Topic: Standard Door Chrome Trim

[dkknab]

I lost some points at the MCA show this past weekend because I do not have the chrome door trim on my standard doors. Best I can tell from unrestored car pictures on a 68 it is the thin trim piece that goes all the way around the outside of the door trim insert. Mine is not chrome; it is plastic looking as is seen in the attached pictures of each door. Can I get the chrome piece that fits over the installed trim? If not could I paint the trim piece chrome or silver colored?

[stangfan]

Yours is what happens over the years when the chrome peels off the trim.   I don't believe there is any fix other than new door panels.  I replaced mine with TMI, which is I believe, the best ones available.

[J_Speegle]

You can reapply the chrome looking outer layer. Very time consuming and it will not be perfect when looked at closely. There is a product modelers use that is a adhesive film they use to cover over plastic parts such as bumpers for cars. Can be purchased in rolls or sheets - or at least it was when I last purchased the stuff. Stuff is very thin and can be molded, within reason to different shapes and curves with a little effort and light/careful warming like the film wrap used for autos.

Like many tasks in a restoration sometimes its worth the effort and time other times it may not be. Depends on you, the project goal and other details

[dkknab]

Thank you for the info.  What about paint? It would seem to me that a thin layer of chrome/silver paint in the groove would be relatively easy.  Does that work?

[J_Speegle]

Thank you for the info.  What about paint? It would seem to me that a thin layer of chrome/silver paint in the groove would be relatively easy.  Does that work?

Paint IMHO will look like paint and not reflective like chrome. The paint that reproduces chrome takes a spray process and multiple layers to achieve the "look"