68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

[Tom K.]

Are these on all the 68-72 T-top cars. I am being told that the 70-72 cars do not have these. So is 68-69 or 68-72. Thanks for the advice

[Terry M.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

Are these on all the 68-72 T-top cars. I am being told that the 70-72 cars do not have these. So is 68-69 or 68-72. Thanks for the advice

If they are what I think they are -- an interior color trim piece -- I have them on my 1970.

[Tom K.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

correct they are painted interior color. go into the panel with 1 or 2 screws. for the latch handle to close against

[Terry M.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

Yep that's them. My January 29 1970 has them. Now all you need is some 1971 or 1972 coupe owners to chime in. Me thinks you were given some bum information.

[Alan S.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

Hi Tom,
The panels don't have a bezel on my 71, mid-January build.
I guess the bezels may have hidden some of the bidcage green that can be seen without them.
Regards,
alan

[Richard M.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

I noticed at the National when OJ'ing 68-72 coupe interiors, some latch handles were rectangular, some were "Whale-tails"(like the pictures above). When did they change?

Rich

[Joe L.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

Are these on all the 68-72 T-top cars. I am being told that the 70-72 cars do not have these. So is 68-69 or 68-72. Thanks for the advice

Tom-----

The trim covers for the locks were used from 1968 to early 1970. They were deleted sometime in mid 1970 PRODUCTION and not used for the rest of 1970 through 1972.

The 1968-E1969 covers (and lock) were different from the late 1969 to mid 1970. Just how they were different I do not know. However, neither set ever replaced the other for SERVICE so I presume they are not interchangeable. Here are the original GM part numbers:

1968-E69 LOCK-------------GM #3930329
1968-E69 COVER, LH-------GM #3935641
1968-E69 COVER, RH-------GM #3935642

L1969-1972 LOCK-----------GM #3963103
L1969-E1970 COVER, LH----GM #3963101
L1969-E1970 COVER, RH----GM #3963102

All of the above are GM-discontinued

[Joe L.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

I noticed at the National when OJ'ing 68-72 coupe interiors, some latch handles were rectangular, some were "Whale-tails"(like the pictures above). When did they change?

Rich

Rich-----

I would guess that the change was between 1968-E69 and L1969-72. There were different part numbers for the locks in these year ranges.

[Terry M.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

Folks have posted elsewhere on this board about how all the people make NCRS so great -- and that is true.

BUT there is another joy of this organization. I have owned the 1970 for 40 years and six months and I am still learning things about it thanks to NCRS, this board, and the question Tom asked.

When Alan posted the pictures of his rear window latches I had the sinking feeling that my memory may have failed me again, so I went to the garage to check. See the pictures below.

Then I thought about the AIM and what do you know -- the 1970 AIM on UPC 1 sheet F19 revision block shows notes 3 & 4 for the removal of the bezel and screw on 2-3-70. Now all we have to do is find some February built 1970 coupes to see when the bezel was removed in PRODUCTION.

Thanks guys you made my day.

[Joe L.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

Folks have posted elsewhere on this board about how all the people make NCRS so great -- and that is true.

BUT there is another joy of this organization. I have owned the 1970 for 40 years and six months and I am still learning things about it thanks to NCRS, this board, and the question Tom asked.

When Alan posted the pictures of his rear window latches I had the sinking feeling that my memory may have failed me again, so I went to the garage to check. See the pictures below.

Then I thought about the AIM and what do you know -- the 1970 AIM on UPC 1 sheet F19 revision block shows notes 3 & 4 for the removal of the bezel and screw on 2-3-70. Now all we have to do is find some February built 1970 coupes to see when the bezel was removed in PRODUCTION.

Thanks guys you made my day.

Terry-----


I would suspect that the removal of the covers (bezels) would have occurred well after the date in the AIM----probably at least a couple of months.

The thing I cannot understand is why they were deleted. It would seem to me that they were an appropriate trim piece and, without them, the installation appears "unfinished" and with the potential for excessive hand-caused wear on the soft trim. Obviously, cost may have been at the root of it, but I just don't see these pieces causing much cost.

[Warren F.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

The halo roof panels are different for 1970, 1971 & 1972. All three years use a different set-up.

[Jim T.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

My original owner 1970 coupe built July 8th and purchased in August 1970 has the bezels. They are retained by two phillips head type screws. And I drove it today.

[Terry M.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

Terry-----


I would suspect that the removal of the covers (bezels) would have occurred well after the date in the AIM----probably at least a couple of months.

The thing I cannot understand is why they were deleted. It would seem to me that they were an appropriate trim piece and, without them, the installation appears "unfinished" and with the potential for excessive hand-caused wear on the soft trim. Obviously, cost may have been at the root of it, but I just don't see these pieces causing much cost.

Without the ECR (Engineering Change Request #15990) paperwork we may never know the true answer to why, but when figuring the cost one must consider the variety of colors and installation costs. I would wager the ECR would show that cost.

When trying to find when the bezels were stopped in production we will have to consider interior color. Unless the deletion of the bezels affected some other part -- perhaps the halo roof panels Warren refers to -- they could have simply stopped installing them when their stock ran out. The stock of different colors might have been exhausted at different times. Jim what is the color of your interior?

[Alan S.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

Hi,
I've always thought the demise of the removable rear window was because of cost.
I guess the change to no bezel was an attempt to save a dollar or two untill the acountants finally said the removable window had to go?
2 bezels, 2 screws, 2 holes, cost?
Regards,
Alan

[Terry M.]

Re: 68-72 Rear Window Latch Bezels

I thought the end of the removable rear window was due to exhaust gasses entering the cabin in slow moving traffic.