How do I tell if I have an early/late style rear sunshade/louvre, "improved spine"?

[DeloreanJoshQ]

How do I tell if I have an early/late style rear sunshade/louvre, "improved spine"?

What are the measurements of the center spine thickness?

What was the rough VIN range for each?

I was just curious....

Thanks!

Josh Q

[Patrick C]

The early splines are roughly 1/4" thick. The later splines are close to 1" thick.

[DMCMW Dave]

The early splines are roughly 1/4" thick. The later splines are close to 1" thick.

Pictures:

Early: 11311

Late: 11310

[stevedmc]

Pictures:

Early: 11311

Late: 11310

Wow. I had a repair a cracked spline on my late style louvre. I can't imaging how bad the early ones must be.

[DMCMW Dave]

Wow. I had a repair a cracked spline on my late style louvre. I can't imaging how bad the early ones must be.

Apparently the factory figured this one out pretty quick. I don't know when the change was made but I'm guessing the mid-1000s.

[Stainless]

They figured it out before they got to mine (2087). :)

[Grover]

Apparently the factory figured this one out pretty quick. I don't know when the change was made but I'm guessing the mid-1000s.

1494 has the early style. Anyone with a vin 1500+ have the later style? Would be cool to get an approximation...

[DeMopar]

1785 has the later style.

[Bruce Johnson]

1420 has the late style

[Stainless]

1420 has the late style

Wait, 1494 has the early style, but 1420 has the late style? Does this mean that the VINs weren't built sequentially, or did 1420 have them replaced some time in its life?

[Bruce Johnson]

Good question. I know 1420 was purchased out of Florida by DMCH back in '05, refurbished then sold in January of '06 to All Sports Market (sold sports derivatives and no longer around) who purchased it as a raffle promotion, BTTF(Back To The Futures). I acquired the car in '07 and there is no mention in the paperwork I have of DMCH replacing the louvre back then. If in fact it was replaced it had to have been sometime before that.

[dustybarn]

1776 has the late style.

[Dangermouse]

Wait, 1494 has the early style, but 1420 has the late style? Does this mean that the VINs weren't built sequentially, or did 1420 have them replaced some time in its life?

I think the VINs were assigned sequentially, but occasionally a car was pulled from the line for some sort of adjustment (probably quite a bit for these early cars). I would imagine that the louvers was the last body panel installed, so if 1420 had extra time spent on door adjustment, say, it could have fallen behind 1494 in being completed.

Equally, the original louver could have been replaced due to cracking.

[Jeremy Popp]

1495 has the early thin style.

Side note: My brother actually droopped my louver closed once because he thought it was like a regular trunk/hatch that needed slammed. It still didn't break, but certainly gave me a heart attack.

[DMCMW Dave]

Keep in mind that this sort of difference meant nothing to the guys on the factory floor.

If they opened a case of "improved" ones at the same time as they still had "originals", they could be intermixed for a few dozen cars. Plus there is always the breakage issue, and I suspect that all the field replacement units were the later style.

[Nicholas R]

1643 has the late style. They're definitely original to the car.

[DeloreanJoshQ]

Pictures:

Early: 11311

Late: 11310

Thanks for the picture Dave!

Now,

Would the below part be more marketed towards the early style louvre?

Would it be more or less just looks or for hanging the lower engine cover on the late style?

Would fitment be any different between the early or late style with the support?

http://store.delorean.com/images/Product/medium/A1000021.jpg

[Nicholas R]

Both.

I have the late style and I use it. (though my reason was for the hook more than the support) If I had an early style louvre I would DEFINITELY have it.

I had to do a bit of shaving to get mine to fit right but I dont think it had to do with the wider louvres. Biggest thing was fitting it so that all the holes to be drilled were solidly in fiberglass.

[DMCMW Dave]

Thanks for the picture Dave!

Now,

Would the below part be more marketed towards the early style louvre?

Would it be more or less just looks or for hanging the lower engine cover on the late style?

Would fitment be any different between the early or late style with the support?



It is actually intended to repair broken louver spines. I've never put one on an early louver. I believe it would be much more visible from the back than on the late one where it hides behind the wide part.