The original windshield arrangement has too many pillars obstructing the view for highway use. It consists of three main panes and two outer panes. That's four pillars. One pillar in the middle would be fine.
It would probably not be terribly difficult to find an automobile windshield to replace the three main panes. The SAAB 900 has impressive curvature. But that's a rather narrow windshield. I really want one windshield to replace all five panes.
I fully expect to set the new windshield further back in the center, since there is not likely an automobile or truck on the planet with so much total curvature.
A friend gave me a broken windshield from his 1959 Ford Thunderbird. It is in the right direction. A good start for research.
So I started looking at photos of similar era Fords.
1956 shows promise. Both pickups and cars. Looking at them again... they might be the same glass.
What I would like to have is some sort of catalog of all windshields from the 1950s and 1960.
There is a series of books called National Auto Glass Specifications, published by Mitchell. The first book covers 40 years and is the one of interest. But I have no idea what is actually in that book.
Annoyingly, I have so far not found a way to buy it.
The local auto glass business had not heard of it. My next stop is the local body shop, where I know the owner. But I figured I would give you guys a shot at it. Any suggestions?
Oh.... The concept is to buy the car body -- or at least the right to cut it up -- and cut the entire windshield structure out of the car -- several inches above and below, hopefully with the windshield wiper mechanism. Then graft this into the airplane. (And finally replace the glass itself with a new one, unless I'm very lucky with the original.)
[/URL
