Rear Window: 6 GM coupes with dazzling back glass
When enthusiasts pick design details on vehicles to obsessively critique, the front-end bits usually get all the attention. Grilles, scoops, emblems, and ornaments are all proudly displayed in the front of a vehicle and clamor for attention. Nobody seems to have a favorite trunk.
We noticed a trend, particularly on GM coupes, in which designers seemed to push the envelope and see just how much they could get away with when it comes to radical rear glass. Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window may have debuted in 1953, but some of the best-looking rear windows came out in the decades that followed. As windshields became nearly flat after the bubble-top era, the backlite—the technical design term for “rear window” or “rear glass”—was one part of the greenhouse that was still up for some ambitious experimentation. Here are some of our favorites.
1963–67 Chevrolet Corvette
You knew this list had to include the split-window 1963 Corvette coupe. Yes, it’s an iconic design and yes, that center spine does add to the already striking lines of the ’63 Sting Ray, but the 1964–67 Corvette still offers traffic-stopping good looks thanks in part to that teardrop fastback roofline and deeply curved rear glass.
1971–73 Buick Riviera
Buick’s big personal luxury coupe was unlike anything else on the market—except for that big curved rear glass, which did resemble that on the recently-departed Sting Ray. The big Buick coupe took the tapering cockpit theme even further than the Corvette did, with ’71 and ’72 Rivieras wearing a boat-tail stretched from the decklid into the bumper and culminated in a sharp point. The 1973 model smoothed the lines out a bit, but the look is still striking.
1977–79 Chevrolet Impala/Caprice
Despite being ridiculed by car fans the world over, the Malaise Era did have some gems. We present Exhibit B-body, the 1977–79 full-size Chevy coupes. OK, so the bumpers are bit clunky, we admit. But just look at how simple and clean the rest of the car manages to look. The Landau coupes, with their painted C-pillars and rear roof sections, even managed to present vinyl tops in a fresh way. Of course, the crowning touch is the sharply beveled rear glass.
1977–78 Oldsmobile Toronado XS
Not to be outdone with the creased rear glass showcased in Chevrolet’s B-bodies, Oldsmobile created the Toronado XS. Its extreme wraparound rear window was something that hadn’t been seen since the swoopy styling of the 1960s and set the Toronado XS apart from its competitors in the expanding personal luxury segment. Only about 2700 were built, and they’re a rare sight today.
1978–87 Chevrolet El Camino/GMC Caballero
Yes, the El Camino is still a coupe; it’s just a coupe utility. The final generation of El Camino and only generation of GMC Caballero brought a slightly longer wheelbase than their predecessors—previous GMC utes were called Sprints—despite looking far more trim and compact. They also had a seriously curved rear window. The sloping C-pillar hides most of the unique rear window, but one look from the rear three-quarter reveals how GM neatly separated the cab from the bed with a single, deeply curved piece of glass.
1986–87 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix Aerocoupe
When you think of NASCAR homologation specials that brought superspeedway aerodynamics to showroom floors, you no doubt imagine the Plymouth Superbird and Dodge Charger Daytona. Your next few contenders might be the Torino Talladega and Charger 500. Eventually, you might remember the Monte Carlo Aerocoupe and its similar (but not identical) Pontiac Grand Prix 2+2 Aerocoupe sibling.
These cars didn’t come with a whole lot of muscle like their aerodynamic ’60s predecessors, and Joe Dirt never drove one, but their impact on NASCAR was still important. Pontiac made around 1100 of its fastback coupe while Chevrolet sold 200 Aerocoupes in 1986 and several thousand in 1987. They allowed GM to put a much-improved profile on its NASCAR racers and helped drivers like Dale Earnhardt bring Chevrolet back to the winners circle after Ford’s slippery Thunderbird proved tough to beat.
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A friend has TWO of the Toronado XS for sale, they came out of a farmer’s barn hoard along with dozens of Cadilliacs.
I finally got to sit in one last week, as you might guess, excellent rear visibility.
Interesting car, the dash though was more like a Lincoln Mark V than other period GM cars I’ve experienced.
I think you would have to include the 57 Olds with the 3 piece back window. I believe Buick had the same window.
I’m Glenn H mentioned it… I never knew how amazingly styled the 1957 Olds 88 rear 3 piece rear glass was until my son and I bought one less than a year ago. I’m a big corvette guy and you can easily see the precursor to the ‘63 vette in that ‘57 olds.
Could you imagine how much that three window configuration would have made the 57 Chevy coupe an immediate classic. I would like to see a custom modification to one. John D’ Agostino, are you listening?
The Third Generation Camaro should be on the list. Whatever people thought of the car, when you bring one out now in mint condition pretty much everyone agrees it looks good from every angle and that rear 3/4 is a masterpiece. The curved hatch glass was a technological masterpiece of the time and most enthusiasts I know much prefer an IROC Z to a Monte SS Aero coupe even those were rare. The regular Monte SS looks better and everyone knows it! The C2 being on the list twice is also redundant. It didn’t improve, without the split it broke up a crucial body line…
This one is pretty easy, 63 Split Window Vette. Bad for driving, great for looks!
…with the criteria of “GM” and “coupe” – the 1986 Pontiac Grand Prix & 1986 Chevy Monte Carlo “Aerocoupe” rear glass should definitely be on this list! It was done to achieve a more aerodynamic profile for NASCAR, but looked really weird – bubble-like – on the street!
’63 Corvette
The split rear window of the ’63 Corvette is in a class by itself. No question, it’s the best design EVER! I was a junior in a small town high school when the 10th anniversary Corvette Coupe debuted. I said, ‘Some day’, never really thought that day would come. It did, however…22 years later. I then owned it for 38 years before selling it 15 months ago at a profit I could never have imagined as a teenager. Still, I had almost immediate and lingering seller’s regret.
IMHO I think the 63′ split window is the most iconic American made muscle car so it gets my vote as the BEST EVER REAR BACK WINDOW!!!
I was always a fan of the pancake roof on 59 & 60 GM full siz cars. Cads, both coupe and sedans from 67 to 79 had the neat crease down the middle and lastly, the bubble top rear windows on 61 & 62 Bel Airs. I know this GM only but I have to mention 1960 Ford Starliner coupes.
I agree on the first gen Barracuda. Great design. I insured a client with the Olds Tornado XS. and recall admiring the sharp angle of that back glass. And, of course, some yahoo threw a rock at it and broke it. I don’t remember the cost, but it broke the record for auto glass. A record that stood for a long time.
Great article, but you missed a beauty…the 1967 Cadillac Eldorado’s smart vertical rear window crease.
I always liked the 1965 Buick Electra 225 coupe. The back window was a two piece.
Not GM, but the 50 Studebaker Starlight coupe and the 52 Studebaker Starliner coupe both had some very creative rear windows that set the stage for the later stuff we all love.
wasn’t the split window derived from the 1957 olds/buick 3 section rear window?
My pick is 1963 to 1980 Avanti (by Studebaker and subsequent owners of Studebaker)