Has anyone had a batch of rare or custom windshields made ?

Hi , 

I  need to get some windshields made ,  some are copies of original  glass and there may be a couple that will be "custom" because we have the car but no original glass.

We found one place in Taiwan that can do it , but it will take 12 months to get them made and then shipped back to the USA ,  thats OK if we are working on the same model car  , but some of these are cars with less than 100 ever made.

We are really looking for a USA or Mexico company that is set-up to make batches of 10-20-30 windshields from an original , 

Thanks for any contacts , I am sure they are out there .......

Most of the molds for the glass in 50's American cars found their way to Sweden a number of years ago if that's what you're after.

Other than that, I've had one-offs bent by a local glass shop.

I looked into this when I was doing the curved windows on the back of SanFord in case I broke one.

Try a marine windshield and glass place. They are almost all custom. You will probably need to provide the buck for forming the curve. 

Someone like this would probably be willing to produce a limited run. https://www.procurveglass.com/markets/

Or maybe these guys. https://www.curvedglasscreations.com/custom-auto-glass

It won't be cheap. Replacement glass for SanFord was going to run about $600 each.

When it comes to British cars, Kip Motor Co. specializes in one-off pieces--either finding them or having them made. Maybe they can help with a source.

Or would polycarbonate work? If so, Shields? 

David S. Wallens said:

When it comes to British cars, Kip Motor Co. specializes in one-off pieces--either finding them or having them made. Maybe they can help with a source.

Or would polycarbonate work? If so, Shields? 

Thanks but it needs to be laminated glass , 

I will look at Kip,......Thanks

I have had made a run of windshields for Fiat Abarth double bubbles made and am just starting a run of a few Allemano Abarth 750 spider windshields. I use a local-ish chain https://www.i5glass.com/ who 3d scans my sample and the frame it goes in and then has them made in Turkey.  

Once they have made them, it seems the glass shape is their property so they will make as many as they feel they can sell after your initial order. This worked out well for me since we went through the 10 we bought and needed two more, which they just happened to have in their inventory.

We did find a company in Mexico who could do the job for mere pennies on the dollar. Like under $100 per laminated windscreen but they weren't able to ship across the border and wanted us to meet them in Tijuana and it felt sketchy, plus covid restrictions shut the border down so I went back to I5 for the Allemano Spider glass.

Here is a neat video on making glass windshields at the old factory in England ,

They are making front and rear glass for a one off show car , 

notice all the forms they have from the last 50 years are so , wood and metal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg92LDhHYuA

I have seen standard curved glass cut down to fit custom applications. You just need to know the two curves and match them up.  I think it was done on wheeler dealers once as well. 

You didn't mention the brands of the cars, but if they're American you can get reproduction window glass for many makes from Auto City Classic in Minnesota: https://www.autocityclassic.com

I just watched the Wheeler Dealers episode where the made a Chevy Impala Windshield fit a Saab 96.  I didn't realize that you could cut down automotive glass.

rustyvw said:

I just watched the Wheeler Dealers episode where the made a Chevy Impala Windshield fit a Saab 96.  I didn't realize that you could cut down automotive glass.

That might be Kotto auto glass in La Habra ,California ,   he is well known around the Hot rod crowd for doing this  , Lots of old glass shops did this years ago , but most of the experts have retired, 

Kotto does not bend glass , just cuts available glass , which is a real skill to "see"  the archs and know it will work .

ADDED: here is a youtube video of Kotto cutting down a laminated windshield to put in a chop top chevy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCvNZYFMImM

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