1969 Front Windshield question

[Don C.]

The build sheet for my 1969 Roadster doesnot indicate an A01 option code for tinted glass (all windows). However the left and right side door windows arelightly tinted and have the correct LOF logo and date code (NV - Jan. 1969) fora build date March 1969 car. It appearsthat the front windshield was replaced circa 1985 with an aftermarket non LOFtinted windshield with a shaded sun band. My question is that since my build sheet did not specify an A01 optioncode, is it possible that the original front windshield could have been clear(not tinted without a band). That itcould have originally had a clear front windshield and tinted side windows? I am considering replacing the frontwindshield with a correctly dated reproduction and would like to make it as correctas possibleAny info would be appreciated and may giveme a warm feeling that my assumption is correct.

[Terry B.]

Re: 1969 Front Windshield question

Hi Don, If I remember correctly, if the side windows were tinted, the windshield was also tinted. However, I could not find anything on the subject in a quick look through the latest 68/69 TJM. I believe if the side windows were non tinted, the windshield could be either tinted or non tinted. I hope others will know more on the subject. Terry

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 Front Windshield question

The build sheet for my 1969 Roadster doesnot indicate an A01 option code for tinted glass (all windows). However the left and right side door windows arelightly tinted and have the correct LOF logo and date code (NV - Jan. 1969) fora build date March 1969 car. It appearsthat the front windshield was replaced circa 1985 with an aftermarket non LOFtinted windshield with a shaded sun band. My question is that since my build sheet did not specify an A01 optioncode, is it possible that the original front windshield could have been clear(not tinted without a band). That itcould have originally had a clear front windshield and tinted side windows? I am considering replacing the frontwindshield with a correctly dated reproduction and would like to make it as correctas possibleAny info would be appreciated and may giveme a warm feeling that my assumption is correct.

Don-----

For 1969 it was either all tinted or none tinted. Could tinted side windows have been factory-installed on a car that was not supposed to have them? Yes, I suppose it's possible but it would be near impossible to verify with certainty.

Do the side windows have "ASTROventilation" in white silkscreen on the lower forward?

[Terry M.]

Re: 1969 Front Windshield question

The build sheet for my 1969 Roadster doesnot indicate an A01 option code for tinted glass (all windows). However the left and right side door windows arelightly tinted and have the correct LOF logo and date code (NV - Jan. 1969) fora build date March 1969 car. It appearsthat the front windshield was replaced circa 1985 with an aftermarket non LOFtinted windshield with a shaded sun band. My question is that since my build sheet did not specify an A01 optioncode, is it possible that the original front windshield could have been clear(not tinted without a band). That itcould have originally had a clear front windshield and tinted side windows? I am considering replacing the frontwindshield with a correctly dated reproduction and would like to make it as correctas possibleAny info would be appreciated and may giveme a warm feeling that my assumption is correct.

,
Is your 1969 Corvette equipped with factory C60 Air Conditioning?

[Don C.]

Re: 1969 Front Windshield question

Thanks for your responses. Both side windows do have ASTROventilationnoted, LOF logo, Safety Plate, AS2, NVdate code, Solid Tempered, DOT 15 M51. The car has no A/C. What puzzlesme is that the build sheet does not specify the A01 option for tinted windows (ALLWINDOWS) which could imply some tinted windows or none? The build date for the car is March 17, 1969the NV window date is January 1969 which appears to be correct for thecar. As I noted the front windshield wasreplaced with a tinted, sun banded, after market (non LOF) windshield dated 1985.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1969 Front Windshield question

Thanks for your responses. Both side windows do have ASTROventilationnoted, LOF logo, Safety Plate, AS2, NVdate code, Solid Tempered, DOT 15 M51. The car has no A/C. What puzzlesme is that the build sheet does not specify the A01 option for tinted windows (ALLWINDOWS) which could imply some tinted windows or none? The build date for the car is March 17, 1969the NV window date is January 1969 which appears to be correct for thecar. As I noted the front windshield wasreplaced with a tinted, sun banded, after market (non LOF) windshield dated 1985.

Interesting dilemma Don. Any chance of contacting the 1985 owner or an earlier owner for an answer?

Failing that I would put in a tinted windshield even though I understand there is no perfect (read: perfect = no deduction) tinted windshield available. Installing a non-tinted windshield will yield you a repeat of this discussion time and time again. In my mind it just isn't worth having this discussion more than once, but that is me. YMMV.

Remind me to tell you sometime of the friend who ordered a new Suburban with tinted windows -- it had dual AC units. It was delivered with the passenger side that way, but the driver's side was all clear glass. Remember our Judging Standard includes the phrase Typical Factory Production = TFP.

[Don C.]

Re: 1969 Front Windshield question

Thanks Terry, actually have tried to locate/contact a previous owner (Thomas C. Hill) noted on a copy a title transfer to him dated January 14, 1984. So far no luck.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 Front Windshield question

Thanks for your responses. Both side windows do have ASTROventilationnoted, LOF logo, Safety Plate, AS2, NVdate code, Solid Tempered, DOT 15 M51. The car has no A/C. What puzzlesme is that the build sheet does not specify the A01 option for tinted windows (ALLWINDOWS) which could imply some tinted windows or none? The build date for the car is March 17, 1969the NV window date is January 1969 which appears to be correct for thecar. As I noted the front windshield wasreplaced with a tinted, sun banded, after market (non LOF) windshield dated 1985.

Don------

It sounds like the side windows are original to the car. Since the build sheet does not specify the tinted windows option, I'd guess that what occurred was that the factory ran out of non-tinted windows when your car was built and installed the tinted side windows as a substitute. They may have installed a tinted windshield, too, but we'll never know because the windshield was replaced. I'd install the best tinted windshield I could find and go with it. You don't have to produce the build sheet for judging so who would ever know that the car was not supposed to have tinted windows?

[Don C.]

Re: 1969 Front Windshield question

Thanks Joe, I will probably do that since it appears that there is no confirmatory resolution to the question and if I replaced the windshield with a clear (more expensive) one it would probably generate more questions from the next owner. I am in the process of trying to restore this old car to some degree, but I haven't decided just how far to take it. The car does have a weird history, based on the built sheet and the manufacturer's delivery notice the car was ordered by and delivered to the original dealer possibly as a demo? The original dealer kept the car for about 3 months and then transferred it to another dealer who actually sold the car to the first owner.

[Mark D.]

Re: 1969 Front Windshield question

If you find an original, you can have it re-dated. Another thing an experienced 'real deal' exterior judge with 'no issues' will look for is the cloth dam. There is a fellow in northern IL that can duplicate that and, as fate would have it, the guy that re-dates them is just north of him, in WI.

Kramden

[Don C.]

Re: 1969 Front Windshield question

Thanks Mark, that info may be helpful to me. Now if there happens to be someone that might know how to contact these folks (via emails or contact web sites) would also be very helpful to me.

[Greg L.]

Re: 1969 Front Windshield question

If you find an original, you can have it re-dated. Another thing an experienced 'real deal' exterior judge with 'no issues' will look for is the cloth dam. There is a fellow in northern IL that can duplicate that and, as fate would have it, the guy that re-dates them is just north of him, in WI.

Kramden

Hi Mark, This guys that can duplicate the damming strip, do you have his contact info? I'd be interested to see what it looks like and if he would sell it or if he only installs it on new windshields.

Thanks