Door edge guards-to install or not to install

[dplotkin]

Coming down the home stretch on the 56-60. Fresh paint, new chrome. Do I omit the door edge guards or not?

Dan

[quadfins]

The original dor-guards were on my '61 when I bought it. They had 36 years worth of dents & dings. When I repainted the car, the paint job was too nice to insult with old, crummy dor-guards. They are the only factory option that the car no longer has.

Jim

[Walter Youshock]

Leave them off.  They seem to break the smooth lines of the overall design.  If you ever try to take them off, you'll be repainting the door edges.

[gary griffin]

I suggest leaving them off also.  Were they an original feature or an option or added on?  It will look better for sure withiut them and when I see door edge guards it reminds me that someone is more interested in preserving his paint job than he is interested in perserving mine.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

As someone who's actively pursuing a pair of door guards for my car, I prefer having them obviously. To me they complete the car- especially a coupe. However on certain 4 door models, they may add a bit too much clutter and can see why some may opt not to install them on sedans.

[62droptop]

i dont have them ,but i have the stick on chrome edge trim and it has protected my door paint many a time
i also agree they do look better on a coupe than a sedan
if you do install them, make sure the new paint is not any thicker than original otherwise you may chip the paint

[jagbuxx #12944]

I left them off of both my '61 and '76 once they were refinished. I did not want to mar the fresh paint.
Funny how back in '76 when I was prepping these cars new I thought nothing of whacking them onto the car with a rubber mallet......

[Caddy Wizard]

Dan,


I left the guards off the doors on my 56 Fleetwood after the repaint and I think it looks better for it.  The guards clutter up the look and break up the lovely long sides of the car.  With slick paint, it is a shame to interrupt that mile of glossy paint....


Art G

[Walter Youshock]

If you notice the original sales literature, especially the mailers with photos or even vintage ads, none of the cars had Dor-Gards on them.  My '57 was supposed to have them but they were never installed at the dealership.  Once you put them on, you're committed to them.

[D.Yaros]

I bought a set for my '55 CDV, and after giving it some thought, elected not to install them because, as others have pointed out, they do detract from the lines of the car.  But, to each his own.

[dplotkin]

Ok then, decision made. No guards. Ican always do them later. but as one of you pointed out, once on it is a committment.
Thanks for the honest opinions.

Dan

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I have the Door Guards on my '72 Eldo, and when I repaint the car, they will be going back on.

The trouble with the long doors of the Coupes and Convertables, they do open a long way, they are heavy, and passengers are never as careful as the owner/driver.

Bruce.