Sport Sedan windshields

[JHertzman@domain.elided]

In AD7-520 Gordy Hyde writes, of the '78-'79 Sport Sedan windshield which Zack
seeks, "Remember this thread from a couple years back folks?  Greg Fosmark
discovered that the windshield is different for the 78 and the 79.  Be Careful
to spec the correct year, Zack.  I don't remember the details, but remember
that Greg had a dickens of a time."

Gordy does remember the gist correctly, but not the years. The '78 and '79
windshields are identical, but both are different from the '75-'77 (US dates,
Yurp differs). The earlier cars had a cowl-top panel like that of the
Berlinas, which swept up into the windshield area- along with a different hood
and front fenders which were spot-welded on, again like the 115 Berlinas. With
the '78 came bolted fenders like the Milano, a smooth hood without the
depressed contour, and a straight-back cowl-top with applied plastic air
inlets instead of the earlier style slots, with consequent taller glass. The
problem the glass-seeker found then was that all glass sources shipped the
shorter '75-'77 glass instead of the longer '78-'79 glass. 

The sheetmetal changes came in Europe with the Alfetta 2000 in 1977. At the
same time the front quarter windows disappeared, the door handles were changed
from 115 Berlina style to Milano-type paddles, interiors were modernized and
various small exterior details changed, like block letters replacing script on
the trunk, and more massive taillights. The earlier cars preserved prior
forms, the later cars anticipated subsequent ones: classic vs. modern.

The only differences between the '78 and '79 were heavier chrome around the
side windows and a different color plastic on the interior door-handles-
elephant-hide grey instead of brown, I believe. Both broke in the same place.
Plus speed-lines across the dashboard-

John H.
The one in Raleigh, N.C. 

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