1951 cadillac sedan

[Viator Trudeau]

A friend W/ a '51 series 62 sedan has to replace the windshield.  The body shop has received the new windshield and it has a tinted area across the top.   I think G M called this tinting E Z Eye glass.  Did all Cadillac have this tinting as standard or was it an accessary to be had W/ the windshield  only and not the rest of the glass.

V. Trudeau

[wrench]

As a partial attempt to answer your question, my 51 does NOT have a tinted windshield. I would say that the odds are very high that this is the original windshield as the condition of the car generally is very close to original.

So, my guess would be that tinted windshield may have been available as an option as not all 51 series 62 sedans have it.

It would be interesting to know if tinted glass and/or a visor were options during that time period as Cadillac had just gone away from the split windshield in 1950.

[Bob Schuman]

My 1959 Master Parts Book lists both plain and EZ Eye (GM's name for tinted glass) windshields starting with the 1950 models. For the side windows it is confusing-it lists plain and tinted for the rear door glass starting with 1951 Series 62 and 60S cars, but the same cars front door glass is shown as plain, no tinted glass listed. That cannot be correct. Since the 1950 and 51 bodies were the same, the tinted glass could have been listed in my 1959 MPB even though it may not have been factory installed in 1950 cars.

For the rear glass, no tinted glass is listed for any 1950 model. Starting with 1951, clear or tinted rear glass is listed for all except Series 61 cars. From that, I conclude  tinted glass was an option for all windows beginning with all 1951 models except Series 61.

My own memory, which is not guaranteed perfect, is that Buick first offered an optional tinted windshield in 1950 models, not sure about the side and rear glass. My memory is that Cadillac was a year behind, not offering the tinted glass option until 1951.

If anyone has a 1951 or 1952 MPB, possibly that can provide a more definitive answer.

Bob Schuman

[jdemerson]

No tented glass option was listed for Cadillac in 1950. In general E-Z-Eye tinted glass provided tinting on ALL windows.

E-Z-Eye glass was listed as an option in 1951 and it retailed for $43. I do not know if it was available on Series 61 models.

E-Z-Eye glass was again listed as an option in 1952, and it retailed for $46.

E-Z-Eye continued to be an option throughout the 1950s. 

Information sources:  Cadillac Data Books and 1950-53 Authenticity Manual

John Emerson