1959 Fords - Replacement Windscreens

mercman from oz

mercman from oz

Well-known member
You can always tell which 1959 Fords have replacement windscreens when they have a Tint on them? The Tint turns down funny at each end. When these cars came out originally with Tinted Windscreens, the Tint Band was at the top and didn't turn down like the current replacement windscreens. How come they don't make them like they used to? These Replacement windscreens just don't look right?
 

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There is probably just ONE maker for these and everyone who sells them has the same thing. You could stop at an auto glass shop and ask if PPG or Safelite makes them. Auto City Classic and Dearborn Classics also sell these online, you could ask them. It does look a tad odd to me too.
 
It seems to be a common problem. I just received the March 2015 issue of Hemmings Classic Car Magazine where they have a story on the 1957-1959 Ford Retractables. They show a green and white one in their leadup story, then a red and white one in their main story. Both of these cars obviously have new replacement windscreens, as it is quite evident that the Tint really wraps around and down at both ends. This was not the case when these vehicles were new, as they had a small Tint that was just at the top. It is too late to shop around now, as the owner has bought and fitted the one that I took the photos of, and being in Australia, I am sure he is not going to change it now. But it is my observation that "they don't make them like they used to". Do other people agree?
 
I have a big problem with most of the replacement parts available in the last few years.
I have been accused of being a perfectionist, I'm far from being one, I just like things to be RIGHT.. A perfectionist is never content with anything..
I have been known to purchase a vehicle just to get a good original part, once I have removed the desired part, I'll replace it with a part of lesser quality and then sell the vehicle.
 
It was probably done for a reason, maybe to cut down on glare where the windshield wraps around on the sides. Extra tint = extra costs at least to me.
 
I got to thinking that when this Glass is flat, they add Tint the full length of the Glass a certain way down. On the flat area in front of the driver, the width is consistent, but when they wrap around the ends, it appears wider, but if you were to straighten it back into the original flat piece, the Tint would be the same width all the way. Would this be the reason why they do it this way in today's replacements?
 
I agree with Blucar. a lot of the replacement stuff sold now, especially from suppliers supporting the hobby, is off shore junk. Gas filler door hinges with springs bend the soft metal frame, heater switches with thin spade connectors that break when a wire is pushed on, etc, etc. Some of the brake and suspension parts are downright scary. The biggest culprit is ***'s, a shipping company that sells parts. Sorry for the rant, don't want to hijack the thread.
 
Fortunately there's a lot of NOS Ford stuff out there & I don't have to deal much with offshore garbage. Thats not the same story for GM & Mopar as I don't think they ran service parts as long as Ford did. Even small stuff such as plugs, distributor items, battery cables, etc I'll buy 50 year old NOS stuff and pay a little more that getting this imported junk from Autozone. In the past 3 years I've had two battery cable terminals break--crack right in the middle, F@#% that noise.
 
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