LOOKIN' AT THE WORLD THROUGH A WINDSHIELD

A guide to selecting the right glass for your Tri-Five.
In our tech series here at The American Tri- Five, a short time back we covered glass removal, showing you how to get the old, scratched, pitted, delaminated, cracked-up glass out of your prized possession. So now it’s out, your body is all cleaned up, and you’re ready to order new glass. You pick up your Woody’s Hot Rodz catalog, but there’s multiple options. What is this “green glass"? Why would I put “smoked” glass in my car? What should I choose? Thankfully, we’re here to walk you through it! Del Reeves may have sung the title, but we’ll help you figure out which “windshield to look through.”

When choosing glass, you are mostly left with three options…

CLEAR GLASS:

Clear glass is just as the name implies; clear, no tint, no shade of any sort. Simple, basic, and to the point. Clear glass works well with original and custom applications, and gives total clarity while driving, especially during dusk and nighttime hours. Those with less-than-optimal eyesight will appreciate this approach nothing to inhibit their view of the road, but it offers little in the way of UV and glare reduction.

Which brings us to our next option…..

GREEN GLASS:

To those not steeped in Tri-Fives, the premise of “green glass” may seem a touch odd. Fact of the matter is, the factory option E-Z-Eye glass used a greenish color to obtain a small amount of tint, and as the manufacturer, L-O-F (Libby-Owens-Ford) claimed, reduce glare and cut down on inside heat (an ad, featuring the one and only Perry Mason, claimed it to be “the next best thing to air conditioning”.) For a “correct” restoration, or even a modified car using original colors, green glass can be a nice, small detail added to a build. And, for as little a difference as it is, it absolutely is noticeable to the driver. On top of that, green windshields include a darker, shaded area at the top to help reduce glare off the dashboard and cut down strain on the driver’s eyes. Original LOF glass is marked “E-Z-EYE”, making it simple to identify, but I always go to the “paper test” to show it off when it is on its own.

GREY GLASS:

Often referred to as “smoked” glass, grey glass offers a noticeably dark tint, in a darker grey tone as opposed to the factory green glass. Just as with any options, grey glass has pros and cons. Many builders like the “modern” look of a tinted glass. It works well with almost all colors, from factory to custom, and dark to light. It nearly forces the eye to focus on the outside of the car, until you get up close and personal with the ride in question. Along with the aesthetics, grey tinted glass provides to highest level of UV and glare protection available, and just as the green windshields, grey glass is available with a shaded strip at the top. But there is some sacrifice; many people don’t particularly care for the darker windows, as it does reduce visibility at night.

DATE CODE:

For the hardcore restoration enthusiast, clear and green tinted glass can be ordered with a specific date code. Now, over the years, I’ve heard more than a few confused voices exclaim, “I didn’t even know glass had a date code.” Like many other components on your Tri-Five, as the glass came down the line at LOF, it was given a specific two-place code that shows when it was manufactured, shown circled in red. The included chart shows just how to decipher the code at hand as well.

But, just as any of the date coded and or “correct” components on your car, this is always subject to some amount of debate. The Eisenhower ’55 150 shown above, is a shining example of that. A 19,000 mile, unrestored car, that has never been apart, this car features 4 separate codes on the glass. So, if this car were to be restored, and new glass used, what would be “correct”? 4 different date codes, all BEFORE than manufacturing date of the car itself, or a set of glass with matched codes? Remember, before you jump to tell someone what is “wrong” with their car, this is all subject to some level of opinion.

And just like that, the mystery of Tri-Five glass options is “cleared” up. Stay tuned for the full how-to on the install in coming months!

To order your Glass, visit HERE.
For a printable version of instructions, visit HERE.

Brought to you by the American Tri-Five Association.