There’s been some discussion here about the merits & demerits of hand-crank vs electric powered windows. But got to thinking, was there ever a time in the past when most car side windows were fixed in place, couldn’t be raised or lowered? It seems like inventing the mechanism to raise and lower side windows might have been deferred by early manufacturers who were just trying to get a somewhat reliable car on their sales lots.
I guess I’m either not old enough or too old to remember. But there were sliders too like on a bus. When I built the kids play house I put sliders in. Slide it up and put a peg in it, pull the peg and slide them down. Never needed repair.
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There was a time when there were NO windows. Open touring cars. Very early ones did not have windshields. Then windshields only with fabric tops and then closed cars started to to be built… with crank or pull strap windows. Cars get hot inside and rich people don’t want to sweat…who were the only folks that could afford custom coach built cars. And your chauffer can raise and lower the windows…
Pull straps were used on some early cars as well as racing specials from the 50s and 60s. Lighter weight than cranks and they often used plexiglass instead of glass for weight. Or English sports cars that had no side windows at all. Clear plastic curtains that snapped in place and leaked like a sieve. (sure are lots of ie and ei combos in this post!)
Not entirely sure but I believe horse drawn coaches had roll-up windows. Possibly with pull straps.
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1920 cars typically didn’t have roll ups, 1930 Chevys did, so somewhere in that period.
Let’s also remember that we didnt move from hand cranks straight to electrics. When Packard introduced power windows in 1940, they were hydraulically operated. That practice continued into the 1950’s.
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The only fixed rear windows I’ve ever seen was on a 1980’s Chevy Malibu wagon, Having been in the back of a couple of them growing up the little vent windows don’t really count compared to being able to roll the window down.
Some coupes, I don’t know about Camaro or Challenger, but my Mustang has fixed rear windows. As I recall my 57 Silver Hawk had swing out rear windows as did 68 Plymouth Bevedere and the Dodge equivalent coups, hardtops had roll down rear windows.
Small passenger vans, third row seating, oftentimes have swing out windows. I am probably using the wrong term when I say swing out.
It appear Morgan still uses snap in windows.
My CJ5 had zippered vinyl windows.
So did my '81 Citation 2-door.
When I special-ordered it, I specified the optional remote pop-out rear windows (I think that there were supposed to be levers above the front door windows that could be turned in order to pop-out the rear window). I was later notified that this option would not be available in time for the assembly of my, and I don’t know whether GM ever made it available.
All the gull wing doors I see have fixed side windows, like the 300SL coupe or Delorean. The original Delorean has small inset windows that moved, but around 90% of the window was fixed.
The Subaru SVX coupe of the '90s split the difference, with windows that were fixed in place, coupled with small electrically-operated windows inset into the non-movable glass. I recall the dealer complaining that they were required to have one of these slow-selling coupes in the showroom, and that it took close to 2 years for someone to buy it. Some people have likely never seen one of these oddball models. This was Subaru’s first 6-cylinder model, but they weren’t particularly fast.
How were they attached and sealed?
“glued” in place, like a windshield?
I’ve seen a few of those SVX coupes . . . and I personally think they’re hideous
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My MGA had snap in vinyl windows that were translucent rather than transparent. Didn’t even have door handles. My 2018 Versa still has crank up windows which was a selling point for me.
That would probably explain why they sold very poorly. I am not particularly fond of their looks, but I guess that they’re an acquired taste–like oysters.
It’s been so long I don’t remember which cars but think it was the 58 and/ or the 61 Chevy that the back seat windows only rolled halfway down. Maybe a safety feature? Of course the side windows on wagons were glued in place, and then tailgate windows are another. No crank, hand crank, power, depending on the model.
The door frame would have been solid all around, with a rubber seal along the top of the window and felting with rubber at the bottom of the glass. They reportedly did this to gain more hip room by sculpting the door panels a little and tucking the arm rests into the door.
Maybe the “real” reason was cost-cutting . . . 
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That was another theory, along with selling more A/C equipped vehicles.
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There are some advantages for those sort of fixed rear windows
- Safety, kids in back seat less likely to accidentally fall out.
- Car weighs less, which gives it better overall performance.
- The wing window provides pretty good ventilation by scooping & directing a lot of outside air into rear seat area.
Children are in safety seats until they are 8 in Cali and then they have to wear seat belts. Window position is meaningless.