ULOS2A6

I understand your question. Let me clarify. I have seen several old "Surf Wagons" and all of the old ones can have a surfboard hanging out the opening back window above the tailgate. I would like to do that. Kinda like a wise man once said, "because I can"! Lol.. Really, I just think it will look cool.

ULOS2A6

Hey Old Blue, mine is not a panel, but if I had a panel filling in the back window would certainly look nice!

RJ_RS_SS_350

Since you're removing the recessed area for the license plate, you just may have room for a power window regulator in the hatch. Take a walk around a wrecki... er, I mean auto recycling yard, and measure hatches until you find one that is close, and then determine if the mechanism will fit in your hatch. 4runners and Sequoias had them, I think Kia sportage, not sure what else.

Any hinged design is not as nice, it's more difficult to drive with the window open.

ULOS2A6

You are exactly right. The room with the license plate gone will help with a slider. I will be off to the wrecking yard!

lasater

Ok, I get the picture. That might be a cool look. If I were thinking about doing this, I would make sure the surfboard-out-the-back-window was exactly the look I wanted by having a windshield guy remove the back glass. Stick a board out the back and take a look. If it was what I wanted, I would go with it.

One mechanical note, personally I would abandon the hinged window idea due to the curvature of the glass.... really difficult unless you have George Barris skills. I would go with a vertical sliding deal. Manual or power, either way.

Oldblue

2008 Ford Explorer Sport trac had a retractable rear window

I don't know the dimensions but check one out




I was confused by your signature " 3 door"

lasater

Autoloc makes a power window kit that could be adapted. The trick as I see it is to build the tracks for the curved window to slide in.

ULOS2A6

My HHR is a 3 Door. The previous owner welded the driver's rear door shut. He did a nice job. He said that's how the vintage Suburbans were. I think the old Suburban's were 2 door. Anyway, he did a nice job. Look at the pics. I like that the passenger rear door was retained, otherwise it would be very difficult to enter the back seats.

ULOS2A6

Passenger side

Oldblue

Ah, I get it now! My '71 Suburban was a 3 door!