sidescreen

A sidescreen is a removable or hinged panel fitted to the side of a vehicle body, typically in the door frame or quarter panel area, that provides weather protection without the complexity of a mechanical window regulator. Unlike a conventional wind-up or power window, a sidescreen is a simple frame holding glass or clear acrylic, installed in a fixed or sliding mount. It serves dual purposes: blocking wind and rain from entering when the main door window is lowered, and allowing fresh air circulation when the door window itself is raised.

Sidescreens are most common in convertibles, soft-top vehicles, and open-frame touring cars where the door structure is minimal or absent. The panel typically measures 6 to 12 inches wide and 12 to 20 inches tall, though proportions vary by vehicle design. Materials are usually aluminium frames with tempered glass or clear acrylic panes. Some sidescreens mount using simple stainless steel hinges at the top and quick-release latches at the bottom; others slide into vertical channels in the door post. Installation takes minutes without tools on most designs.

The primary advantage is weight and mechanical simplicity. A sidescreen adds only 2 to 4 pounds per panel compared to 8 to 15 pounds for a full power window assembly including motor, regulator, wiring, and switches. This matters in sports cars and lightweight vehicles. A secondary benefit is that sidescreens do not obstruct the interior door panel or reduce storage space the way window regulators do. In vintage vehicles, sidescreens also allow owners of windowless early cars to add some weather protection without major bodywork.

Common problems include scratched or yellowed acrylic becoming opaque, which typically requires panel replacement rather than repair. Latches can loosen or corrode, allowing rattling in transit. Hinges sometimes seize on older vehicles if not regularly lubricated. On some designs, water pooling in the mounting channels leads to rust or mould growth. Pressure differences at highway speeds can also make the panel vibrate audibly if the seal or latch is worn.

The term originated in British automotive engineering, where the panel was called a sidescreen to distinguish it from a true window; the name emphasizes its role as a screen rather than an openable closure. European sports car and kit car manufacturers adopted sidescreens widely through the 1960s and 1970s. Modern restorations and specialist builders still specify them for period-correct appearance and weight savings. In aircraft, sidescreens serve a similar function on cabin windows, though aviation versions are built to much higher structural and safety standards.