I am sure there were exceptions with regard to the Soft Ray glass. Im thinking alot of folks generalize the air cars having Soft Ray glass as "typical". I was hoping to see or hear of other 68 Beaumont examples of this option factory installed. My build sheet does not physically identify this existing on my car. I wonder if others have seen this listed on their build sheets?

BlackBeau wrote:

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I am sure there were exceptions with regard to the Soft Ray glass. Im thinking alot of folks generalize the air cars having Soft Ray glass as "typical". I was hoping to see or hear of other 68 Beaumont examples of this option factory installed. My build sheet does not physically identify this existing on my car. I wonder if others have seen this listed on their build sheets?

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 By your build sheet, do you mean you found the option tag in the interior of the car, or are you referring to GM documentation for your car?

Most of the cars listed in the registry here don't have a full option list shown but there is one other 68 Beaumont in the registry with A01 which is tinted glass. 

https://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/t27761937/cp-beaumont-registry/?page=1

My LeMans has RPO A02 on GMVVS documents for tinted Windshield. RPO A01 is tinted all windows.

When a car is 50 years or older I think it is reasonable to expect that the windshield has been changed at some point.

I know that when I had windshields changed due to cracks I would always get clear ones replaced with Tinted. Insurance wouldn't pay for the tinted when the car came with clear but the incremental cost was usually peanuts which I gladly paid. I am sure I'm not the only person who did this. 

 

-- Edited by 73SC on Sunday 11th of April 2021 12:47:07 AM

4SPEED427 wrote:

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Soft Ray would have been an option on any Canadian Pontiac/Beaumont/Acadian in the 60's according to any of the literature I've seen. 

And I'm going to make a statement which many guys will call BS....... I believe Soft Ray was not included with air conditioning on any of these same vehicles, it was a separate option. I always hear people say that A/C did not come with clear glass but I believe that is wrong.

In about 1976 I purchased a 67 Parisienne 4 door hardtop at a salvage auction. It was a pretty plain car, as most Canadian cars were. 283, Powerglide, PS, PB, radio but the one odd thing, it had factory air conditioning. No Soft Ray glass, every window in the car with the exception of the windshield was clear.

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I always understood they were separate options. On any GM build sheets I've seen where a car had both AC and all tinted soft ray glass, both option codes were listed. 

My US built 63 GP had AC and all clear glass except the windshield.  

My US built 69 Chevy Kingswood had AC with ALL clear glass including the windshield. 

 

BlackBeau wrote:

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yes, indeed my convertible has a new windshield installed, and it is the tinted version. But my side window glass is clearly marked Soft Ray...with the canadian manufactured glass...not the LOF glass....with reasonably correct dates. ..and no indication of it on any documents or tags.

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 Likely someone has added it? Or how long have you owned the car?

 

BlackBeau wrote:

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yes, indeed my convertible has a new windshield installed, and it is the tinted version. But my side window glass is clearly marked Soft Ray...with the canadian manufactured glass...not the LOF glass....with reasonably correct dates. ..and no indication of it on any documents or tags.

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 I'm thinking it could be possible that Soft Ray glass could have been installed at the factory by mistake, or to keep the line moving in the event that a particular piece of clear glass wasn't available when it came time to install it. 

This sort of thing happened a fair amount back in the day.  Never say never.

Taylor55 wrote:

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I purchased my fist new car in 1976 a Monte Carlo. The car was ordered fully loaded including an electric sun roof, air conditioning, power windows etc. When the car arrived I was a little disappointed  because the side windows were clear and not soft ray tinted. The front windshield and rear window with both tinted. The dealer had made a mistake when ordering and explained they assumed when air conditioning was ordered that all glass would be soft ray. I only kept the car for a year because I hated the huge doors that were so heavy.

Another question about glass is when did GM change from Shade-Lite  to Soft Ray.

 

Al

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 The last Canadian built car I owned that had shade lite glass was a 66 Bel Air 2 door sedan with all tinted glass. Any Canadian car I owned with full tint after that year was soft ray (not that I had many such Canadian cars however). All my US cars had soft ray glass. 

I have seen lots of beaumonts with soft ray glass

Pontiacanada wrote:

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Taylor55 wrote:

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Another question about glass is when did GM change from Shade-Lite  to Soft Ray.

Al

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 My understanding is Shade-Lite is a Canadian name.

I have a full set of Shade-Lite from a non-AC '64 Parisienne.

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 Curious - was that set of 64 Pontiac shade light glass harvested from a silver Parisienne in PEI? If so I think I know the car.