Back in 73 and 74 did any of the rear windshields come with the lines in the rear windshield for the defroster? I would like to install a rear defroster in my 74 Dart Sport, and I remember the mid 70s Darts having a blower motor under the rear package tray that blew air similiar to the front windshield.

I ask this because I saw on ebay a "74 Dart rear windshield" with the lines built into the glass. I don't think this was available in 74.

Yes Heated Rears on A bodies started in 73-74ish.. I have seen them.. Rare, but there.. Go to NY state.. I think it is law there. I am inclined to say it was just for the dart sport / Duster Bodies not the Sedans / 2 Door hardtops as thy would have forced air blowers.


Greg

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack

First year for grid-type backglass defogger on fastback A-bodies (Duster, Dart Sport) was '73. First and only year for grid-type backglass defogger on square A-bodies was '76. The fastback item fits any year Duster/Demon/Dart Sport. The 2-door and 4-door square-body items fit (respectively) any '67-up A-body.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Dan-

I disagree. About ten years ago my brother and I parted out a 74 Dart sedan to get the brakes, rear axle, and other bits for his 68 Dart sedan. The 74 had a factory electric grid defroster because it was originally sold in New York State. We installed the glass and wiring in my brother's 68 Dart and ordered a NOS switch from Layson's. This is the only grid-type rear window defroster I have ever seen for a-bodies.

I believe NY mandated all cars sold there had to have this style of rear defrost starting the early 70s.

Right, sorry, grid-type defoggers for square A-bodies starting in '74, not '76. Verified per FPC. Wonder what I had in mind? Something to do with the glass, but now can't get a spark out of that neuron. :shrug:

As a matter of purely academic interest, legally speaking, there is no such NY state requirement. Per 49 U.S.C. 30103(b)(1), States may regulate the use of vehicle equipment, but they are prohibited from enacting vehicle equipment requirements, prohibitions, or design/performance requirements that differ in any respect from any provisions of any applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (49CFR571.101 et seq). In practice, this means states may enact standards more permissive but not more stringent than the Federal standard. State vehicle equipment standards are legally null and unenforceable to the extent they are more stringent or materially different than the Federal standard So, for example, because FMVSS No. 108 says rear turn signals must be visible from 45° inward to 45° outward of their axis and may emit amber or red light, states may not require that they be visible 60° out to 60° in and emit only amber or only red, and may not require that they emit green or white or anything else. Likewise, because there is no Federal requirement for backglass defoggers, states aren't permitted to require them. This Federal preëmption is predicated on the philosophy that a significant purpose of the Federal standards is standardisation, so a vehicle legal to sell in one state is legal to sell in all states.

That did not stop NY from placing such a requirement on their books, and it has not stopped various other states (California...) from attempting to promulgate vehicle equipment standards more stringent than the Federal standards. Occasionally there were tiffs between the Feds and such states; other times automakers just complied with the spurious state standards rather than go to the hassle and delay of challenging them (and sometimes the tiffs went the other direction, as when the Feds were upset with OR and WA for those states' very sensible revisions to their headlamp requirements in the 1970s).

So: Yes, NY has such a requirement on their books, but it's null and void, but Chrysler complied anyhow.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

WOO-HOOO!!! I proved Dan wrong on something! Just kidding..... It happens so rarely.

I don't know if it is still applicable, but back in the '80's new jersey had a requirement of a rear bumper on trucks. My 86 Toyota came w/o a rear bumper, as standard equipment. It was an option. It had to have a dealer installed bumper installed, before the sale.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Heh-heh... Dan said "promulgate"...

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vm

(discussion of safety and emission regulations moved over here)

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.