I'm at a crossroads with my 67. I've yet to get started on the carport that I know have the permit for, and the sun is now shining bright and I'm worried...
My 67' has pretty much the entire interior in near perfect original condition, likely because the original owner kept it inside pretty much all it's life. My thinking is if it had been left out in the sun for even 1/4 of it's life, the seats would be pretty much in tatters. I want to preserve it. I have a cover, but I prefer not to use it.
So now I'm thinking of tinting to protect the interior from UV. Do the back window and the sides in a medium grey, not black gangsta. In the summer the car will usually cruise with all the windows down since its a 4dr ht.
I have a very good shop just around the corner that is well known for it's quality tinting, my only problem is...will this look cheesy on this car? Will it ruin the mostly original appeal of the car?
Do I just go for it in the name of preservation? What do you think?
Picture it tinted...
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
Just went to see the tinters. They took one look at the back window and said they'd have to leave a gap all the way around the edge untinted. New back windows in cars have a dark area around the edge thats painted and they tint to that, old glass does not. And the problem is, the bead of butyl around my back glass is not in a straight line. They's no way they can match this uneveness. If I can get the glass taken out (which I just had done last week) they could spray a 1" black line around the edge and tint to that.
The side glass could be still done, but I say forget it if it all can't be. Oh well .
Mark
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
I'm taking this as good news Mark, I didn't comment before but I am glad it didn't work out. I keep my car covered whenever it's not inside, keep it covered inside too actually. It is a pain taking it off and putting it on but for the 3 minutes it takes I got used to it.
Hopefully I can start the carport for it soon. I have a cover, not a high end one, not waterproof and it fits pretty loose. If it were to get windy it probably flap like mad and make a mess of all the edges of the body. Not to mention the car would need to be clean before putting it on. It's a shame the tint wouldn't have flown, it would have provided the interior with good uv protection whenever the side windows were up, and the rear seat all the time with sun through the back window.
I could spend the money I would have used on the tint for a good, weather resistant cover. Is one actually available that would fit this body half decent?
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
I have a decent one I got for the Fleetwood at CTC, fits snug with elastic around the bottom and is very strong for outdoor use. I paid $108 for it. I think it is XL size, fits cars 19 to 22 feet long.
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
I agree with the other guys that held their tongues, no tint - I would suggest a made-to-fit decent-quality (read: about $100) car cover, not only keep the sun out of the interior but off the paint, and also keep the dust and dirt off the car. The made-to-fit ones will not flap in the wind if secured with one under-the-car rope (or looooooooong bungee cord), eh? Investment in cover will stand you well even after the carport is built.
Dave
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
I agree with the other guys that held their tongues, no tint - I would suggest a made-to-fit decent-quality (read: about $100) car cover, not only keep the sun out of the interior but off the paint, and also keep the dust and dirt off the car. The made-to-fit ones will not flap in the wind if secured with one under-the-car rope (or looooooooong bungee cord), eh? Investment in cover will stand you well even after the carport is built.
Dave
Ok guys...In reality tint on this car really might not be the best. It's just that the thing is so darn well preserved and I have trouble thinking about it coming apart. I can't even imagine it with any rips. But I saw my brother today, and he said...just drive it Mark and don't worry too much...good advice ... I guess. But a good cover for 100? I'm thinking more like 300 Dave.
I'll just get cracking on the carport, and until then, keep some sheets on the seats on the days it sits in the driveway in the sun.
Just another negative of owning a classic without a garage.
Thanks for the input.
Mark
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
If you use a car cover, buy a box of bungie cords. Even with the elastic at the bottom it can still blow off (I know this from experience). Put the bungie in the eyelets at the bottom and secure it to something under the car (hole in the frame etc). I used two in the front, two in the rear and three at each side.
Also, what about those portable shelters. Dont you have one of those already?
Don't remind me. But thats on the other side of the house Todd. Can't wait to get started on the carport on the driveway side. 11' post to wall and 26' long. Almost as nice as your familys old one. Might even read the latest issue of OldAutos under it!
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
Geez, Mark, I guess my pricing info must be outdated - the last car cover I bought was back in the 70's, I had a Beverly Hills cover on my 67 Vette that lasted for 20 years and was still fine (although that car was also garaged) seems to me I paid $100 then (of coure MUCH more expensive now), and I succumbed and bought a cheapie for my 66 Chevelle that didn't last one year outdoors. As always, quality pays.
Do zoning laws allow some kind of side wall on your carport? Even if just slats, that would help with weather and sun, eh?
Dave
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
I heard on the news just last that the Ontario government is going to try and pass a law that makes it illegal to have too dark of a tint on windows. I have to wonder how the police are going to treat this really. If it's pitch black then okay it's cut and dried if it does become the law. But what if it's really dark but still can be seen through? The way they make it sound is it will be up to the individual cop's discretion as to whether he sees fit to give a ticket. Good thing there aren't more pressing issues in the world today for McSquinty's government besides whether windows have too much tint or not. And of course they're putting it across as a "safety" issue and not that because someone has pitch black windows, they must be doing something criminal or at least, suspicious behind that black glass! And hey Mark, I too am one of the ones that are glad you aren't going to tint your windows. I get your point as well and think the same as Todd about bungey cords and Dave's suggestion of slats on the sides of your new carport if you can get away with it.
Florida has illegal tint laws also, but the shops will do whatever you want - I went with 85% since it matches the factory tint on the rear side windows of my truck
and I figure if I ever get hauled over I will say "The rear is factory stock so how can the rest be illegal?"
Dave
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1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
Mark: I bought a car cover for my Impala and it is always stored underground in the parking garage. I bought the cover because it was always getting dusty when it just sat there.
The cover wasn't on 3 weeks when I get a knock on the door of our apartment from the building super and he says that he has a complaint about me "Storing" my car. Seems that they objected to me having the cover on even though I had been driving it on occasions. Somebody just wanted to gripe.
I took the cover off without an argument as we have 3 vehicles here and we are only allowed 2.... didn't want to stir anything up if you know what I mean.
If your interested I could make you a deal or even lend it till the hot summer is gone...
I will be going to the Ancaster flea market next weekend and we could meet or I will just come by your place.
.
1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod
