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Wow Fred, you must be really ancient to remember such things!

I believe that is a solar shield but expect it would be a good bug screen too. They were very common in New Mexico when I was a lad in the days before AC and solar glass was common. Even my "don't believe in accessories" dad sprung for a set. I believe the material is still available today but mostly used in commercial buildings.

Those dad bought were thin aluminum sheets that had rows of slats approx 1/8" or less apart and maybe 1/8" wide by an inch long punched in. The slats were positioned at 90 degrees to the vertical. Mounted to a heavier outside frame for support, they were kind of generic in size and usually sold at places like Western Auto and other aftermarket stores. If the car window had a really weird shape, they could be custom ordered with width and length and shape of the piece just a bit larger than the window opening.

Held in place by a couple of maybe 1/2 inch wide by two or three inch long padded strips on the bottom which were part of the frame. You would slide the strips down between the window glass and inner molding. Friction holds the thing kind of bowed in the opening. They can be used with glass up or down. You bought a size slightly larger than the window opening dimensions so the shield top or sides would extend over the moldings and screen couldn't go flying out.

You can see out OK if you look straight thru but forget about seeing much of anything if it is close and at a lower or higher angle. Conversely, the sun can't directly shine in because the high angle of the sun is blocked by the slits. Obviously they had to be removed to pay a toll or go to the drive-in. Not the most user friendly of devices but did beat the other option of a piece of folded newspaper or a towel over the closed glass to keep the hot sun from shining in.

so basically old school tint.

Good analogy. I don't think the adhering tinted cling wraps were available then but could be wrong. Advantage to the metal type was the window could be open. I never saw anything really thin that would work but they did have shaded celluloid strips and sheets. Those were much thicker and as I recall tore easily so somewhat delicate. Believe Packard offered a narrow celluloid strip that was applied across the top of windshield. No idea how it was held on. I suppose something like that could have been used for a window sun shield too but I doubt it would be as durable as the metal.

My Dad had a 55 Pontiac station wagon with AC, the ones he
put in were on a wooden shade roller.

I remember those. Think they had a little clip like device or maybe a magnet to hold the bottom to the window molding when extended. If you brushed against the clip or somehow dislodged it the shade snapped back up.

Those were the good old days. Other than 1000 watt stereos that can vibrate house windows as you drive by todays cars don't have near the fun accessories we got to play with.

Yes, they certainly weren't good on the hiway with
the windows down either, but as you mentioned they
did keep alot of sun out of the car.























t

just seen this one:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/5958348821.html

Hi

A '41 110 Special coupe, might be good but at a better price:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cto/5951377582.html

A '49 Eight Deluxe, ready to enjoy:
http://appleton.craigslist.org/cto/5916365809.html

A '53 Cavalier, decent shape but pricey:
http://cosprings.craigslist.org/cto/5959605990.html

Hardtops:
A '54 Clipper Panama, might be solid, cheap:
http://pueblo.craigslist.org/cto/5941403915.html

A '56 Clipper Super, good project start:
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/5952384886.html

Steve

2 straight 8 engines
http://amarillo.craigslist.org/pts/5962733230.html