For today’s Encyclopedia Hoonatica entry, we want our Hooniversal crew to create a comprehensive list of cars with hidden glass. You see, when manufacturers want to refresh the styling an existing platform, they often wish to reshape part of the greenhouse—most typically, the rear quarter windows. Unfortunately, stamping dies are horribly expensive, so actually changing the shape of the window openings in the body panels is rarely economically viable. As a result, they often keep the same glass and simply cover part of the window with solid panels known in the industry as “window appliques.”
The poster child for this technique, as shown above, is Chrysler’s L-body hatchback coupe. The story is that Lee Iacocca was famously critical of the original (rarely seen) profile with pop-out quarter-windows, and the designers overcompensated by coming up with no fewer than five different rear C-pillar/quarter window profiles over the platform’s lifecycle. But this is not the only example of a car that had some (or all?) of its quarter window glass (or some other greenhouse opening) hidden behind solid panels. What other examples can you think of where designers shrunk the effective size of a window with a glass sandwich?
Difficulty: Tougher than many lately. A bit of low-hanging fruit, then the field quickly moves to really obscure ones.
Welcome To The Rock: Read the comments first and don’t post duplicates. Adding photos with standard HTML is good, but shrink the big ones with width="500".
Image Sources: allpar.com, fotosdecarros.com
By Peter Tanshanomi
Tanshanomi is Japanese [単車のみ] for "motorcycle(s) only." Though primarily tasked with creating two-wheel oriented content for Hooniverse, Pete is a lover of all sorts of motorized vehicles.
Robert Crespo 
Jeff Glucker 
Kamil Kaluski
my fruits are hanging well within reach of the average toddler:
<img src-"http://www.moddedmustangs.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/2007-ford-mustang-v6.jpg">
<img src="http://www.allfordmustangs.com/photopost/data/500/2007_Mustang_June_2007_2.jpg" width="500">
i never understood this. the vents and louvers i've seen on that little back window look distinctly like plasticky add-ons, they make the c-pillar look much too heavy, and the visibility is probably bad enough as it is.
They look like plastick add-on's because they are. They're nothing more than an accessory from Ford's parts catalogue IIRC. They're not factory applied.
right, i just meant that they do a particularly bad job of hiding their nature.
On the topic of Mustangs, the Bullitt edition of the New Edge Mustang had a kink in the quarter windows where the regular version did not.
<img src="http://www.fordpedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/bullitt_mustang_2001.jpg" width="500">
The Bullitt had a specific design screened onto the window which followed the Bullitt C pillar. Some came down the line with regular Mustang windows, others had the right windows but the wrong C pillar. I pointed one out to an owner who complained and had it fixed under warranty.
Low hanging fruit: Chrysler 5th Avenue on the M body platform. That half vinyl roof wraparound on the rear door conceals a glass pane normally found on the related Dodge Diplomat:
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/83-89_Chrysler_Fifth_Avenue.jpg" width =600>
Chrysler Cordobas from 1980 through '83, hiding a quarter window featured on the Dodge Miranda:
<img src="http://www.moparautos.com/images/82cordoba2.jpg" width =600>
Both the Cordoba and Mirada were available with the quarter window. Both also had various roof treatments that covered the area.
http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2010/09/27…
Not exactly solid panels, but the grilles that covered the rear windows on the 308/328 GTS provide an interesting visual effect compared to the GTB.
<img src="http://www.autodrome.fr/308_gtb_v_profilo.jpg" width="720">
<img src="http://www.ferrari308gts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ferrari-308-gts-quattrovalvole-11jpg.jpg" width="720">
I'm going reverse style on this one… behold the metamorphasis of the Fiero GT.
1984-1985
<DIV style="OVERFLOW: auto"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Fiero88.JPG" width=500>
Then the 1986-1988
<DIV style="OVERFLOW: auto"><img src="http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/plugins/PostviaEmail/images/1988_Pontiac_Fiero_GT_resize.jpg" width=600>
This obviously doesn't apply to the non-GT models since the early style quarter windows were the only option on every other model besides the GT.
My grandparents had a pair of '88 Coupe de Villes in the early '90's. Grandma's car had an all-steel roof and large square quarter windows; grandpa's had padded vinyl from the B-pillars rearward, and smaller external window apertures with the vinyl covering the part of the glass that was obscured by the internal trim and the areas where the glass panes were bonded to the car.
Edit: and now with pictures! (Not my grandparents cars, but the roofs/window treatments are right.) I misremembered how much glass was covered on the vinyl variant. No wonder my grandparents kept the steel roofed car and traded the vinyl-roof for a sedan (de Ville).
<img src="http://i62.tinypic.com/2vjd6bn.jpg" width="500">
<img src="http://i60.tinypic.com/rbzk74.jpg" width="500">
The SE package on the original Dodge Challenger included a vinyl top with a smaller opening over the larger standard rear window.
<img src="http://image.moparmusclemagazine.com/f/featuredvehicles/e_body/mopp_1107_1970_dodge_challenger_rt_se/30954770/mopp_1107_02%2b1970_dodge_challenger_rt_se%2b.jpg.jpg">
Different (smaller) glass in a fiberglass plug to fill the larger window opening.
<img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/yysAAOSw8d9UzZmi/$_57.JPG" width=500>
The Impala SS differentiated itself from the Caprice by having a slightly different rear glass profile, but appears to have the same glass part number.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/94-96_Chevrolet_Impala_SS.jpg/1280px-94-96_Chevrolet_Impala_SS.jpg" width="500">
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/1991_Chevrolet_Caprice.jpg" width="500">
The 1994 SS uses a trim panel over the stock Caprice window to make the different shape. For 95 and 96, both models use the same stamped opening.
And here's a photo of that trim piece:
<img src="http://www.stangbangers.com/94_ChevyImpalaSS_Ad1b.jpg" width="500">
I actually didn't notice the difference until you pointed it out.
The Renault 15 and her posh sister, the Renault 17!
<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IDzUciPvodA/UHkN2U_y6II/AAAAAAAABH8/kMDkkKdTnAw/s1600/1972_cars_fiat127_renault15_17.jpg" width="640/">
The 15 and 17 are different body stampings, so not in this list.
It's a great beach scene nonetheless!
What about partial appliques? Ex works of course!
<img src="http://data.motor-talk.de/data/galleries/0/20/9058/43633838/w201-heck-01-6398423789401408230.jpg" width ="400">
<img src="http://hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/MG_7666-Edit.jpg" width="400">
Dodge Aspen R/T and Super Coupe, with the go-faster window
<img src="http://www.motortopia.com/files/3398/part/45ba343b07af8/78-aspen-ad.jpg" width=600>
How about the Fiat 124 Sport Coupe? The earlier (AC and BC) ones had a slight kink in the rear glass:
<img src="http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/gallery/FIAT124SportCoupe-2372_1.jpg" width="500">
That got bigger on the later CC models:
<img src="http://www.simoncars.co.uk/fiat/slides/s_Fiat 124 Sport Coupe CC side.jpg" width="500">
These thin-pillared greenhouses… I hope there is a way to have them back on modern cars, somehow: "greenhouse" doesn't make sense nowadays.
Was that a Frua design?
<img src="http://www.cookieboystoys.com/friends/badlobo/001.jpg" width=500>
Another instance of the same opening adapted to fit new glass shapes.
There's one super obvious one that folks are missing. Think Spain. And Wisconsin.
Some sort of Renault ?
I was thinking "queso". But it turned out to be a good starting point to get to here:
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/1977-Matador_Barcelona-front_left.JPG/800px-1977-Matador_Barcelona-front_left.JPG" width="500">
(img from wikipedia, author: Christopher Ziemnowicz)
<img src="http://hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/mcgowenmat1-001.jpg" width="500"/>
Yep, that's the one I was waiting for.
This one was always weird to me (look closely at rear quarter window):
V70:
<img src="http://img2.netcarshow.com/Volvo-V70_2004_800x600_wallpaper_10.jpg">
XC70:
<img src="http://img2.netcarshow.com/Volvo-XC70_2004_800x600_wallpaper_20.jpg">
Why would they do that?
to make it more butch?
How about Chrysler do Brazil's Dart-based Dodge Magnum?
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Dodge_Magnum1979_BR.jpg" width="600" />
<img src="http://www.history-of-cars.com/images/oldsmobile/1973-toronado-32-003.jpg" width="500/">
1973 Toronado
<img src="http://auctionsamerica.com/images/lots/FL10/FL10_r429_01.jpg" width=500>
1975 Toronado
<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ciHcebKv9Q4/UqI6u9k978I/AAAAAAAAE7M/84MeG8wOKnM/s1600/toronado+b+copy.jpg" width="500/">
1977 Toronado (With T-tops)
I always loved that wacky, wrap around, pillar-less rear glass.
I'm not sure it applies here, though, as each iteration seems to be a new stamping.
Dodge Stealth/ Mitsubishi GTO. Another Chrysler case study of the technique.
Dodge Stealth
<img src="http://www.antennamastsrus.com/Dodge/Stealth/06-stealth-in-nh-01.jpg" width="600">
Mitsubishi GTO/3000GT
<img src="http://www.mynrma.com.au/media/mitsubishi_gt3000_1993.jpg"width="600">
Saab 9000 facelift lost some glass on the rear hatch..
From this:
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/1988_Saab_9000_Turbo_rear.jpg/1024px-1988_Saab_9000_Turbo_rear.jpg" width=500>
to this:
<img src="http://wordpress.carthrottle.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Aero11.jpg" width=500>
I think they used different glass but, 1956 Buick Special:
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/1956_Buick_Century_rvr.jpg" width="500">
1957 Buick Special
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/1957_Buick_Special_4-Door_Hardtop_Heck.jpg" width="500">
This seems like it should have been low hanging fruit: 1973 Dodge Charger.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/1973_Charger_side.jpg" width="500">
DING!
This might be stretching the definition a bit, but here's the Plymouth Sapporo:
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/Qvey56g.jpg" width="500/">
And for comparison, its Dodge Challenger stablemate:
<img src="https://i.imgur.com/D7L8jxj.jpg" width="500/">
Admittedly, the louvres only cover about three-quarters of the rear side windows, but it really does help to clean up the overall shape of the car in my opinion.
http://hooniverse.info/2014/03/21/hooniverse-obscu…
<img src="http://hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Fullscreen-capture-3202014-82954-PM.bmp.jpg" width=500>
What the why?
Nascar homologation
Thinderbird Heritage Edition covered the quarter windows in a padded vinyl top.
<img src="http://assets.hemmings.com/uimage/24894945-770-0@2X.jpg?rev=1" width=500>
Speaking of Thunderbirds, the porthole top was introduced for the 1956 model year to address customer complaints about blind spots in the hard top. The tops were available with and without the iconic portholes.
<img src="http://oldcarbrochures.org/var/albums/NA/Ford_Thunderbird/1956_Ford_Thunderbird/1956-Ford-Thunderbird-Folder/1956%20Ford%20Thunderbird%20%20Folder-01.jpg?m=1345058372" width=500>
Like the Heritage Edition T'bird above, the '75 Hurst Olds had a padded vinyl top over the quarter windows. In each case, however, I'm betting there's not actually any glass under there.
<img src="http://tenwheel.com/imgs/a/b/o/h/a/1975_hurst_olds_442_w___30__s_matching_5_lgw.jpg" width="600/">
This image of a project car seems to support that. Looks like a solid, dummy panel in place of the glass, but it does not use a different stamping.
<img src="http://www.timelessrides.com/sites/default/files/classifieds/5351/1415813809/image.jpg" width=600>
I didn't even think about the '73 Hurst Olds which perfectly fit the bill here with a padded top that shrinks the quarter windows in size:
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ze_OTjQr6Dg/UcnE0k0DPqI/AAAAAAAAEXg/lIbAwIbCl44/s1600/73 HO copy.jpg" width="600/">
The '74 had a similar, but less drastic, quarter window reduction:
<img src="http://www.usaraud.ee/ajuvant/oldsmobile/1974_HurstOlds_3.jpg" width=600>
A near-miss is the E-body Dodge Challenger coupe (instead of the much more common hardtop). It was a result of trying to make a thrifty version of the car. Among other shortcuts, the rear quarter windows did not roll down, which saved the cost of the regulators and crank hardware. It was enough of a difference that it used a different VIN codefrom the hardtop, even though the window opening and the glass were the same.
<img src="http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Dodge-Challenger-1971-coupe.png" width=500>
<a href="http://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-oddity-1971-dodge-challenger-coupe-with-198-cubic-inch-slant-six/” target=”_blank”>http://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-oddity-1971-dodge-challenger-coupe-with-198-cubic-inch-slant-six/
Fun fact! For 1959, the corresponding framed and frameless Ford doors are themselves identical, as the window frames are separate, removable pieces. By swapping the frames and glass, the doors can be used interchangeably. This means that the difference between the rear doors of a four-door sedan:
<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_G3DjZetEqK8/SiaiGi_unhI/AAAAAAAAFfk/Hlr0nNGa_wM/s1600/0013-1959-ford-galaxie-2.jpg" width="450">
and a four-door hardtop:
<img src="http://cdn.barrett-jackson.com/staging/carlist/items/Fullsize/Cars/71188/71188_Side_Profile_Web.jpg" width="450">
comes down to the addition of a triangular piece that covers the lower rear part of the window.