Quarter windows

by BicknellWelding Sat May 19, 2012 3:25 pm

Originally I thought the big quarter windows were a 73 thing. I've seen a few 74's. Mine is a 75 and has them. I don't think I've ever seen another 75 with them? When did they stop? Or were they the base model glass? Did they exist in 76 and 77?

by Mcarlo77 Sun May 20, 2012 3:47 pm

My 1976 Chevelle sales brochure shows one available with the large qtr windows. Don't think I've actually come across one, though. Seem them on '76/'77 Cutlasses (442 and S) and Centurys.

by 77mali Sun May 20, 2012 7:41 pm

I think it's how the "base" cars came. The Cutlass "S" was a base car for all years from 73 through 77 & the 442 did use the Malibu style fast back. There are a few members here that have them (Rago/The Dude is one I think) but I don't know what year his car is.

by pila Sun May 20, 2012 8:17 pm

I believe they all have them. My '74 Malibu Classic has them, and most of the glass is covered except for the small type windows. It would be major surgery to replace one of those windows, since metal is welded over most of the glass to form the little window frame etc.

by 77mali Sun May 20, 2012 8:44 pm

pila wrote:I believe they all have them. My '74 Malibu Classic has them, and most of the glass is covered except for the small type windows. It would be major surgery to replace one of those windows, since metal is welded over most of the glass to form the little window frame etc.

I've heard of some cars that have been taken apart that either one side (or both depending on what Fischer shipped out) had the metal stamped for the quarter windows openings to be cut & then the opera style were installed in yet another "stamping" more forward in the roof. My car (1977) is opera window only stamping (maybe because it was born a vinyl top car but I've not seen any evidence of anything to do with "quarter window" sheet metal).

Bill- if I understand your reply- you have actual Qtr glass that is inside the panels and the only part you see is the glass within the opera window opening? I have to say- I have never seen or heard of that and I can't imagine that it's very common. But then again- anything is possible with these cars and there will be 90 more replies from those who have it!
lol!

by Mcarlo77 Sun May 20, 2012 9:15 pm

It's commonly referred to as the Y76 option. I've seen it on Lemans, Cutlass and Malibu. First time I came upon one of these cars (1974 Malibu), the vinyl top was rotted away exposing the metal patch panel. Couldn't figure out why anyone would go to the trouble of doing this and fabricating the padded interior insert to cover part of the glass. Then, later learned it was a factory thing. Every one I've seen is readily identified by the triangular padded cover insert used in conjunction with the unique interior sail panels trims. Maybe I'll get a pic to post this week.

by Famstyle Mon May 21, 2012 12:29 am

A buddy in high school had a &4 or 75, he stripped the vinyle and found full windows under quarter trim?????

by 74MonteCarlo Mon May 21, 2012 12:57 pm

Here's how it goes, so I have always always heard it, and talked to others about:

1973 - ALL Chevelle coupes (Deluxe, Malibu, SS & Laguna) had the large triangular windows.

1974 - All BASE MODEL Chevelle Malibus had the triangular windows as well. But, the Chevelle Malibu Classics are what had the small "coach" windows. For the early part of the 1974 model year, GM used the MALIBU body for the MALIBU CLASSIC, and used the patch panels until things were re tooled to make the new "coach" windowed bodies. With that being said...you also could NOT get a Malibu Classic in early 1974 without a vinyl roof.

As for 1975-77, per my observations...every 75-77 Malibu Classic I have seen, and heard of, has had coach windows. However, it varies for the base Malibu. I have seen base Malibus with both triangular & coach windows (ie Rago/The Dude's 1976 base Malibu with triangular windows). Not sure what the rhyme and reason was, though.

I hope this clears things up.

by Famstyle Mon May 21, 2012 4:22 pm

by The Dude Mon May 21, 2012 4:38 pm

Kyle is mostly correct. EVERY base model I have seen or owned (not many true 76-77 Chevelles out there) has had the large quarter windows. Kyle, I'd like to see this base model with opera glass. I'm curious to see the door panels, headlights, grille, dash insert, & trunk area. All are Chevelle specific & didn't come on Malibu Classics. Sorry guys, Malibu Classics are not Chevelles just like a Cutlass S isn't a Supreme.... Razz

For those wanting to see a true 76 base model, look up my cars Brown Eye & Black Sunshine or ask Badtemper for pics of his. These are the only ones I've seen that weren't on Ebay or roaming the streets over a decade ago. Even Black Sunshine has been gone for 11 years now. Crying or Very sad

by 77mali Mon May 21, 2012 6:33 pm

My title says 1977 Chevrolet "Chevelle" Malibu Classic and that's how I describe the car. They're all Chevelle's, the other stuff is just about trim levels & RPO codes.
Razz

by pila Tue May 22, 2012 12:05 am

Yes, 74montecarlo seems to have the info. Mine was a vinyl top ('74). I replaced it in the mid- 90s ( I've owned it since '90) and the rust back then wasn't bad on the roof, so when I restored it, no rust problem on the roof.They were not too picky with the roof sheet metal either, when using vinyl on the top. Mine needed some work to get flat & smooth. And the welded in panels that covers the big window is still detectable if really looking for them under the paint.

by Psychlonic Tue May 22, 2012 12:40 am

77mali wrote:My title says 1977 Chevrolet "Chevelle" Malibu Classic and that's how I describe the car. They're all Chevelle's, the other stuff is just about trim levels & RPO codes.

Truth, my insurance companies I've been with won't even recognize it as anything but a Chevelle. IMO and as far as know regarding the original intention, it's purely the next trim level above regular "Malibu". It'd be a bit like saying an SS isn't a Chevelle.

That said, I never got the big deal either way. The base Chevelle was, in every generation, the worst car of the bunch. At least as far as options and performance go. Smile

by 74MonteCarlo Tue May 22, 2012 8:53 pm

The Dude wrote:Kyle, I'd like to see this base model with opera glass.

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_305098-Chevrolet-Chevelle-Malibu-1977.html

Want me to find more, lol?

by 74laguna Tue May 22, 2012 9:00 pm

77 is the only year with the small windows for a non classsic

by 74MonteCarlo Tue May 22, 2012 9:39 pm

http://carpictures.newcarpricess.com/1976-chevrolet-malibu-coupe-olympic-edition.html

by Mcarlo77 Tue May 22, 2012 9:52 pm

For those who have never seen these covered qtr windows, here is a pictorial showing where the bondo has cracked around the patch panel. Then, a couple inside shots showing the exposed triangular glass and the sail panel trim to cover part of it. Very Happy

Of the four cars I checked today, the '74 Malibu and two '74 Lemans were early model year productions (Fall of '73). However, the '75 Cutlass had a mfg date of 02/75.

by 77mali Wed May 23, 2012 7:14 am

Well...this is a unique example of "hand-building" by the Fischer Body Division. If there were only robots welding on these back then, they may have had to crush the cars.

I can picture some GM executives sitting in a smoke-filled room saying "What are we going to do about these leftover bodies boys?" Pretty innovative solution.

by dragons_lair59 Wed May 23, 2012 11:16 am

my old 74 i had as a kid must have had an early build date cause it had big glass with the vinyl top took off the vinyl to find so so panels so i took trim off in side to look was a 74 chevelle malibu classic

by Sponsored content

Quarter windows

Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Quarter Windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows

Re: Quarter windows