Research Topic: Windshield and Back Glass Moulding Clips

All original windshield and back glass was surrounded by bright stainless steel moulding. The moulding was attached to the body by weld on studs. See picture 1.

Nova Window Clips Studs

The clips were placed over the stud on cars with a painted roof and over the vinyl top material and the clip on cars with soft trim. The clips bottomed out on the flange where the windshield was attached. The height of the clip dictated how far the moulding was from the roof of the car. Cars with vinyl tops used larger clips than cars with just a painted roof. See picture 2 and 3.

Window Clip Installed

Window Clip Installed over vinyl top material

The clips were formed to catch the lip of the moulding is such a way that made installation of the moulding easy. The assembly line worker just snapped the moulding on to the car in seconds. See picture 4, 5, and 6.

Clip attached to the molding

Clip attached to the molding from top

Clip attached to the molding from end

The distance from the windshield flange and the edge of the roof might not always be the same. This is because of variances in the sheet metal assembly or painting process. Moulding clips came in different heights as to allow the assembly line worker to make sure everything fit correctly. See picture 7.

Picture 7

The standard clip used on 68-72 Novas with vinyl tops is RED. The standard clip used on 68-72 Novas with painted roofs was YELLOW. However I have seen original Novas with other sizes. The blue one came off one of the Novas I own from the factory. Probably adjusted for the variances in the assembly.