Drop the Tint on the Repro Windshield?

[Clark K.]

I just thought of a fix to the originality deduction for REPRO tinted windshields on Sting Rays. I was told, by a judge at the Lone Star Regional, that 9 out of the 10 Sting Rays being judged, had obvious reproduction windshields. I asked how a judge can tell and he told me that, as pointed out in the JGs, a judge finds a discrepancy in the height of the tinted portion of the windshield from center to side.

Well, being a scrutineer of rules, I thought that we should just eliminate that "discernable difference" between original and repro tinted windshields. The 1965 JG states that tinted windshields were option #AO2. And, since this option is NOT stamped on the 1965 model trim tag, no one can tell whether you "deleted that option", can they? I own a C-60 (A/C) coupe but there is no requirement for a tinted windshield being part of the A/C package (A/C came with tinted rear window glass). Be aware that if a car has option #AO1 - "Tinted Glass, All Windows", this procedure would NOT fool anyone. In that case, if your car's side glass is tinted, then the windshield would also be tinted.

Can anyone think of a reason for me to order anything but a correctly-date-coded clear windshield from Auto City Classic? -Clark

[Lynn H.]

Re: Drop the Tint on the Repro Windshield?

I thought that all midyear cars with C60 had all of the glass tinted (not that I know anything). I am reading from Noland Adams book The CCR&TG 63-67 VOL-2 PAGE 116:
"Corvettes with air conditioning also had tinted windows" (plural)
With the next sentence being:
"In fact, beginning in 1964 tinted rear windows were installed in all coupes with C60."
All I know is if I was getting my 63 judged with A02 (tinted windshield), I would not be able to benefit by your suggestion as I believe it would be advantageous for me to produce my dealer order copy (which I am lucky enough to have, but also list the A02 option) to verify my N34 steering wheel, and T86 backup lights. I guess I may need to do some more reading, and I am sure someone else will know better than I.

Lynn

[John H.]

Re: Drop the Tint on the Repro Windshield?

I thought that all midyear cars with C60 had all of the glass tinted (not that I know anything). I am reading from Noland Adams book The CCR&TG 63-67 VOL-2 PAGE 116:
"Corvettes with air conditioning also had tinted windows" (plural)Lynn

Lynn -

My Revised/Updated 2nd Edition (1988) says, "In most cases throughout 1963-67 production, Corvettes with air conditioning also had tinted windows".

[Clark K.]

Re: Drop the Tint on the Repro Windshield?

I thought that all midyear cars with C60 had all of the glass tinted (not that I know anything). I am reading from Noland Adams book The CCR&TG 63-67 VOL-2 PAGE 116:
"Corvettes with air conditioning also had tinted windows" (plural)
With the next sentence being: "In fact, beginning in 1964, tinted rear windows were installed in all coupes with C60." Lynn

Lynn, I looked at that page, too. The wording is unclear. It doesn't actually say that A/C cars had tinted windshields as part of the "C60 package". Tinted windshields were an extra cost option (#A02). It DOES state that A/C cars had tinted rear windows, something entirely different. Page 212 (1964) does not address the windshield. Pages 212 & 268 ('65) reinforces the earlier statements: "Coupes with C60 [A/C] came with tinted rear windows as part of C60." Page 269 states: "...tinted windshields and side windows were separate options."

My car has the tinted rear window with the "Air Conditioned" decal affixed, as it should, for a 1965 C60 Coupe. But, this is not the issue at hand.

I have never had my car's original window sticker and have no idea whether my car was built at the factory with a tinted windshield. All I know now is that it has an undated tinted windshield, installed by a former owner, that costs me 10 originality point deductions. Since my ultimate goal is a National Top Flight and a "Duntov", I choose to remedy this situation.

No one can prove that my car was, or was not, originally built with a tinted windshield. There is simply no documentation (tank stickers began for the '67 models). All I can tell you is that current repro tinted windshields take a small hit for the configuration of the tinting. Unless an experienced NCRS 1965 Exterior judge weighs in on this against my idea, it looks like a date-coded untinted windshield is in my car's immediate future ($400+ with gasket). -Clark

[Lynn H.]

Re: Drop the Tint on the Repro Windshield?

Clark,
I too found this to be not perfectly clear, and really just wrote what I was reading at the time. Only to read Johns' post (thanks John), and go back and read it again. I was guilty of taking this quote out of context, and not taking the time to read it all before I lit up the keyboard. I too was reading from the same version John quoted (although I do have a first edition, so I had to go back and see which one I was reading from). I really didn't know, and was hoping someone with more experience would clarify. It was actually more like something I assumed from something I thought I remembered reading, and I know where that usually gets me.
Best of luck with your National "Top Flight and "Duntov", depending on how long that takes maybe I will get the opportunity to see your car here locally in 2011.
Thanks for the reply,
Lynn

[Dino L.]

Shadeband is different than tint

what is being talked about is the blue shadeband and it is being called tinting...in the glass trade, tint means the color of the glass...in midyears that LOF safelty plate was a blue/green tint...the question I have always had has been clear glass is obvious, but did Corvettes come with tint glass and then tint glass with a blue shadeband...I know that tint windshields are available without shadebands as well as clear....but how did the cars come originally....when you ordered AO2 did you always get green tint body glass and a tint winshield with a blue shadeband...or did the shadeband come only on C60? anyone know?

[Dick W.]

Re: Drop the Tint on the Repro Windshield?

If you ordered tinted glass, tinted windshield, back glass, and side glass were included. I believe a knowledgeable judge would take a deduct for absence of tint on the windshield. Seem to remember that if you ordered C-60, tinted glass was a mandantory option, but was not included in the C-60. Had to check another box.

[James W.]

Re: Drop the Tint on the Repro Windshield?

If I was to make a bet; if you have your car judged again at another regional or national meet with the non-tinted windshield you will take a bigger deduct for the non-tinted windshield on a car with a/c and all the other windows tinted.

If it were me, I'd take the small originality deduct for the repro tinted windshield. If the the LOF logo and date coding is correct you shouldn't lose more than 2 or 3 originality points for the incorrect tinting band.
I am currently restoring a '65 Corvette BB convertible with tinted glass, all three windows,comfort and convenience group option and of course no a/c. The windshield was replaced at some point in time with a correct GM service replacement LOF tinted windshield which has the correct LOF logo and shading band at the top of th windshield. Since it is a correrct service replacement but with an incorrect 1969 date code we elected to not replace the windshield since doing so would make it less correct from an originality stand point than it is now with the incorrect date code. I fully expect to take a 1 to 2 point originality deduct for the incorrect date code.

You might want to reference this thread for a little more info on the glass tinting. There are picture of my unrestored 1965 coupe that has a/c with comfort and convenience group & tinted glass and my 1964 convertible with the OEM glass repro tinted windshiend.
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...68951&uid=3741

I'd contact Mike Murrey who is the 1965 Team Leader. He's very knowledgeable and will give you some good advice.


Best Regards,

James West

[Clark K.]

Re: Drop the Tint on the Repro Windshield?

I'd contact Mike Murray who is the 1965 Team Leader. He's very knowledgeable and will give you some good advice. James West

James, I took your advice. I called Mike (left voice mail) and also sent him an e-message:

Mike, I met you at the Lone Star Regional last month. You gave me your card and told me to contact you if I had any questions. Well, I have a question about windshield glass on my '65 coupe. Perhaps you can guide me.

When I use the term "tinted" I am using the term Chevrolet used for a windshield option that had a shaded band at the top of the glass. I have been trying to decide what to do to recover the 10 originality points deduction made on my tinted windshield. The judges notes are: "Service replacement LOF/Tint doesn't fade properly - standard deduction".

Some tell me that I need to keep a tinted windshield since I have C60 (A/C). I tell them that there is nothing either in the 1965 JG or in Noland Adams' book that states that a C60 equipped Corvette HAD to be ordered with a tinted windshield (option #AO2). My car has the required tinted glass rear window which is/was part of the C60 option.

I have considered buying a correctly date-coded reproduction tinted windshield from Auto City Classics. But, I understand that this "tinted" windshield will still take a 3 point originality deduction for the non-typical configuration of the shaded band at the top of the glass. Would a 1965 Coupe owner be better served, deduction wise, to just order a repro non-tinted (no shaded band) windshield in order to get no originality point deductions?

[Wayne M.]

Re: Drop the Tint on the Repro Windshield?

Since we're on the subject of glass, how would this judge ?

Late '65 production, but with a Dec '62 clear vent glass (result of an accident early in its life).

Seriously, the A01 ECL code of AB for a coupe with C60 (versus AA without C60) is to account for the fact that (production-wise) the inventory for tinted rear windows has to adjust. the two remaining original windows are on the passenger door; Soft Ray dated XJ and IJ (Feb and June of 1965).

[James W.]

Re: Drop the Tint on the Repro Windshield?

Since we're on the subject of glass, how would this judge ?

Late '65 production, but with a Dec '62 clear vent glass (result of an accident early in its life).

Seriously, the A01 ECL code of AB for a coupe with C60 (versus AA without C60) is to account for the fact that (production-wise) the inventory for tinted rear windows has to adjust.

Wayne,

I would think that the vent glass would take a 2 point originality deduct for the glass not being tinted to match the others and for the incorrect date code.

Sometime before 1974 when we bought our unrestored '65 coupe it had the drivers side vent window broken out, probably to open the door when the keys got locked in it. The vent window glass was replaced with a tinted vent window that has no logo or date code. I would think it would also lose 2 points for no logo or date code since those two item specifically mentioned in the judging guide. I've been searching for an orginal LOF driver's side vent window with the appropriate date code for a number of years. I may just end up buying a repro.


James West

[Mike M.]

Re: Drop the Tint on the Repro Windshield?

Clark, you have mail.
HaND