Opera window
Opera windows are small, fixed porthole-sized side windows in the C-pillar of some cars. Typically offered in unison with a vinyl roof, opera windows were a very common feature of American automobile design during the 1970s. The design proved to be very popular, indicated by its imitation by almost every domestic manufacturer.[1]
History
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This design element was used during the classical era of automobile styling. For example, “...the Elcar in 1924 was good looking...and even a fabric top in the style of a brougham with oval opera windows framed by landau bars....[2] Opera windows saw their demise in the 1930s. Perhaps the most notable return was the "porthole" in the 1956–1957 Ford Thunderbird. It was provided as an option to improve rear-quarter visibility with the removable hardtop in place...[3] Opera windows were once again reintroduced on the 1971 Cadillac Eldorado as a standard luxury feature.
During the 1970s they became a very common design element. “...The hottest thing going was the "porthole" window in the rear side pillar - called "opera windows" that came in during the horse and buggy [era]...[4] Most often, they were applied on two-door hardtop or coupé models and in all types of vehicles, from economy compacts to luxury brands. They also “were recognition elements” in the specialty, personal-sized car market.[5] Practically all cars in the personal luxury market offered these windows as part of their seemingly vintage-oriented styling.
The windows were intended to offset the significant blind spots created by the very wide C-pillars that were characteristic of American cars produced at this time. Even narrow opera windows helped rear visibility.[6] In an age of decreasing dimensions and increasingly common use of non-opening rear side windows on 2-door models, the small opera windows helped rear passengers to be somewhat less claustrophobic.
These windows were usually non-functional; however, in the case of the AMC Matador coupe NASCAR racers, the small windows that came with the Barcelona II trim package actually helped to clean up the aerodynamics when such windows were open to the wind under racing conditions.[7]
In some cars, an additional feature was the so-called opera light that was mounted on the outside of the B-pillar or C-pillar and illuminated when the exterior lights were switched on. Opera windows had fallen out of vogue by the mid-1980s, as changing automotive styles moved away from the upright notchback. Smaller, more aerodynamic cars made opera windows appear gaudy or out of place. Contemporary examples of opera windows are sometimes found on modified or customized automobiles.
Cars with opera windows
This is a partial list of models that had opera windows as standard or optional feature:
- AMC Concord (1978–1982 coupe, 1980–1983 4-door sedan)[8]
- AMC Eagle coupe, 4-door (1980–1988)[9]
- AMC Matador coupe: D/L Formal Window Package (1974–1975) and Barcelona (1976–1978)[10][11][12][13]
- Buick Century coupe (1973–1977)
- Buick Electra (1974–1987)
- Buick LeSabre (1974–1977)
- Buick Regal coupe (1973–1987)
- Buick Riviera (1974–1978)
- Buick Skylark coupe (1975–1979)
- Cadillac Calais (1974–1976)
- Cadillac Coupe de Ville (1974–1979, 1985–1993)
- Cadillac Sedan de Ville (1975–1976)
- Cadillac Eldorado (1971–1978)
- Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham coupe (1980–1985)
- Cadillac Fleetwood coupe (1985–1986, 1989–1992)
- Cadillac Sixty Special coupe (1993)
- Cadillac Fleetwood 75 series (1971–1976, 1985–1987)
- Cadillac Fleetwood limousine (1977–1984)
- Chevrolet Caprice (1974–1976)
- Chevrolet Chevelle coupe (including Malibu and Laguna, 1973–1977)
- Chevrolet Concours coupe (1976–1977)
- Chevrolet Impala (1974–1976)
- Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1973–1977, 1981–1988)
- Chevrolet Monza Towne Coupe (1975–1980)
- Chevrolet Nova coupe (1975–1979)
- Chrysler Cordoba (1975–1983)
- Chrysler LeBaron coupe (1977–1986)
- Chrysler Newport (1976–1978)
- Chrysler New Yorker (1974–1978)
- Chrysler TC by Maserati (1989–1991)
- Continental Mark IV, V & VI (1972–1983)
- Daihatsu Charade Runabout (G10/20, 1978–1983)
- Dodge 400 (1981–1983)
- Dodge 600 coupe (1984–1986)
- Dodge Aries 2-door (1981–1989)
- Dodge Aspen coupe (1976–1980)
- Dodge Charger (1973–1978)
- Dodge Diplomat coupe (1977–1981)
- Dodge Magnum (1978–1979)
- Dodge Mirada (1980–1983)
- Dodge Monaco coupe (1977–1978)
- Dodge Royal Monaco coupe (1974–1977)
- Ford Elite (1974–1976)
- Ford Granada 2-door (1975–1980)
- Ford Mustang II Ghia (1975–1978)
- Ford LTD, Crown Victoria 2-door (1975–1987)
- Ford LTD II (1977–1979)
- Ford Thunderbird (1956–1957, 1973–1982, 2002–2005)
- Ford Torino 2-door (1974–1976)
- Imperial LeBaron coupe (1974–1975)
- Lincoln Continental (1975–1980)
- Lincoln Town Car (1981–1997)
- Mazda RX-5 (1975–1980)
- Mercury Cougar (1974–1982)
- Mercury Marquis, Grand Marquis 2-door (1979–1987)
- Mercury Monarch 2-door (1975–1980)
- Mercury Montego 2-door (1974–1976)
- Nissan Silvia S110 series 2-door coupe (1979–1983)
- Oldsmobile 88 (1974–1984)
- Oldsmobile 98 (1974–1987)
- Oldsmobile Cutlass coupe (1973–1977)
- Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais coupe (1981–1984)
- Oldsmobile Cutlass Salon coupe (1985–1988)
- Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme (1973–1988)
- Oldsmobile Omega coupe (1975–1979)
- Oldsmobile Toronado (1974–1978)
- Pontiac Bonneville (1975–1979)
- Pontiac Catalina (1974–1976)
- Pontiac Grand Am coupe (1973–1977)
- Pontiac Grand Prix (1973–1987)
- Pontiac Grand Ville (1974–1975)
- Pontiac Lemans coupe (1973–1980)
- Pontiac Phoenix coupe (1977–1979)
- Pontiac Sunbird notchback coupe (1976–1980)
- Pontiac Ventura coupe (1975–1979)
- Plymouth Gran Fury (1974–1977)
- Plymouth Fury (1976–1978)
- Plymouth Reliant 2-door (1981–1989)
- Plymouth Volare coupe (1976–1980)
- Toyota Carina Van TA16V/19V (1975–1977)[14] - perhaps the only wagon with opera windows.
- Toyota Crown coupe (1979–1983)
See also
Notes
- ^ Cadillac Eldorado story, Retrieved on October 22, 2007.
- ^ William S. Locke (2000) Elcar and Pratt Automobiles: The Complete History, McFarland & Company, ISBN 0-7864-0956-8, page 71.
- ^ see the 1955-1957 Ford Thunderbird, Retrieved on July 7, 2007.
- ^ Robert Szudarek (2000) The First Century of the Detroit Auto Show, SAE, ISBN 0-7680-0502-7, page 210.
- ^ Paul A. Herd and Mike Mueller (1994) Charger, Road Runner, and Super Bee, MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company ISBN 0-87938-844-7, Page 119.
- ^ Dodge Magnum story, Retrieved on October 22, 2007.
- ^ AMC Matador small window for NASCAR, Retrieved on October 22, 2007.
- ^ Cranswick, Marc (2011). The Cars of American Motors: An Illustrated History. McFarland. p. 252. ISBN 9780786485703. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ Flammang, James M. (1990). Standard catalog of American cars, 1976-1986 (Second ed.). Krause Publications. pp. 12–14. ISBN 9780873411332.
- ^ Auto Editors of Consumer Guide (26 October 2007). "1974-1978 AMC Matador". HowStuffWorks.com. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Sikora, Don (10 April 2013). "Review Flashback! 1975 AMC Matador". Consumer Guide. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ "1976 AMC Full Line brochure". www.oldcarbrochures.com. p. 22. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ DeMauro, Thomas A. (August 2018). "Majestic Matador - 1977 AMC Matador". Hemmings Classic Car. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ カリーナバン 1400ー1600 [Carina Van 1400–1600] (in Japanese), Toyota, December 1975, p. 4, 135741—5012
