'64 removable hardtop backlight date code

[Jeff H.]

Hello,
In restoring my '64 2-top car, I have uncovered an issue I need help with. The car is a late Dec., '63 build. The removable hardtop has always appeared to me as being totally original to the car (correct headliner configuration and material, etc.). Upon removing and cleaning the backlight, I closely examined the logo and date stamp in the left, lower corner. In comparing the logo to the requirements shown in the latest NCRS judging manual, there is a discrepency I can't explain. The manual states the logo is found on the outer surface of the plastic backlight in the lower left corner, with the following format.

Plexiglas
AS-4 M YY (where M = month, & YY = year in numerals)

My backlight has the logo in the correct location and stamped in the outer surface, but has the following format.

Plexiglas E
Acrylic
F AS4

There is no "M YY" date shown anywhere, and the letters F & E appear in the general area as shown above.

What do I have here? A service replaement backlight? A backlight from another year C2? An aftermarket part? Or, pehaps the judging manual is not correct or complete in regards to the date code. Could "F & E" refer to some date where alpha characters were used (other glass components did that)? What about the word "Acrylic" that is not mentioned in the judging manual example?

Any help would be greatly appreciated in solving this mystery. I hate to spend big $$ for a repro, dated backlight if this perfectly good backlight is, in fact, correct for the car.

Jeff
'64 C2 conv.

[Dan A.]

Re: '64 removable hardtop backlight date code

The format was changed for the 1965 model year. That appears to be the format you have , which decodes as E in the upper right is the year, which in this case is 1965. F located at the lower left is the month which is June.

[Larry M.]

Re: '64 removable hardtop backlight date code

The "E" is the month or May

The "F" is the year or 1966

The change from numbers to letters for dating occurred around October-November 1964. This is discussed in the 1965 Judging Manual.

Larry

EDIT: Daniel may well be correct, but the 5th Edition of the 1965 Judging Manual shows what I have reported above. FWIW.

[Dan A.]

Re: '64 removable hardtop backlight date code

I thought it was for the '66 model year. Then I checked the 65 manual to see if it could have started late in the '65 model year and found the change actually occured early in the '65 model year.

From Larrys post I see I may have the month and year positions transposed. So I had a look at the '66 manual which has the month at the below left and the year at the upper right. An old '65 Spring '93 second edition, first printing, has the year and month positions reversed from the description in the '66 manual.

Do '65 and '66 hartop rear windows have the month and date in the opposite positions or is one of these manuals in error?

[Larry M.]

Re: '64 removable hardtop backlight date code

I thought it was for the '66 model year. Then I checked the 65 manual to see if it could have started late in the '65 model year and found the change actually occured early in the '65 model year.

From Larrys post I see I may have the month and year positions transposed. So I had a look at the '66 manual which has the month at the below left and the year at the upper right. An old '65 Spring '93 second edition, first printing, has the year and month positions reversed from the description in the '66 manual.

Do '65 and '66 hartop rear windows have the month and date in the opposite positions or is one of these manuals in error?

[Harry S.]

Re: '64 removable hardtop backlight date code

If you have the hardtop apart, the job number and the color it was to be originally pained is written in crayon above the rear window on the inside frame. The job number is the same one on your doors, behind the gas tank and on the engine side passenger foot well. See if the top is original to the car the window could be a replacement.

An example.....

[Wayne M.]

Re: '64 removable hardtop backlight date code

Do '65 and '66 hartop rear windows have the month and date in the opposite positions or is one of these manuals in error?

Hi Dan --- no chance of transposition error on this top; both month and year are "E" (May 1965).



c

[Dan A.]

Re: '64 removable hardtop backlight date code

Hey Wayne, another valueable photo from you. Thanks

[Jeff H.]

Re: '64 removable hardtop backlight date code

Thanks, everyone, for your comments and suggestions. I now know I need to find a correct date coded backlight. Just one more thought / question regarding C2 hardtops. Can anyone tell me what other differences might exist between the various model year C2 hardtops, besides the date coded backlight? For instance, I know there were differences in headliner materials. How about the basic hardtop "shell"? Any differences in the stainless trim pieces, weatherstripping, hold-down hardware, etc. I'd hate to spend money on the backlight, only to find out later some other aspect of the hardtop is not correct for the car. Your thoughts??
Jeff

[Don H.]

Re: '64 removable hardtop backlight date code

Jeff
just a thought about your hardtop.
If it for all intents and purposes is perfect for your car, matches up in every way and appears to be original to the car except for just the date markings, why not keep it just as it is? If you intend to have the car judged with the hardtop on (most with both tops do not) then just take the one or two point deduction for incorrect date? In other words, why do you "have to" change out your perfectly good window just because the date seems incorrect for your car? In judging, the date is just 20% of the originality evaluation of a part.

[Harry S.]

Re: '64 removable hardtop backlight date code

Thanks, everyone, for your comments and suggestions. I now know I need to find a correct date coded backlight. Just one more thought / question regarding C2 hardtops. Can anyone tell me what other differences might exist between the various model year C2 hardtops, besides the date coded backlight? For instance, I know there were differences in headliner materials. How about the basic hardtop "shell"? Any differences in the stainless trim pieces, weatherstripping, hold-down hardware, etc. I'd hate to spend money on the backlight, only to find out later some other aspect of the hardtop is not correct for the car. Your thoughts??
Jeff

Jeff, very late 63, and 64 to 67 was essentially the same. 63 had a minimum of three different tops. The 63, 64 and very early 65 headliner was woven fiberglass. It was dyed to interior color then glued to about 3/8 inch of insulation.

No one today makes a proper reproduction so you're stuck with dyed vinyl over plastic.

[James W.]

Re: '64 removable hardtop backlight date code

Jeff,

Here is a picture of my '64 hardtop.

Hope this helps.

James West


UOTE=Jeff Hanson (13757);741359]Hello,
In restoring my '64 2-top car, I have uncovered an issue I need help with. The car is a late Dec., '63 build. The removable hardtop has always appeared to me as being totally original to the car (correct headliner configuration and material, etc.). Upon removing and cleaning the backlight, I closely examined the logo and date stamp in the left, lower corner. In comparing the logo to the requirements shown in the latest NCRS judging manual, there is a discrepency I can't explain. The manual states the logo is found on the outer surface of the plastic backlight in the lower left corner, with the following format.

Plexiglas
AS-4 M YY (where M = month, & YY = year in numerals)

My backlight has the logo in the correct location and stamped in the outer surface, but has the following format.

Plexiglas E
Acrylic
F AS4

There is no "M YY" date shown anywhere, and the letters F & E appear in the general area as shown above.

What do I have here? A service replaement backlight? A backlight from another year C2? An aftermarket part? Or, pehaps the judging manual is not correct or complete in regards to the date code. Could "F & E" refer to some date where alpha characters were used (other glass components did that)? What about the word "Acrylic" that is not mentioned in the judging manual example?

Any help would be greatly appreciated in solving this mystery. I hate to spend big $$ for a repro, dated backlight if this perfectly good backlight is, in fact, correct for the car.

Jeff
'64 C2 conv.[/QUOTE]