cat Safari 6 Pass Station Wagon (Tri-Power / 4 Speed / 8 Lugs
( 1) for 1963 Cat 2 Door Sedan (421 Tri-Power / 4 speed / 8 Lugs
Because I ordered two sets of vinyl / cloth / door panels the cost for one
set of 4 panels was $750.00 USD
CPW

[66 Wagon]

Originally Posted by chief pontiac wizard

66 Wagon
I ordered two sets.... 4 pieces each vehicle:
(1) for 1961 Cat Safari 6 Pass Station Wagon (Tri-Power / 4 Speed / 8 Lugs
( 1) for 1963 Cat 2 Door Sedan (421 Tri-Power / 4 speed / 8 Lugs
Because I ordered two sets of vinyl / cloth / door panels the cost for one
set of 4 panels was $750.00 USD
CPW

Thank you! Then it's about the same for the Swedish doorskins if you include the shipping.