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74 windshield frame paint color

Discussion in 'Early Jeep Restoration and Research' started by norvcj5, Feb 10, 2008.

  1. norvcj5

    norvcj5 New Member

    Hi , first post to this form. My question is regarding the paint color of the 1974 windshield frame for cj5. Factory sales booklets show the color to be black as well as pictures in numerous JEEP books. I have also seen 74's with the frame painted the same color as the JEEP. Any help would be great

    Thanks Paul
     
  2. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    The CJ-5/6 windshield frame was black until the '76 models.
     
  3. norvcj5

    norvcj5 New Member

    Thank You for the information
     
  4. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    It's what we're here for.

    I added your question to the FAQ in the tech section BTW. :)
     
  5. farfle

    farfle old dog

    Hummm, I've got the original WS frame still on mine. Trans Am Red.
     
  6. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    :? Original frame != original paint though.

    I'm not surprised that many are body color as alot of folks go ahead and shoot the WS frame body color when painting.
     
  7. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Hmmmm, if farfle was to fold his windshield I wonder what the color on the bottom would be.
     
  8. farfle

    farfle old dog

    Folded wind shield. Trans Am Red.
     
  9. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Oh dear, I'm afraid that is the wrong answer. R)

    Seriously, Jim, Tim, you guys recall this from working at the dealerships?

    Jeep did funny things as we all know...
     
  10. aallison

    aallison 74 cj6, 76 cj5. Has anyone seen my screwdriver?

    Could the dealer have repainted it the body color before selling it?
     
  11. Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Curious...how do you tell an original from, say, a dealer replacement from 30 years ago?
     
  12. farfle

    farfle old dog

    Mike, I was thinkin the same thing. My next door neighbor sells new cars, and from some of his stories, I've learned that dealers will repair some pretty major damage, and still sell a car as new.

    When my wife bought the jeep in early 1976, it was sold and titled as a new vehicle. Dealer demo, she says it had about 1000 miles on it. One other little detail she remembered was that the dealer had installed a manual choke in the hole above the steering column which is usually plugged. Why, on a new vehicle? Who knows? I do know it would be almost impossible to know what the factory did without a factory build sheet. A "dealer invoice" could be very inaccurate. Especially from jeep.

    The irony for me is, I much prefer the black, and if the guru's have declared black to be correct, then that's what I would like to have, 'cause I really like stock.

    Unfortunately, my wife is the one who bought the thing new, for cash, and in her reality, the thing came with a TA Red windshield frame. I'm an old greybeard now, and one thing I have learned is that it is a complete waste of time to attempt to change any woman's perception of reality, especially my wife. So I'm probably stuck with red. :)
     
  13. bkd

    bkd Moderator Supreme Staff Member 2022 Sponsor

    [

    Unfortunately, my wife is the one who bought the thing new, for cash, and in her reality, the thing came with a TA Red windshield frame. I'm an old greybeard now, and one thing I have learned is that it is a complete waste of time to attempt to change any woman's perception of reality, especially my wife. So I'm probably stuck with red. :)[/QUOTE]

    now there's a wise man:beer:
    Jim S.
     
  14. Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Yep, definitely wrong answer. R)

    We could go with the theory that since it was a demo model the windshield was purposely painted red. :)
     
  15. Jeffzilla

    Jeffzilla 1975 CJ5

    Ummmmmm....I hate to disagree with a panel of experts like the folks assembled here, but....I have a 75 all original 35,000 mile never messed with CJ5 and the windshield frame is body color. I just had a new windshield installed (today) and under the rubber....body color. No other color paint beneath the body color. I also have a 1975 AMC Jeep factory brochure and it shows the windshield frame in body color. There is no evidence that the literature has been painted or otherwise altered.

    I wonder if maybe a change might have been made in 74 mid year?

    Jeff
     
  16. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Like I said, Jeep did strange stuff.

    Thanks for letting us know, I'll make the appropriate disclaimers in the tech library.
     
  17. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    Made the change in the tech library. :beer:
     
  18. Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    FWIW - I wouldn't cite Jeep's marketing material as historical evidence for what was available at the dealer by default. If you look close you'll find strange things that were done, IMHO, in an effort to make photos etc jump off the page. Colored things just photograph and "pop" much more than black things.

    Maybe the photos weren't retouched, but I wouldn't put it past them to prep a vehicle for the photoshoot with some extra paint (being pre Photoshop era..;) )

    For example, I have an ad, somewhere, that shows a Tux Park CJ6 in white paint with red accents. Including the side steps. Pretty sure those were never available at the dealer.
     
  19. farfle

    farfle old dog

    Thanks for the further info Jeff. It was getting lonely and cold out here!
     
  20. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    True, true, I'm still interested in what Jim or Tim can recall though.