MK1 Paint/Styling opinions wanted

[sirocco@telocity.com (Randy B)]

Ken,
The one thing I have found with my numerous Mk1's is that the upper crease 
line (just below the door handle) is the most vunerable part of the body 
for door dings.
The bottom moulding does very little to prevent dings (most doors will hit 
you up higher).
If you really want to save the body, put a small adhesive type moulding 
(most paint supply or body shops have this) on the crease line below the 
door handle and nothing on the bottom crease line (I hope that makes sense).

Cosmos has her original factory "S" mouldings on the lower crease line and 
has a few door dings on the upper crease on both sides.
My earlier cosmos 81S (SCIROKN for those that remember) had dozens of dings 
on the upper crease.
My very first 81S (Cirrus) came from the dealer with an extra moulding 
strip on the crease just below the door handles along with the stock "S" 
moulding lower down and had a perfect body with 0, zip, nada door dings on 
the original body/paint.
Mars also came (from the dealer) with this extra moulding strip and after 
21yrs she also has no door dings on the original body/paint.

If you want to protect the body do it on the upper crease.

HTH,

Randy

At 07:17 AM 5/22/2002 -0600, you wrote:
>I am planing on having a high quality paint jon on my '79 this
>spring/summer, Dark Metallic Red.  How do you list folks deal with the
>paranoia of car door dings and such after something like that. This will be
>a daily driver.  I like the "clean, lean and mean look" ala "Vomit Comet"
>and will not be keeping the 1" wide molding down low but, am debating about
>a ding guard strip at the body corner that runs just below the door handle.
>I have the black aprox 5/8" rubber trangle (X-Section) shaped strip that
>came off the stock 16v parts car and am considering using this.  It looks
>like Randy's "Mars" has this.  I realize this is my own thing, just bouncing
>it off others who might have a  "...I wish I would have..."  story
>
>Ken
>'79 Scirocco 16v project "McFly"
>'86 16v (parts car)
>VORTEX:  "Indiana Red"
>
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