Hi Y'all -

I posted a pic of my 2006 with the space blacked out between the windows and someone suggested I give some details and more pics.

I really like the idea of the 2-door wagon look (like an old Nomad) but I dont want to lose my visibility by going to a panel. Since the tinted windows look black on my white car anyway, I thought I'd take a crack at blacking out the space to make it look like one window:




It took several tries to get the lines where I thought it looked right (and I didn't use the best masking tape, so excuse the ragged edges if you can see them). I tried to get the bottom edge as level as possible:



The weird thing was I had a difficult time getting a level line to follow the body curve. I ended up setting a light on a tripod at the line height and creating a shadow line to mask to so it would run level and connect the two windows:



More pics to come . . .

 

Looks cool

 

That looks great! I'd love to see a two-door panel with a huge window like that. Oh yeah, the nomad concept!

 

The next trick was to get the masked line to gracefully connect the two windows.

The complication comes from the back window having no trim, and the door window being surrounded by a rubber gasket. I slightly arched the masking tape to create a single sweeping curve connecting the two:



The reveal between the rear glass and the body line also has to be painted to look right:



This picture also shows the paint wrapping into the door jamb. The weatherseal gasket pulls loose very easily and you can run your masking tape down the line of the weather seal retainer holes.

The final touch is wrapping the black around the edge of the door. I've noticed that waxing the inside of the door helps to keep it from sticking to the weatherseal:



I used good old Rustoleum Satin Black (my trusty companion for twenty-five years) but I'd like to hear if anyone has better results with something else.

 

that looks sweet. good mod

 

I like the look, it looks great.

I think I would have used some satin Black vinyl though, just for the ease removal and replacement plus I think the vinyl would hold up better over the long run. Modern vinyls can last up to 12 years outdoors now with the high grade stuff. (Sign guy's opinion)

You worked with what you like so great job.

Now, just shave those rear door handles and you have your Nomad.

 

Nice lookin' mod!!!

 

Since you mention it, I actually thought about using vinyl first. My main motive for creating the appearance of a single window was a desire for a decent-sized area for my local sign shop to lay out some lettering. I though they might be able to kill two proverbial birds by doing the black vinyl first and then go ahead and letter it.

There were two problems with the vinyl:

1. getting the black vinyl in the reveal betweeen the rear window and the body was going to be a real trick without removing the rear window, and, even then, some of the inside corners in the reveal would be prone to wrinkles. Poor adhesion would also be an issue at the edge where the black would be easily caught anytime you wash the car.

2. creating the line that eases into the rubber gasket around the door window would mean a very long sliver of vinyl with an very thin end that could be difficult to get to lay and stick right.

I'm not saying a pro couldn't do it, there were simply more advantages for me to go with paint. The biggest one being, of course, the D-I-Y factor.

By the way, TkHHR, I totally dig your convertible (or as I prefer, roadster) concept on your thread.

 

I think it looks great.I did the same thing to a 2000 Dakota four door pickup,linking the front and rear door glass with black semi gloss and then put a thin vinyl stripe on the edge.Visually made the truck look longer and sleeker,also took all the factory vinyl off.

Thought about doing the same to my SS but don't plan on keeping it that long.

 

Gold star for you!

That turned out REAL nice!

I like that look of the longer appearing rear "window".

Having the lettering involved in the newly "blacked out" area tends to blend everything into what looks like a one piece window, if anything, by anyone catching a quick glance at it or from a distance.

Us HHR folks are some clever people for sure!