Encyclopedia Hoonatica: Cars with roll down rear windows


There was a time when cars had large windows. A time when there was no need for blind-spot sensors because they were so small. And there were many vehicles that allowed all windows to be rolled down. This was especially common with full-size SUVs and station wagons. This was because years ago they all had tailgates and not hatches like they all do today. 
But there were a few non-wagon, non-utility cars that also had roll down rear windows, such as the above Honda Del Sol. Today we are looking for those cars with roll down rear windows. 
The Caveats (there are always caveats):

  • No body-on-frame vehicles such as SUVs and pickup trucks. There are too many of them, too easy. 
  • No station wagons, same reasons. 
  • Concept cars are allowed, why not?
  • Roll down rear solid panels are allowed simply because I don’t know if such thing even exists. 
  • Other non-conventional opening rear windows get partial credit. Or extra credit, depending on obscurity and/or innovation. 

Difficulty: 6.5 out of 8, enjoy the summer breeze. 
How This Works: Read the comments first and don’t post duplicates! Bonus points for adding photos.
Image source: Honda

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52 responses to “Encyclopedia Hoonatica: Cars with roll down rear windows”

  1. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    On 1968-1972 Corvette Coupes, the rear window was a removable panel.
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/bobs77vet/removable%20rear%20window/00000077.jpg
    Combined with the standard T-tops, you got a near convertible.
    http://www.proteam-corvette.com/cars/photos/203X15.jpg

    1. Kamil K Avatar

      I did not know those were removable!

      1. P161911 Avatar
        P161911

        Only 1968-1972. They changed it for 1973. A cost cutting measure.

        1. 0A5599 Avatar
          0A5599

          It also gained a little cargo capacity. There was a built in storage compartment at the top of the area behind the seats. It took up the same amount of room whether or not it was holding the glass. And cargo space was at a premium in those cars, especially when the T tops were off.
          https://corvetteparts.com/pictures/KdEEhaUuGjRFX8YtPz0jGA_3.jpg

          1. P161911 Avatar
            P161911

            I know all about the cargo capacity of these things. I drove a 1977 Corvette while in college. It had room for one big suitcase, a book bag, and two 6X9 speakers in a small speaker boxes. That’s it!

          2. 0A5599 Avatar
            0A5599

            Mine was a ’69. With the T tops stowed, two small duffel bags was about all the additional luggage that would fit.

    1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
      smalleyxb122

      While this is a body-on-frame vehicle, the “Breezeway” Mercury is the poster child for roll down backlight and is in the spirit of the assignment.

      1. mdharrell Avatar
        1. Kamil K Avatar

          Writing this I kind of forgot that all cars used to be on frame. Ugh. Coffee me.

          1. mdharrell Avatar

            If you allow body-on-frame examples, roll-down rear windows were fairly common in the era of rumble seats, such as on this 1935 Dodge:
            http://www.secondchancegarage.com/articles/35dodge/1935-dodge-08.jpg

          2. ptschett Avatar
            ptschett

            Some cars are body-on-frame
            Some cars are body-on-frame
            Some cars are body-on-frame
            Some cars are body-on-frame
            …sorry I’ve clearly been spending too much time on Twitter

          3. P161911 Avatar
            P161911

            Almost all cars before the 1970s were body-on-frame.

  2. Citric Avatar
    Citric

    I think the Vivio T-top’s rear window is flip down but still counts.
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Subaru_Vivio_T-top_003.JPG/800px-Subaru_Vivio_T-top_003.JPG

    1. Vairship Avatar
      Vairship

      Put some air in those tires! 😉

      1. JayP Avatar
        JayP

        Put some air in that car! It looks deflated!!

  3. Hammer Avatar
    Hammer

    BMW 6 Series Convertible

    1. Tomsk Avatar
      Tomsk

      Yep. The vertical back window can be raised and lowered independently of the top, which allows it to serve as a wind blocker when the top is down.

    2. Kamil K Avatar

      Dang, I even reviewed that car!

  4. tonyola Avatar
    1. mdharrell Avatar

      Good call, as these have unibody construction.

    2. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      But not the Ford Anglia (aka Harry Potter car) that shared the same reverse-angled window

  5. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    If Corvette pop out counts, then Viper RT10 should, too.
    https://theviperstore.com/images/Viper1_Back_Glass2_30.jpg

    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Did the early RT10 even have a rear window? I remember that the raincoat t-top/targa top was an afterthought and not meant to be attached while at speed.

      1. 0A5599 Avatar
        0A5599

        Yes. The hard top came along a few years into production and would detach above 160-something mph, but they did have back windows.
        https://theviperstore.com/Viper2_Products_Parts&Upgrades_Replacement_Parts%20-%20Convertible_Back_Glass.htm

  6. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    Ford coupes of the mid-1930s had roll-down rear windows, particularly meant for rumble seat models. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/60f985252af3ea7dfeb650be65a08bbb915a12a08cc13359226a5ec376ccd2a9.jpg

  7. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    Pulsar NX could be driven with the hatch on, odd, or replaced with a wagon roofline.
    https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wkeXkUliwKg/hqdefault.jpg

    1. JayP Avatar
      JayP

      My thought.

    2. ptschett Avatar
      ptschett

      I passed a hatchback one of those on my way home from work the other day, and realized I don’t recall ever seeing one with the wagon roof though I’ve known of it for ~30 years. (Thanks, new-cars-for-198x edition of Parade magazine!)

    3. salguod Avatar

      I had one and drove it once in full convertible mode. The experience was essentially the same as just taking the t-tops off, not worth the trouble

  8. Fred Avatar
    Fred

    I had a TR6 and AW 3000, both of which their soft tops ziped out. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/eb6f2c5ab0815f44518b0e861a322eaac5937bf7e7c28f13686d61fcf50751db.jpg

    1. JayP Avatar
      JayP

      Also MGB/C plus the RV8

    2. salguod Avatar

      As does my Thunderbird and, I think, my Dad’s Eldorado. I think it used to be fairly common with convertibles.

    1. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Not really roll-down?

  9. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    The 1967-1968 big Mercury sedans offered an electric rear window that could be retracted two inches. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6486503521ddabefebfdf90ca067f03bbc981210556d85f8bb2ecb51a5833a57.jpg

    1. Kamil K Avatar

      This…. this is the stuff I love to see! You get a super bonus!

      1. tonyola Avatar
        tonyola

        Yes, I know. But the ’67-’68 models were the only ones with the “normal” sedan roofline.

    2. 0A5599 Avatar
      0A5599

      The “better idea from Mercury” was originally on Shelby GT350R.
      It didn’t unroll, though. The glass was deliberately installed with the gap for competitive reasons (aero improvement).
      https://assets.hemmings.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//2015/02/LIN_8407-cropped.jpg

  10. wunno sev Avatar
    wunno sev

    i don’t even have to cheat and call out the NA/NB’s unzippable rear window. as always, The Answer™…
    http://st.automobilemag.com/uploads/sites/11/2016/03/2017-Mazda-MX-5-Miata-RF-rear-side-view-wheel-turned.jpg

  11. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
    SlowJoeCrow

    While it’s not really within the parameters the Toyota Tundra crew cab does have a roll down rear windwo which is rather unusual on a pickup
    http://image.trucktrend.com/f/8252318+re0+ar0+st0/163_0712_57z%2B2008_toyota_tundra_4x4_crewmax_limited%2Broll_up_rear_window.jpg

    1. gord l Avatar
      gord l

      avalanche and the envoy xuv both have rear window panels/sliders respectively
      can remove the avalanche rear window , keep the bed panels on and have stuff stored and still a breeze through https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e5ceb95caf34595c6da9ff49ca70450001dc9ece66276718b86074e326fdce3b.jpg

    2. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Same for the 2005-2015 Mitsubishi L200/Triton although the window opening was not full-width. This was dropped for the next generation because it stole too much cabin space.
      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a3ca3b9789db3b20e9ced01a16f8737f893c55e60cd7cf156fd901aebf37699f.jpg

    3. Kamil K Avatar

      Yea, I thought about that but there are so many pickup variations of that, hence the rule.

  12. Ross Ballot Avatar
    Ross Ballot

    Miata RF’s back window hides away when the targa is down

  13. Borkwagen Avatar
    Borkwagen

    I’m seeing a lot of soft-tops with roll-down plastic rear windows. Can we get a global ruling on that? The Triumph Stag and the Jaguar XJ-SC would fall into this category.
    http://www.simoncars.co.uk/triumph/slides/Triumph%20Stag%20open%20rear.jpg
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/1985_Jaguar_XJ-SC_5.3_V12_in_Morges_2012_-_Side.jpg

  14. Monkey10is Avatar
    Monkey10is

    In terms of “other non-conventional opening rear windows” Alfa Romeo Zagato Juniors seemed to be a bit lacking in through-flow ventilation. However they could be (and usually are) driven with the rear hatch open just a notch:
    https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_hTDMTTNsMc/maxresdefault.jpg

    1. Monkey10is Avatar
      Monkey10is

      And the Citroen Pluriel had a removable rear window as one step in its 5-part process from conventional hatchback.
      https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/testing-the-citroen-c3-pluriel-vue-arrire-coffre-ouvert-de-la-citron-picture-id163048584