Has anyone ever seen a 1966 Corvette Trico wiper blade ("flat roof" style with "dull" finish) that was stamped "TRICO" as well as "MADE IN USA"? I have had many sets of these 1966 dull "flat foof" style Trico wiper blades over the years but all were stamped only "TRICO" on each end on the blade. The 1967 Corvette Trico wiper blades are the "peaked roof" (or "V" style) and were stamped only "TRICO" with the later production 1967 blades stamped "TRICO" and "MADE IN USA".
1966 Trico wiper blades
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Re: 1966 Trico wiper blades
Dave - I have seen them and have some. The ones I have are 15" holders. My read is that they were TRICOs Service replacements for all flat topped holders or any 15" wiper blades. They were not OEM on any 1966 GM vehicles that I am aware of. Pete- Top
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Re: 1966 Trico wiper blades
David you have to know when in 1966 your car was built. Late 1966 cars have the same style wiper blade holder as 1967.- Top
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Re: 1966 Trico wiper blades
That does sound somewhat logical but I still have some doubts. The part number for the 1966 Trico blades ("flat roof style") listed in my 1966 Chevrolet parts catalog (Jan. 1966) is 3887568. GM # 3887568 was replaced by 3899508 in December 1966 as per Chevrolet Parts History. I assume the GM 3899508 blade is the "roof peak" style blade used on late 1966 and 1967 models. If the "over the counter" 1966 "flat roof" blades had the "TRICO" and "MADE IN USA" stampings and were discontinued in December 1966 then why did the late 1966/early 1967 "peak roof" blades (issued on late 1966 and 1967 models) just have only the "TRICO" stamping? Maybe when they first started making "peak roof" blades they were not set up to stamp the "MADE IN USA". We probably will never find out the real answer. As far as I know there was only one Trico wiper blade factory and it was in Buffalo, NY.
Dave- Top
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Re: 1966 Trico wiper blades
Dave -
1)The part number for the 1966 Trico blades ("flat roof style") listed in my 1966 Chevrolet parts catalog (Jan. 1966) is 3887568. GM # 3887568 was replaced by 3899508 in December 1966 as per Chevrolet Parts History. I assume the GM 3899508 blade is the "roof peak" style blade used on late 1966 and 1967 models.
COMMENT: I agree that the GM 3899508 blade is the "roof peak" style as I have some and the ones I have are stamped TRICO & MADE IN USA. It is interesting to note that GM sold blades with the later design 15" holders typically of the configuration of most 1968 Chevelle, Corvette, Pass 16" holders with the small flat section at the top and rounded sides under the same part number and the ones I have are stamped TRICO & MADE IN USA.
2) If the "over the counter" 1966 "flat roof" blades had the "TRICO" and "MADE IN USA" stampings and were discontinued in December 1966 then why did the late 1966/early 1967 "peak roof" blades (issued on late 1966 and 1967 models) just have only the "TRICO" stamping?
COMMENT: The only 1966 "flat roof" blades I have seen have been in TRICO or ATLAS boxed and these boxes had no packaging dates and I have never seen NOS 1966 GM # 3887568 wiper blades so I do not know what was stamped on these blade holders.
3)Maybe when they first started making "peak roof" blades they were not set up to stamp the "MADE IN USA". We probably will never find out the real answer.
COMMENT: This is as good an argument as any because the best information I have is that the MADE IN USA was not added to the "peak roof" blade holders until early in calendar year 1967 and these holders were introduced in March/April 1966 on GM vehicles. TRICO holders are always a good discussion topic and you're right we'll probably never find out the real answer. OEM ANCOs are so boring. The configuration stayed the same and only the finish changed from the bright polished finish in 1965 to the brushed finish in 1966 and 1967.
Pete
Pete- Top
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Re: 1966 Trico wiper blades
There are more people out there with low mileage cars and flat satin Trico made in USA.
Is this definitive, that this is a service part?
If yes as has long been thought, why would it not be the peaked 67 version or the 68 part? Or is the flat satin Trico made in USA "the" 68 part?- Top
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Re: 1966 Trico wiper blades
Dave- Top
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Re: 1966 Trico wiper blades
Are your 1966 Trico "flat roof" holders (stamped "TRICO" & "MADE IN USA") the original ones that came with the car? My 1966 Corvette (Feb. 1966) that I bought in 1979 came with the 15" ANCO blades (GM # 3888296) as shown in Noland Adams 63-67 restoration book (page 322). I have always ASSUMED that they were original equipment but things can certainly change on a car in just 13 years. The 3888296 ANCO blades have always been very hard to find over the past 30 years, even used ones. I once owned a pair of NOS 3888296 wiper blades in GM boxes but sold them in 1991 during the recession.
Dave
The "Trico" "Made In USA" holders were on my car when I bought it in 2001. At that time, the car had 25,114 miles on it and it had not been played with much at all. I confirmed the accuracy of the mileage with the first owner.
Can I say that these holders were on the car when sold new? Of course not. However, given what I know of the car, I'm inclined to think so.
Henry- Top
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Re: 1966 Trico wiper blades
Henry,
Likewise I have a low mileage car that things did not get changed on unless it broke and I have the same set Trico Made in USA. Three ribs, etc.
We need to find a Trico engineer from that time.- Top
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Re: 1966 Trico wiper blades
It's possible that the "TRICO" - "MADE IN USA" flat roof wiper blades were used on the 1966 assembly line just prior to switching over to the "roof peak" (or "V") type wiper blades on the late production models. I have no idea when this change occurred.
Henry,
Do the rubber inserts have the "3 ribs" (or grooves)? I guess the rubber inserts would still be intact from 1966 to 2001 with only 25,114 miles on the car.
Ron,
Henry,
What are the production dates of your low mileage 1966 Corvettes?
Dave- Top
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Re: 1966 Trico wiper blades
It's possible that the "TRICO" - "MADE IN USA" flat roof wiper blades were used on the 1966 assembly line just prior to switching over to the "roof peak" (or "V") type wiper blades on the late production models. I have no idea when this change occurred.
Henry,
Do the rubber inserts have the "3 ribs" (or grooves)? I guess the rubber inserts would still be intact from 1966 to 2001 with only 25,114 miles on the car.
Ron,
Henry,
What are the production dates of your low mileage 1966 Corvettes?
Dave
The three-ribbed inserts (blades) were not with the flat roof holders. This did not alarm me, as in the day, it was common practice to replace inserts rather than replace complete holder/insert assemblies.
The body build date of my 66 is April 19, 1966.
Henry- Top
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