Classic/Antique Car Repair: Door panel removal on a 61 Caddy, vent window, cadillac deville

Question
How do you remove the door panel on a 1961 Cadillac Deville?  I removed the screws on the bottom, as well as the screws in the door handle, and removed the window crank.  But it seems like something is holding it tight near the front of the door panel closest to the hinge of the door?

Answer
Bruce:

GM typically used push-in clips as well as screws to hold their panels onto the inner door sheet metal. I've not done any '61 Cadillacs, but if you pull the panel away from the door and shine a strong light into the gap, you may see the clips holding on.

They're made of tempered spring sheet metal, and are typically popped out with a tool called a "popper". It looks like a nail puller with a forked blade and a bend in the shaft that allows you to rock it back and forth and pop the fastener out of the hole in the door inner sheet metal without damaging the upholstered panel.

You might also look again for fasteners up near the area of the vent window and dogleg.

--Paul