Is there an anti-reflective window film to improve night driving?

[Pat Martone]

I am wondering if there is some kind of anti-reflective window film that I can install on the inside of my windshield and rear window to reduce the many headlight reflections that I see when driving my Model A at night?

As some of you may know, the headlight reflections from other vehicles are very annoying when driving at night, and sometimes I am forced to drive at night.

I realize the back window pull-down shade is supposed to reduce that problem, but I don't want to lose use of the rear window.

If I could find the right product, which reduces reflections and has no "tint", then I would apply it to all inside windows of my sedan because the multiple reflections of lights from the side windows can be just as "scary" to me when driving at night.

Any recommendations are welcome; thanks in advance.

[spdway1]

If you find something, let me know. I am forced to keep my windshield tilted out a bit.

[Hicktick]

I would try some different glasses .

Say some cheap shooting ones for glare , or some real light sunglasses .

I am not saying it will work but thats what I would try before I put anything on my windows .

[Special Coupe Frank]

Some sort of polarizing film ( if there is such a thing ) would probably help...

I have a coupe, and one of things I did was to buy a suction-cup mounted roll-up sun-shade, and stick that on the back window. The fabric is perforated ( like the headliner in a 1960's VW Beetle), so it does allow some rear-ward vision.

Keeping the windshield open a tad also helps.

I tend to get spooked by the stray reflections in the side windows too...

I guess this is one of the reasons auto designers got away from perfectly vertical glass...

I have driven 1940's cars for decades and never had much of a glare problem at night... the Model A is a much different experience.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by Hicktick

I would try some different glasses .

Say some cheap shooting ones for glare , or some real light sunglasses .

I am not saying it will work but thats what I would try before I put anything on my windows .

Yea, are they also called polarized driving glasses?

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Yes, Pat, they're really weird if the windshield is closed! Positive thing is that when parked at the .99 cent store, I can see ALL the cute girls coming from every direction! My rear shade material lets me see headlights behind me fairly well at night. It looks like a new repro shade. Bill W.

[Marvin/TN]

I was going to say you can tilt the W/S a bit.

[Rock Hornbuckle]

The 3M company makes a multitude of window films, some to reduce glare, some to reduce solar gain, others to just darken. I have used a number of them on commercial buildings for various reasons. Contact 3M, they can give you a local distributer, and help with what you're trying to accomplish. I have found that a lightly tinted windshield helps.

[Pat Martone]

Thanks for the replies.

I am somewhat comforted to know I am not the only one that finds stray light and reflections from my windows can make driving a Model A at night pretty scary. I am hopeful that I can find some kind of anti-glare/anti-reflective window film to try.

I already wear eyeglasses, so I would prefer to put some kind of anti-reflective film on my windows, or at least on the back window.

Yes, I also get "spooked" by stray reflections from the side windows; I sometimes feel that a car is about to crash into me from the side, before I realize the light reflections are playing tricks on me.

My sedan is a slant windshield but perhaps there is not enough "slant" to it, and keeping it tilted open is only good for the warmer weather which is a short time period here in New England.

I think contacting 3M is a good suggestion - they might have an anti-reflective film that I could try, starting with my back window first.

[30ccpickup]

3M's Site:

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...ts/Automotive/

[Tom Wesenberg]

Before applying something to the windows, I'd try hanging some old fashioned curtains over the windows. I'm thinking about the white open weave very light curtains, like you used to see on a lot of old house windows. You can look out, but people can't see in too well. Fabric stores should have the material, and it would look period correct. Shouldn't cost much to give it a try.

[V4F]

my back window has a slight tint & works ok . i thought about a curtain for the darn blue lites .

[1931 flamingo]

Ahhhh, the classic blue lights.........................
Paul in CT

[steve s]

Originally Posted by Pat Martone

Thanks for the replies.

...
Yes, I also get "spooked" by stray reflections from the side windows; I sometimes feel that a car is about to crash into me from the side, before I realize the light reflections are playing tricks on me.
....

I too get spooked by the side reflections. The only fix I've found is to roll the windows at least part way down--not always practical.

I don't think that the polarized sunglasses are going to help, other than make everything darker, which has its own problems. While it's true that the reflected light will be somewhat polarized, the plane of that polarization for vertical windows is 90 degrees to the horizontally polarized light reflected off of water, snow, and wet roads, etc. that the sunglasses were designed to handle. Unless you hold your head sideways, the vertically polarized light coming off of the windows will pass right through the polaroid material in your sunglasses.

Steve

[Rock Hornbuckle]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Before applying something to the windows, I'd try hanging some old fashioned curtains over the windows. I'm thinking about the white open weave very light curtains, like you used to see on a lot of old house windows. You can look out, but people can't see in too well. Fabric stores should have the material, and it would look period correct. Shouldn't cost much to give it a try.

I think that material is called "Shear". I also think it comes in several mutted tones. Had them in a house once, and they do help control glare.

[P.S.]

What do we do about the people that insist on driving with high beams, or added beams to the front of their cars full time? We get those a lot out here in CA. Absolutely rude and obnoxious "me generation" members that get right on your rear bumper with high beams on and blind you (when driving the A). The rear window shade is a must, and keeping the windshield tilted out about half way is the only way you can drive at night without being blinded most times.

[RichardW]

I have tried something that works well for me. I got some of the solar screen from the hardware store and mounted it with magnets on the inside of the back window of the tudor. Mine is 90% meaning it blocks 90% of the light. Does a good job of blocking the bright lights at night and since the light has to pass through it twice to reflect back to the front really knocks down the distracting reflections. And easy enough to see through during the day.

[Rock Hornbuckle]

I wonder if someone makes a roll-up solar shade for the A?

[Cool Hand Lurker]

Lowes has some polarized window film that is pretty cheap and only has a light bronze tint.
Here is a link.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_65841-74130-...7C1&facetInfo=

[figment]

I had a rear view mirror glass (not Original) that was beveled and reflected all over the place. I took it out and it was much better.