In the 1920s, when closed car bodies were becoming common, there were other solutions to the fresh air intake problem. One was to allow the windshield to open, pivoting from the upper frame.
By 1933, some General Motors cars received what were called "ventipanes." These were small sub-windows that pivoted from a point fairly close to the car's A-pillar. These admitted air from a less-annoying direction. They became the industry norm until they disappeared from American cars around 1970.
Chrysler Corporation tried something different in the early1930s. Its senior model closed cars were given two-pane windshields where each pane could be opened separately so that the driver and front-seat passenger might receive air intake to individual preference.
The downside to that idea was that appearance of the cars was degraded, as is shown below in the Gallery. Unless noted, images are of cars listed for sale.
An example where the entire windshield pivots upward.
Another windshield trend in its early state was the two-piece-V'd format as seen on this early example. The V-effect is minimal: compare the bottom window framing to the cowling coaming.
Some Chrysler sedans that model year got two-pane windshields where panes pivoted separately. Framing was given brightwork, making them stand out -- too much, in my opinion. Fortunately, the long hood of this Imperial helps to lessen that effect.
On this shorter sedan, the windshield treatment is more obvious. I think it makes the car seem even shorter, perhaps because the bright, heavy framing attracts the eye to the middle of the car rather than allowing the eye to sweep from end to end.
This is a six-cylinder model on a short wheelbase with a short hood. The windshield's shortening effect is strong here.
A longer, eight-cylinder Chrysler. The contrast between the windshield framing and the dark paint scheme again visually shortens the design.
A Chrysler Six from the next model year. Same story.
This photo shows the windshield opening mechanisms and a positioning knob-slider on the A-pillar.
Exterior of that car. The gray paint lessens the contrast with the framing brightwork. And the windshield appears to be very slightly V'd.
Here we see a roadster with a two-pane, V'd windshield were the panes pivot -- a trifecta, as they say in ice hockey.
I always think of the guy in Death of a Salesman whose wife describes as talking about opening the windshield a decade or two after they didn't open any more.
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