[TROYBOYONE]

My bro. and I were dicussing 'soft ray glass - windshield only', on Pontiac window stickers.
In 1964, did that mean the entire windshield was tinted, or was it tinted just along the top edge of the windshield? I told him I would ask the 'experts'. What do you say ? ....

[John V.]

All Windshields, tinted or standard "clear" had the dark tinted band at the top.

A Tinted windshield therefore had the dark tinted band at the top with the balance of the glass having a less dark tint. A standard Clear Windshield had the dark tinted band at the top with the balance of the glass being clear.

Pretty sure I'm correct. Others should chime in.

I believe this was discussed here some time back but not sure if I can find the thread.

[dld]

Actually there were there were 5 ways to get glass.

all clear no band on windshield
shaded top of windshield only
shaded and tint windshield all glass tinted.
shaded green all
shaded blue all

the color of glass would be dictated buy color of car

the blue now is very hard to find. as also a clear windshield or at time i was buying windshield for my 65

[dld]

here is a example of the blue found on my 64 le-mans car

[John V.]

dld, that is the first I've ever heard of this.

If what you say were true, it should be supported by Service Replacement p/ns but that is not the case.

The MPC only lists a choice of Clear or Tinted, same for windshields, side glass, and back window.

The '64 Clear Windshield was p/n 4403774 and the Tinted Windshield was p/n 4403775.

These p/ns were carried over unchanged to '65 and were also shared with the Chevelle (possibly the Olds & Buick A bodies also).

The Camaro Research Group has an extensive article on glass for the first gen Camaro.

Not necessarily the final word regarding the '64-'65 Tempests but this can be found in the article, originally released in 1998 and last edited in 2010:

"Soft-Ray

Added to tinted GM OEM glass. Soft-Ray is a GM tradename and is not used for other OEM tinted glass. Tinted OEM glass of this era was green in color, whereas current Soft-Ray glass is blue."

Without seeing the original green vs. a modern blue, I'm not sure I could say what color my original date coded '64 tinted glass is. My side glass is packed away, my windshield is a replacement based on the date code.

I did not find anything in the article as to whether the darker tinted band (GM referred to it as "SHADED") was only used for Tinted Windshields or also for the Clear Windshields. Since the article pertains to '67-'69 Camaros, it wouldn't be confirmation anyway.

I am curious how you've come to believe the tinted glass color depended on car color?

I was only unsure about the "SHADED" band at the top of the Clear Windshield.

I have begun to doubt my original reply, I now am thinking that the Clear '64/'65 Windshield had NO shade band.

Your reply has thrown a real curve at me. Never heard of an alternate tint color.

[jtea64]

I placed a factory order in May of 64 for a Tempest Custom and still have it although it now has an aftermarket windshield. I am essentially positive that the original windshield was clear at the top - no tinted band.

[dld]

this is a 65 all regional 39k car . note windshield no shade

[dld]

for us trying to dig through this there will be no info in any or the A body assembly manuals. the glass was installed in Fisher plant. Fisher operations are not in assembly guides.

[dld]

I spoke with my glass man . he has worked on glass for cars sense the 50's. his thought is the shaded windshield was tinted. only on GM cars. Ford you could get shaded w/out tint on bottom. The colors were per mfg. of glass. LOF PPG Carlite ect.

The blue tint in his later years of him working became obsolete. Many of the old glass company's have changed names or have been takeover buy other company's

As per the order sheet for Pontiac . The only option was tinted windshield or tinted glass all. Non selection of one of these meant you got Clear in all positions with NO tinting.

[John V.]

I'm convinced about the standard content windshield, Clear WITHOUT the shaded band.

So my original reply regarding the Clear Windshield was WRONG!

Don, I'm still not sure I can agree with your post that says there were 2 different color tints and that the tint color depended on the color of the car.

Pretty sure the O.E. glass suppliers that Pontiac was using in '64/'65 were PPG and L-O-F.

Been awhile since I studied the suppliers but that is what I remember.

But there is no way the tint color varied between them because you COULD get a mix of glass on the car from the factory. In other words, you might have PPG vent windows and L-O-F for the balance of the side glass and windshield.

They had to match.

Your glass guy's claim that the blue tint became obsolete late in his career conflicts with the CRG claim that says modern Soft-Ray tint is blue, while Soft-Ray during the 1st gen Camaro run ('67-'69) was green.

I'm not sure what to make of these two seemingly contradictory claims. I know CRG is VERY thorough with their research.

But I remain pretty convinced that there was only ONE tint color used by Pontiac for the '64/'65 A body.

Whether it would be considered green or blue, I don't know. But if you went to the dealer Parts Counter in '66 and ordered a new driver door window glass for your '64 GTO with Tinted Glass, I'm sure you would NOT be asked what color your car was and you WOULD get a window that matched the tint on all the other O.E. glass on the car.

After talking to your glass guy, do you still think the tint color for a '64 Tempest depended on car color?

[geeteeohguy]

John V, I agree with you. '60'sstuff could probably clear this up. My '65 has original tinted glass...front and rear from a '65 Buick and side glass out of a '65 LeMans. Larry Woltzen encouraged me to 'upgrade' to all Soft Ray on my Blue Charcoal '65 in 1983 when I was repairing the window channels. I always considered it green, but it could be considered blue, I guess. Greenish-blue. It matched the original Soft Ray windshield that was in the car, and it matches all Soft Ray glass I've seen before or since. I think there is only one color of Soft Ray glass, and whether it looks more green or blue is up to the individual's interpretation.

[dld]

I will agree there most likely one color. How ever as you found in CRG there were two colors . Looking back at my post #4 i feel every one may agree that the glass in my 64 is more or is blue, that would go against The findings of blue coming later at least in A bodys

My glass man was in agreement that there were color differences.There were two mfgs that GM used PPG and mainly LOF in those years.

these company's have changed names now or have been taken over buy other groups. if we look at the resto suppliers they call it green or smoke.

http://www.autocityclassic.com/1964-1972-tempest-glass/

[dld]

found this also reading through. they are offering two colors. it would be good to have someone else post a pic of there original tint glass with a white paper back drop as I did in post #4. not disagreeing but interested


http://www.vendio.com/stores/bobscla...o/lid=34291408


We are now offering a complete glass kit for your 1965 Pontiac GTO Tempest 2 door hardtop ( body style # 65-23537 or 65-23737 ) restoration, street rod.

This glass kit consists of the windshield, driver and passenger vents, driver and passenger doors, driver and passenger rear quarter windows and the back glass.

If you are unsure if this is the correct glass kit for your application please give us a call on our toll free number 1-800-624-2130 stateside or 541-636-3025 from Canada and we would be glad to assist you in determining if this is the correct windows for your vehicle.

This windshield comes in the light green tint with the dark blue shade band across the top. The side windows and the back glass are available in clear, factory green tint or smoked gray tint.

We often times have the windshield available in clear or green tint as well. Give us a call on our toll free number 1-800-624-2130 stateside or 541-636-3025 from Canada and we can check availability if that is what you prefer.

Please allow 17-21 days for delivery.

[jeff chmura]

I have a Fremont built '65 with the "all windows tint" option.
My car was built 3rd week of March (3C)
The front windshield was replaced at some time in its life,so Its not original, but it is tinted and shaded. The side and rear glass is original to the car and shaded.
On the door glass it has the following info...

Soft Ray
safety plate
AS2 NJ-6
solid tempered
M54
LOF

This picture is of the passenger side window.

Hope this helps... Jeff

[jeff chmura]

Forgot to add this car is originally Iris Mist with the parchment interior from the factory.
Thanks Jeff

[Dick Boneske]

The windows and windshield were either Soft-Ray or clear. You could get Soft-Ray on the windshield glass only or all windows. There was no option for a dark green or blue band across the top of the windshield and clear glass in the windshield. All the '64's with Soft-Ray windshield had the green band on top with green tinted glass below like the side windows if Soft-Ray.

My '64 is tinted blue on the top band of the windshield because it is aftermarket glass.

[aceaceca]

I tend to agree with Dick except I am not sure about the green band at the top. I have some old pics somewhere of our 64 and 65 with the soft ray option. However, I would like to ask if anyone has used a windshield supplier on the west coast. I need a windshield for my project 65. I just want to buy the glass. I searched the forum and found Auto City Classics in Minnesota. Good price $99 on a smoke grey windshield and they also have the one with the green strip at the top. Shipping is $80 which is still a good price. It would be nice if I could one in SF area and cut shipping. My car has clear sides and rear and I do not care for the green swath at the top. I also do not want a China one. Any help?

[Greg Reid]

Regarding the upper windshield shade band, I had a '74 Trans Am and it had no tinted glass and NO shade band at the top of the windshield. I'd never seen that on a car from this era and wondered about it. At that time my research told me that the tinted band at the top of the ws was standard with A/C and optional without. The T/A was a low option example and had no A/C.
I know it's 10 years removed but it may have been the same in '64.

[JC61]

All optional tinted windshields had a dark band on the top and a lighter tint below.
You could order tinted windshield only or all windows tinted.

[Peter Serio]

Originally Posted by JC61

Attachment 413177

All optional tinted windshields had a dark band on the top and a lighter tint below.
You could order tinted windshield only or all windows tinted.

I fully agree with the statement above, & would like to add that when I was at the car dealership in 1978 Ordering a new car with my Father at the new car dealership I distinctly remember the salesman telling us (and this was according to the order blank) that if we ordered A/C on the car a tinted, and shaded windshield was mandatory as well as all tinted (soft-ray) side and back glass.

Those 2 glass options would have been also available on any year GTO without A/C, at extra cost. It is very common on 1960s GM cars to see a car with out A/C that does have a tinted and shaded windshield but clear side and back glass.

So the side and black glass having soft ray tint was in some years mandatory (in combination with GM cars and A/C) or at the very least highly recommended (perhaps depending on the year of the car, 1960s vs 1970s).