Rear windows have always been an important part of the convertible’s aesthetic. They’re smaller than a regular car rear view because they need to fold nicely into the trunk, but this actually adds to the sleek sporty appearance of the car. As with any other car part, there have been some incredible advances in the convertible rear window since the first convertible cars were produced. The windows started out as being a piece of clear plastic that was sewn or zippered on to the canvas or vinyl top and then evolved into tougher more translucent plastics or glass. Recently glass rear view windows have gained popularity because they have a longer life span than the plastic window, which tends to discolor or get damaged easily. However, the glass window required a little more thought in the manufacturing process because it could not be sewn or zippered on to the convertible top’s fabric.

Car companies quickly solved the problem by creating a unique window bonding process that would maintain the vehicles sleek exterior. Aftermarket companies found ways to try and replicate the process as they did with the plastic windows. In the beginning, the easiest way was to apply silicon around the edges of the windows, pressing down with wood vices until the glass adhered to the fabric. This process was easy enough to achieve and required no special tools. However, the problem that arose was that the seals would not prevent leaks adequately as separation would commonly occur. The industry was forced to look into other options that would maintain the sleekness of the vehicle as well at the durability of the seal. Read the rest of this entry »