Window Bugs

[Gilbert T]

Good day, I have ordered a glass etching kit from 3rd Gen Auto for my 1940 deluxe convertible, they have asked could I let them know the month of the car. I have no idea of this,could anyone help with this by the Vin number. The number is 185817517.
Martin.

[rockfla]

I'm NO 1940 expert by any stretch of the imagination, with that said VanPelt's has the engine number logs and for 1940 there were 685,593 85Hp engines for 1940. I would "imagine" that the 40 model year ran for say about 10 months....Oct/Nov of 39 to say Aug/Sept maybe as late as October of 40.....just guessing SO your engine was 78,777 from the last one for 1940. The engine log is NOT a 100% definite on the build date of your car, it took "some" time from when the engine was built to when it was installed in your car SO.....???? Maybe "Kube" could be more specific.....He is THE 40 Guru!!!!! Mine is a simpletons match and deduction. Your car "could" have certain features that were a "model year" change and "could" help narrow the time frame of production AGAIN there are several 40 experts who would know more to ask on that front than I. Kube first and foremost!!!!


July or "7 40" or Aug "8 40" would be my guess

[Jacques1960]

If there are any existing bugs on the glass, you will be able to get “a” month, though not necessarily “the” month from the first digit as mentioned above.

This is a timely topic as I also have a question: location of bugs on windshield and rear glass for 1936 Phaeton, and are bugs etched on the interior or exterior ?

Thank you.

[woodiewagon46]

Jaques as far as location the "Bugs" were on the inside. Can't help with location though.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Gilbert T

Good day, I have ordered a glass etching kit from 3rd Gen Auto for my 1940 deluxe convertible, they have asked could I let them know the month of the car. I have no idea of this,could anyone help with this by the Vin number. The number is 185817517.
Martin.

Your engine / transmission was assembled in June, 1940.
Glass dates? Keep in mind that it is very unlikely that all the dates will match throughout the vehicle. Glass was made in lots. Example? Perhaps a large run of windshields in May. A large run of door glass in March.

Most likely your car was assembled in late June, perhaps early to mid July. Thus, no glass dates beyond that whatsoever.
If I were restoring this vehicle, I'd choose a mixture of dates between March and May. March for the rear windshield, May for the front windshields and April for the remainder of the pieces.
I'm willing to bet Mr. Driskell will sell you a kit with a mix of dates.

Location? Glass was made in a mirror image to fit both sides of the vehicle with one exception, the rear windshield.
Thus, the glass on the left side of the vehicle would read properly from the inside. The glass on the right would read properly from the outside.

The rear windshield could be installed in either direction. Thus, the "bug" could possibly be read properly from the inside or the outside.

[Jacques1960]

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Thank you !

[35fordtn]

Keep in Mind... The Vin as Kube mentions is when the engine/transmission were built. The Car would have been built after that; but could have Early Glass. I am sure by 1940 the process was improved but in the Early years it's not uncommon to see a Late car with much Earlier glass, as the glass was produced and then stored until used.

Good Example, a local friend has a 1933 Ford sedan. It has all Late Features except it has a 1932 V8 engine / Trans, and carries a 1932 Serial Number. The car it's self is CLEARLY a very Late produced car. The glass is all original to the car. One piece shows January, one Feburary, and the rest August.
My suspicsion is it was built at a plant where production started late and they had a extra 1932 engine/trans left over.

When people ask us to suggest a Month we always steer clear for obvious reasons. But when they insist I always sugest a Early month because that is always plausable.

[Robert/Texas]

My low mileage '37 Fordor has all of the original glass. The bug dates on the glass are all over the place. One rear window has a 1936 date.

[woodiewagon46]

Gilbert, I don't know if this helps you in any way, but the notation on "Bugs" in the 1941 thru 1948 book put out by the V-8 Club states that "Glass production typically preceded car assembly by about one month". I have used the etching kit from 3rd Gen and it is easy to do.

[Gilbert T]

Thanks very much for the replies. It has been very helpful indeed. Martin