Does anyone fold their windshield down?

[15max]

The Roadsters and Phaetons in the old photographs look so great with their windshields folded down. Does anyone do this anymore? I'd love to see some pictures.

[mhsprecher]

How many women do you know who would be riding around with the windshield down wearing hats?

[whirnot]

Ya notice they have bugs in their teeth

[Roadster Rich]

I did it once back in the 70's with my Roadster. Even though I was very young, it surely was not an enjoyable ride. Don't remember any bugs in the teeth, but sure was uncomfortable with my eyes watering so that I could not see. Never have done it since.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I think about every state requires eye protection, so if you drive with it down you'll need to wear goggles.

[Kevin in NJ]

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I know that in Ocean City, NJ they will issue tickets if you drive on the street with the windshield down on a jeep.

So you best be in good with the locals.

[FL&WVMIKE]

For some reason, it is worse than riding a motorcycle. It must be the air streaming over the hood, straight at you.
MIKE

[dumb person]

Yes. Wear sun glasses & it all makes sense unless the rad' boils over then you wonder why you folded it down.

[BCCHOPIT]

Only the Cool kids do....

[Bob-A]

I did it once on my '31 roadster, but it was a PIA to do. The car is basicly unrestored with most of its original parts. The rubber gaskets on the sides and bottom of the windshield are rock hard. So I had to flip the windshield over backwards in order to fold the stanchions. I pushed my
pony tail (old hippy) up under a black "cadet" style fatique hat and added
a pair of Red Baron goggles for effect then my Ray Bans. {I've been riding custom Harleys for almost 40 years: I love being in the wind.} It was a blast! I haven't done it since because of the hard rubber gaskets
and I'm hesitant to take a part the windshield to replace them. However, I have a nice set of 70's repop aftermarket folding stanchions
for my '29 roadster. And after I do a couple more things to the car the
chrome "folders" are definitely going on! Oh' yeah, I also need to buy a
Red Baron type leather pilot's cap.

Bob-A

[HoarseWhisperer]

I've had the windshield down once.

Like Mike said, I found it much worse than a motorcycle which I enjoy.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Dog here, hate to ask a stupid question, but cain't ask Ol' Bill right now, 'cause he's ticked @ Gregg for throin' away his cheeses 'cause they had some black mold, anyways, tell me the trick to foldin' down our coupe windsheeld so's I can catch bugs, if & when those IDIOTS ever get us "FIRED" up??
I can jump 5 foot high & catch a FLY & eat it!!
Buster T.

[spdway1]

Hey Buster T,
I don't recommend you catching bugs on a road trip. This is what happened to me recently!
Stay safe,
Meatball

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by spdway1

Hey Buster T,
I don't recommend you catching bugs on a road trip. This is what happened to me recently!
Stay safe,
Meatball

Yo, Meatball, I feel for you, Buddy, ain't NO fun. 2 years with Bill & I ain't barfed yet, soon I'll ride the coupe & hope I don't get car sick. Where's your T.P. roller? Bill redone ours. Buster T.

[Dana Barlow]

When I stop LOL,I'll fix some popcorn.

[Rich in Tucson]

I have never seen one lowered except in old photos, nor one on a Jeep either.

I have noticed that around here, rarely if ever do people even open their windshields, closed cars or open cars. Most photos from around the country seem to bear this out.

When asked about it, most will say it is too much trouble, it won't stay open, or "it never occurred to me". Perhaps it was never a functionally good idea but the notched windshield brackets ought to make it at least a stable proposition.

Mine won't stay open consistently due to worn parts or repro parts (I presume; it is way down on the punch list) and I have nearly lost a finger or two when the windshield suddenly came crashing inward against the steering wheel when going 50 into a head wind of over 20. I do appreciate the increased ventilation though.

[spdway1]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Yo, Meatball, I feel for you, Buddy, ain't NO fun. 2 years with Bill & I ain't barfed yet, soon I'll ride the coupe & hope I don't get car sick. Where's your T.P. roller? Bill redone ours. Buster T.

My girl friend Pixie says you don't need stikin' paper, just a fresh patch of grass!
Meatball

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

You know, Folks, these great laughs have made me forget what a crappy day I've had, THANKS!
Buster T. & I try to, hopefully, make someone laugh a little to help them forget their pains, worries, trials, sadness, etc, even if for just a moment. Humor helps me deal with a lot of stuff. Daily life is TOUGH at times. Bill W. & Buster T.

[Rock Hornbuckle]

Originally Posted by mhsprecher

How many women do you know who would be riding around with the windshield down wearing hats?

I know one, and believe me, you should happy that you don't know her!

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Rich,
One supplier has deep knotched knobs for the windshield swing arms that are easier for old tired hands to tighten. Bill W. (I forgot which supplier)

[Geo. H]

I put my 31 roadster ws down for a parade one time about ten years ago. That was sortof neat, but I haven't done it since. I even like a windshield on a motorcycle.

[Ron Lowe]

Hey Buster T, Thanks for the laughs. I thought I had the only dog that could talk. She's a Harrier Hound and boy can she talk!

[Tiny]

I run with my coupe windshield open all the way most of the time. I have the notched brackets, bought them used at a swap meet. It get warm here and the dash seems to scoop more air when it open more, keeping my feet cooler. And the bugs in the teeth make for more protein in my diet. I wish I had an open car so I could fold it down.

[peters180a/170b]

Between Buster T. and Meatball i am glad i did not have dinner yet.... i would of lost it ...l.o.l. thanks on a rainy day...And glad it is raining. very dry,,

[48Rob]

Mine doesn't fold down, but I do drive with it folded out when it is hot.
25 MPH is about the fastest that is is comfortable.

Rob

[al's28/33]

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How the heck do you keep the windshield up while driving ??? With all that vibration and wind sheer, mine shuts tight...........and yes I have tightened those *&^%$%#@ screws as far down as they'll go!

[Tiny]

Originally Posted by al's28/33

How the heck do you keep the windshield up while driving ??? With all that vibration and wind sheer, mine shuts tight...........and yes I have tightened those *&^%$%#@ screws as far down as they'll go!

Al try the notched swing out arms. They "lock" it down pretty good with gentle tightening

[Rich in Tucson]

There are no swing arms on roadsters and open cab pickups Tiny, there are cone-shaped washers that rely on friction when tightened by a winged screw.

[Tiny]

Yeah my bad. It's been a long week I looked quick on my phone when I replied. Duh I'm a dipshit

[springerpete]

Guess I need a lesson here from those in the know. I have a '29 roadster that has windshield posts with a swivel for the glass pretty much at the top. Not having other, later roadsters around to look at for sure, I assume the newer ones have posts that fold down. Or, are my posts wrong ?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by springerpete

Guess I need a lesson here from those in the know. I have a '29 roadster that has windshield posts with a swivel for the glass pretty much at the top. Not having other, later roadsters around to look at for sure, I assume the newer ones have posts that fold down. Or, are my posts wrong ?

No, you're correct and my 28 Phaeton is the same way.

[Banger]

I prefer to drive mine with the windshield folded. Guess I got used to it when it didn't have a windshield during the build process.

Couple of times it has folded back on me too. Thought about putting some brackets on there to positively prevent that.

1930 roadster pickup with re-pop windshield components - thing never stays tight...

[DougVieyra]

I enjoyed driving my '31 Dlx Roadster with the w/s folded down. As has been mention, eye and head (ear) protection from the wind is a must for anything over 25 mph. I used an old WWI Flyers leather headgear (with mandatory orange scarf flowing behind) with their over large one-piece eye goggles. It worked fine and was a joy to speed along at about 60 mph on the Freeway in the S.F. Bay Area. Cop pulled me over while driving down the Freeway in San Leandro and gave me a ticket for some sort of windshield violation of California vehicle law. So be judicious where you do this. It was FUN ! ! ! Of course, that was 50 years ago - and I was YOUNG !

I have an accessory Fold-Down windshield on my '28 Phaeton, but have not had it down yet. But when I do, I know that it will be an infrequent event.

[Skrain]

What about the speedster folks?

[klawockvet]

When it gets warm I open the windshield on my 28 Roadster and put the iPhone in between the window and the back of the dash. Keeps the window open in two positions depending on how the phone is placed. The iPhone is in a non slip Otter Box. I miss the tip out windshield on the later cars.

[Logan]

My speedster doesn't have a winshield, and it doesn't really bother me and I wear contacts. I sit low enough in it, that the wind hits the cowl and scoops up by the gas tank so the wind goes over my head. (Stock 38/29 cowl section and gas tank) but before my first big road trip in it, I'll probably consider putting a windshield on it. I've been trying to find some wind wing brackets, but I want the ones that hold the glass on the ends rather than the little clamp time for open cars. I haven't been able to find any, and I'll probably use wind wings as a short windshield on each side. And the chrome brackets will look pretty good.

[Purdy Swoft]

I've never tun a windshield on my speedster, it might slow it down!!

[Purdy Swoft]

This one either. Its not a speedster, just a strip down.

[Purdy Swoft]

We run with the top down sometimes. I don't mess with the windshield now that i've got it where it stays in place.

[Skeezixx]

Wouldn't driving with the windshield folded down make the windshield wiper less effective?

[Purdy Swoft]

It could be dane jus if the wind got under it and you reached up and caught it. This happened to me with a Jeep and it broke an otherwise good windshield. It wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't been my dads jeep. This was many years ago but I never forgot it.

[ericr]

I have a true contemporary story about this subject. Back in the 1920s Dad had an Auburn with a folding windshield. He was sailing around the city with the windshield folded down and a bug flew into his ear. He went ballistic and pulled over and saw a woman in her yard and asked her if she could help get it out. She thought he was a nutcase and blew him off.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by ericr

I have a true contemporary story about this subject. Back in the 1920s Dad had an Auburn with a folding windshield. He was sailing around the city with the windshield folded down and a bug flew into his ear. He went ballistic and pulled over and saw a woman in her yard and asked her if she could help get it out. She thought he was a nutcase and blew him off.

Well, Eric, Ever since I had a 3 1/2 week, hallucinating bout from a BAD reaction to Flexerill, I've had this "chirping" thing in my left ear, (TINNITIS??) Buster T. thinks it's a BUG!! I also acquired a "FLOATER" in my left eye during the same "fiasco"! Gregg thinks I'm a NUTCAKE!! He bought me a battery powered earwax sucker, in case it wuld help, it even has a little "built in" flashlight Bill W.

[jrapose]

In California it is against the law for a jeep to drive on the road with the windshield down as it was never designed to do that....but the model A was designed to be driven on the road with the windshield down so it is legal to do it..... but be ready to argue with a cop as most of them don't understand the difference between a jeep and a vintage car..

I drive with the windshield down on warm days when I enjoy the breeze,,,not real fun at higher speeds .....yes you must wear eye protection...Red Barron style.

Joel
Chester Ca.

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by Skrain

What about the speedster folks?

The first year I had the speedster I didn't have windshields. Not much fun at 40+ mph. It didn't take long until I added these:

[Model A Speedster]

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Ive had the windshield folded down on my '31 phaeton a few times. Fun to drive, as I too am a motorcycle enthusiast! But a real b*#$h to get the rubber back into place as it is starting to get a bit hard with age. Also the vacuum line doesnt like to follow the windshield around so I have to make sure there is something laying around to plug it.

Drove my speedster for a while with no windshield, which is fun, but decided it looked better with a windshield in place.