sftamx1 Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 (edited) I am amazed by some of the chopped appearing windshields I see on early '30's cars, especially coupes and convertibles of the luxury brands. I just had a new frame made and glass cut for my 1933 Terraplane Convertible coupe. I measured the glass height and it's just 7"! I may have to duck to see better while driving. Are there any others with windshields glass 7" or less on any production cars from that era? It certainly gives those vehicles a custom look with attitude! Edited September 14, 2020 by sftamx1 Added to (see edit history) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
46 woodie Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 If I'm not mistaken several states had 7" as the minimum height for a windshield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F&J Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 2 hours ago, sftamx1 said: Are there any others with windshields glass 7" or less on any production cars from that era? Yes, ... 7" measured in center, 34 LaS: Wiper travel in degrees of sweep is very limited with a conventional wiper arm and blade. 34-only LaS conv used an articulated arm/blade that changes the angle of the blade in relation to the arm, as it goes from side to side. Poor pic of mine, but maybe it makes sense if I try to explain. The round wire rod rides in a tube shaped thing on one end of the wiper blade, like a trombone slide. That is what changes the angle of the blade as it sweeps the glass. This setup keeps the heel of the wiper blade from hitting the W/S frame in full sweep in both directions. If it did not have this, you would not be able to sweep the same total degrees of the glass, and not have the heel of the blade hit the frame in both directions. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 That's crazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 Mercedes solved the problem with 3 wipers. The 320 Cab A might be less than 7 inches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted September 14, 2020 Share Posted September 14, 2020 (edited) There are a lot of 30's things out there with 5" windshield wiper blades Edited September 15, 2020 by John_Mereness (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozstatman Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 3 hours ago, John_Mereness said: There are a lot of 30's things out there with 5' windshield wiper blades 5 feet! Big sweep. Sorry, couldn't help but comment!😉 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 The 1932 Packard 900 Coupe Roadster has a 7" at center windshield. Sitting in the car there is only 3" between the top of the steering wheel and the top of the windshield frame. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 1 hour ago, Restorer32 said: The 1932 Packard 900 Coupe Roadster has a 7" at center windshield. Sitting in the car there is only 3" between the top of the steering wheel and the top of the windshield frame. There are some cars where you see scratches right above the steering wheel on the windshield. Owners with rings turning the wheel on a low windshield car. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 Ford even got into the act when the 30 Deluxe roadster came out. A Deluxe has a 2" to 2.5" lower wndshield, than a Standard. It is not as low as 7" in the center but a noticeable difference for sure. Especially with the top up. If you lay it back a little, knuckles do scrape the windshield. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 6 hours ago, alsancle said: There are some cars where you see scratches right above the steering wheel on the windshield. Owners with rings turning the wheel on a low windshield car. The 1935 Auburn 851 Phaeton is like that - I found another project to beat myself senseless on and left original glass alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted September 15, 2020 Share Posted September 15, 2020 19 hours ago, John_Mereness said: There are a lot of 30's things out there with 5" windshield wiper blades 15 hours ago, Ozstatman said: 5 feet! Big sweep. Sorry, couldn't help but comment!😉 LOTS of vision needed !!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akstraw Posted September 17, 2020 Share Posted September 17, 2020 1930 Franklin Convertible Coupe has a 7" windshield. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Man Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 My 1931 Graham Phaeton is 10" My 1933 Graham is 9" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Man Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 Always liked the look of these...1932 Stutz DV-32 Convertible Victoria by Rollston 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58L-Y8 Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 Odd how a low windshield and top was acceptable on convertibles but not on closed cars of those times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Man Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 My 1933 Graham sedan uses the same 9" windshield as the roadster. I have had more than one person ask if I had "chopped the top". 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 12 hours ago, 58L-Y8 said: Odd how a low windshield and top was acceptable on convertibles but not on closed cars of those times. There were a few. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 14 hours ago, Graham Man said: Always liked the look of these...1932 Stutz DV-32 Convertible Victoria by Rollston The "production" custom Rollston of which there are a few. The one you really want is this one of which there is only 1 on a Stutz and 1 on an Hispano Suiza. You need to look close but the differences are important. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58L-Y8 Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 56 minutes ago, alsancle said: There were a few. Pretty much can count them on one hand... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_a Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 (edited) Would you consider this a low-profile windshield? I think this Stutz was at a Monterey auction this year. 1930 MB Monte Carlo, Weymann body. Edited September 18, 2020 by jeff_a (see edit history) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 47 minutes ago, jeff_a said: Would you consider this a low-profile windshield? I think this Stutz was at a Monterey auction this year. 1930 MB Monte Carlo, Weymann body. I would say yep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 54 minutes ago, 58L-Y8 said: Pretty much can count them on one hand... I need to measure my Dietrich, it is low but not as low as the Monte Carlo. So by hand, I came up with about 4 closed... one hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58L-Y8 Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 5 minutes ago, alsancle said: I need to measure my Dietrich, it is low but not as low as the Monte Carlo. So by hand, I came up with about 4 closed... one hand. 5 minutes ago, alsancle said: I need to measure my Dietrich, it is low but not as low as the Monte Carlo. So by hand, I came up with about 4 closed... one hand. Quote !) Stutz Weymann Monte Carlo 2) Packard Dietrich Newport 3) ? 4) ? 5) ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 18, 2020 Share Posted September 18, 2020 I assume American only? 1. Rollston Closed Victoria 2. Dietrich Newport 3. Weyman Monte Carlo 4. Derham Arlington 5. Waterhouse Sedan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58L-Y8 Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 A.J. Yes, American to simplify the selection, the European coachbuilders seem to do low windshields just in the course of design of sport sedans, That's a pretty impressive list of closed custom-bodied closed styles. The Waterhouse Packard came to mind after I'd posted, but I knew you'd include it. That would be a good companion for your REO Royale 8-48 Dietrich... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 How about a list of fantastic sedans............the list won’t be long.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 1 hour ago, 58L-Y8 said: A.J. Yes, American to simplify the selection, the European coachbuilders seem to do low windshields just in the course of design of sport sedans, That's a pretty impressive list of closed custom-bodied closed styles. The Waterhouse Packard came to mind after I'd posted, but I knew you'd include it. That would be a good companion for your REO Royale 8-48 Dietrich... The European list would be much longer, we must have been a lot taller in the U.S. I couldn't come up with anything else really, Judkins did a few on the lower side but it seems like more the side windows than the windshield. I love the Waterhouse Packard. He wants a lot of money for it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 23 minutes ago, edinmass said: How about a list of fantastic sedans............the list won’t be long.......... Look at you Mr Stopped Clock with a good idea twice a day. I'll go start one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFitz Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 (edited) On 9/14/2020 at 7:02 PM, John_Mereness said: There are a lot of 30's things out there with 5" windshield wiper blades Yup. And between the underside of the wiper motor and top of the steering wheel, only a 2-1/2 inch high view looking straight ahead. The owner refers to that windshield as, "the gun slit." Paul Edited September 20, 2020 by PFitz (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt G Posted September 20, 2020 Share Posted September 20, 2020 Derham bodied 1931 Franklin series 153. the car had 7 inches at center of the windshield. This was the car Derham exhibited at both the NY and Chicago custom body salons. Vision out the front was great ( this photo taken in 1956) except when you were waiting for a traffic light and the first car in line - you had to lean over to see the light and I recall beeping the horn button with my chin, doing so on Rt. 20 heading east in central NY state trying to see the light. To replace the wiper blades I had to cut the ends off to make them short enough . 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFitz Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 And Derham set it in a cast bronze frame that took two people to put back in.😬 Same heavy cast bronze frame, but slightly taller in the wife's Series 153 Derham limo. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KURTRUK Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 Looks to be about 7 inches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 This is probably the shortest windshield I've ever seen, other than on a radically customized hot rod. Georges Irat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 One has to wonder if it was shortened during restoration (not unheard of, unfortunately). It is ridiculously low. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 I doesn't look like the driver would be able to even get in it let alone drive it without the top down, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Man Posted September 21, 2020 Share Posted September 21, 2020 We keep talking windshield height but really on a production car it is about belt line, the overall height of the seating position has to stay constant (well unless you make the car horrible to drive) The Graham shows this, the hood is high and the doors are tall, it is design not just a chop with no headroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeke01 Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 My 1933 Dodge coupe windshield measured nine inches tall at the center. It looks lower than that though. Who would have thought that smaller was better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KURTRUK Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 On 9/14/2020 at 3:03 PM, alsancle said: Mercedes solved the problem with 3 wipers. The 320 Cab A might be less than 7 inches. As did the MG Midget Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Str8-8-Dave Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 10 hours ago, KURTRUK said: As did the MG Midget My brother had a 1963 Austin Healy Sprite which was the Austin Healy version of the midget. As I recall the car was only 7 inches high but it was fast for a little car, 100mph @ 6,000 RPM according to Mr. Smiths... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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