Method and apparatus for forming a three piece tailor welded door blank

A three-piece tailor welded blank vehicle door structure (40) includes a periphery (46) defined by a bottom portion (48), a pair of opposing side portions (50,52), a top portion (52), and an inclined portion (66). A first thickness gage sheet material portion (90) is disposed generally along the door hinge side of the door structure (40). A second thicker gage sheet material portion (94) is disposed generally along the door latch side of the door structure (40). A thinner gage sheet material portion (92) is disposed between the first and second thickness gage sheet material portions (90,94), whereby the overall weight of the vehicle door is reduced.