MG Midget Door Card - Make Your Own

In this video I show how I made replacement door cards for my 1971 Midget.
There are some great videos showing how to make door cards with other techniques, but I wasn't confident enough in my sewing abilities to give some of them a try.
I think that my method gives a decent quality finish that's similar in design to the originals, but with plastic panels instead of the paper stuff they were made from. The old door cards were warped and cracked from getting damp; something I won't need to worry about with the HDPE I used.
The HDPE sheet can be cut with tin snips very easily. If you have straight cuts to make then use a ruler and score the line deeply twice, then bend it over a straight edge and slice the thin remaining bit. It gives a very nice edge, but is still worth sanding to take off the corners.
The vinyl I bought was stretchy in only one direction. This was ok, but if yours is like this make sure to arrange the stretchy direction to be up and down so that it lays into the grooves (of removed foam) better.
Total time to build was about 10 hours, so if you don't enjoy making stuff just buy new door cards as they are only about $120 for a set, plus shipping. I had to recover my other interior pieces and make some that were missing so it was worth it to me. The entire interior set is pretty expensive.
Good luck with your project!

[@DatL24]

Your channel is a God send, I just saved a very rough '72 Midget from the crusher, and I really appreciate the work you've put into these!

[@midgetmakeover]

Have fun with your project.

[@stephenhenion8304]

This is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing! Glad to see people who like MG's!! They're Great! 🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸

[@jimmckenzie5144]

Excellent job

[@sierrafoxtrotgolf3638]

You are quiet the craftsman!

[@pickering9200]

stunning work

[@midgetmakeover]

Thanks. It’s worth trying to make them as most of us don’t want to buy everything.

[@jackwilliams3343]

Thank you for sharing

[@penguinpeter6912]

Happy new year. Help if possible, my door mirror eont dtay in place, has no tension,the mirror just flops on the actual door stem. Any clues how to tighten it, not the mirror glass the ehole mirror housing. Many thanks

[@Sleepyhollow77]

Great Job! I was just looking to do my panels! Are you going to make a video of wiring the console?

[@midgetmakeover]

I wired the console when I installed the dash many months so unfortunately it's too late to record it. I repaired the factory harness so mine probably doesn't look much like it did from new. The previous owner was a hack who believed that twisted wires with tape was a good way to join wires.

[@andrewpoush9938]

It's been almost 2 years. Have your door cards and seats held up well?

[@midgetmakeover]

Both the door cards and seats are still looking good.

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Excellent. Also curious about your "dye job" on the seats. I have a 63 MGB with biscuit seats and door cards, don't like them; I would prefer black. The cost of replacing the interior is high so temporarily considering dying them. Can you tell me a bit about your efforts.... Materials, techniques and results. Thanks.. from So Oregon.

[@midgetmakeover]

The dye I used was Dupli-Color High Performance Vinyl & Fabric Spray, Flat Black. Prep for me was as follows: 1 - Wash seats well with dish detergent and water. 2 - Rinse with clean water. 3 - Dry with cloth and allow to fully air dry for a few days. 4 - Wipe down with acetone, trying to get into all seams and cracks etc. 5 - Allow to fully dry again. 6 - Spray light coats of dye, not trying for total coverage in the first two coats. My seats were quite weathered so I didn't feel the need to sand them to roughen up the surface as I've seen others mention doing. It only took one can to do both seats, but if you are doing door cards you will need more. One can was just barely enough. So far the seats have about 80 miles of use and are still looking good; much better looking than I expected they would turn out. If I have to touch them up in a few years I really don't care because it's much cheaper than replacing the seat covers if your existing ones aren't ripped. Good luck with your project!

[@penguinpeter6912]

How do you remove the door card please.

[@midgetmakeover]

Remove the lock handle and plate, pull handle, and window crank lever. Then pry under the door card along the sides and bottom until all the clips have released and slide the card out from under the arm rest at the top of the door.