Quarter glass
Encyclopedia
Pillar (car)
Pillars are the vertical supports of the greenhouse of an automobile — known respectively as the A, B, C or D-pillar moving in profile view from the front to rear....
" of the vehicle. Quarter glass is also sometimes called a valence window.
This window may be set on hinges and is then also known as a vent window (or windwing (UK)). Most often found on older vehicles on the front door, it is a small roughly triangular shaped glass in front of and separate from the main window that rolls down (see top right image). It has hinges and a latch, thus it can be opened for additional ventilation. Most vehicles since the 1960s have removed this feature for cleaner styling, known as "ventless" windows. Some vehicles also have glass that rolls down like a regular window or have hinged opening vent quarter windows for rear seat passengers. This may be a side window between the B-pillar and the C-pillar, and in the case of minivans between the C and D-pillars (examples include the Chrysler Town and Country
Chrysler Town and Country
The first Chrysler Town & Country minivan was introduced in 1989 alongside the Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan. Sharing the body of the long-wheelbase Grand Voyager/Grand Caravan's Chrysler S platform, the Town & Country was externally distinguished by its chrome waterfall grille, crystal...
).
They can also be non-movable and mounted in the door itself because that section of the rear side glass would not be able to slide down because of the cut out in the rear doors to clear the rear wheel housings. The fixed portion of the glass is separated from the main window that rolls down by a slim opaque vertical bar (see top left image of a close-up of rear door).
A quarter glass can be found set in the body or A-pillar
Pillar (car)
Pillars are the vertical supports of the greenhouse of an automobile — known respectively as the A, B, C or D-pillar moving in profile view from the front to rear....
ahead of the front door opening (examples include the Chevrolet Lumina APV
Chevrolet Lumina APV
The Chevrolet Lumina APV was a minivan produced by General Motors for the 1990 to 1996 model years. In 1994 the APV was dropped from the name to make the name more consistent with the cars, and it was simply known as Lumina or Lumina Minivan. It is similar to the Pontiac Trans Sport and Oldsmobile...
and eighth generation Honda Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
4-door sedan).
In some automobiles the fixed quarter glass may set in the corner or "C-pillar
Pillar (car)
Pillars are the vertical supports of the greenhouse of an automobile — known respectively as the A, B, C or D-pillar moving in profile view from the front to rear....
" of the vehicle. There are also designs that incorporate two quarter windows (see bottom right image) one that is part of the door and the second mounted in the roof pillar. This arrangement may help to increase driver visibility
Driver visibility
In transport, driver visibility is the maximum distance at which the driver of a vehicle can see and identify prominent objects around the vehicle. Visibility is primarily determined by weather conditions and by a vehicle's design. The parts of a vehicle that influence visibility include the...
. In this case, the quarter glass in the C-pillar would not be called an "opera window
Opera window
Opera Windows are small porthole sized side windows in the C-pillar of some cars. Typically offered in unison with a vinyl roof, they were a very common design feature of American automobiles during the 1970s. The design was new at the time, "... and would prove to be very popular, indicated by its...
."