I have a 1986 Z28 with hood and hatch louvers. The hatch louver is looking real shabby (it was original with the car).

I am debating if:

1. keep the hatch louver and have it painted
or
2. get rid of it and tint the window

What do you guys think?

 

first off welcome to the club Now if i were you, I would deff ditch the louvers and tint the rear windows.. Louvers arent my taste either, so 80s.. But still jmho hope this helps

 

well...after about of year cruising these board i have relized one thing...theres a small amout of ppl who will tell you to keep your hatch louvers.....i would like to see a pic of your car before i say either way....but i like louvers, so a pic would help greatly



oh.and btw welcome aboard

 

My car is in the shop for service. The soonest I can post a picture is tuesday night. I will post one then.

Thank you for your responses.

 

i like the louvers my self after all it is an 80's car.. alot of people here don;t like em so it is your personal choice if they can be cleaned up and repaired id use em.

Stuck in the 80's

Jeff

 

If the louvers are in terrible condition and you don't particularly feel like repairing/replacing them, then by all means remove them.

Personally, if I had a Camaro that originally came with them I would definitely keep them on. They're a sharp addition to the car, and harken back to the era in which our cars were conceived. Our Delorean had them, and I've never heard anyone say anything disparaging about them.

 

i had louvers on my 1986, they are hard to find due to the 3rd brake light, well they got broke when i had them off the car, and i did miss them it gave the car a look, and for all the people who say that's 80ish, well the car is 80ish, i finally found another set and put them on the car i painted them car color, and it looked cool, well racing a honda one night they flew off, and they always rattled, so they have there goods and bads, in my situation they flew off and stayed off, the back window is tinted.

 

Hatch louvers look like ***, period! Get rid of them and tint the glass. You'll be glad you did!

EDIT: Oh yeah, JMHO.

 

I thought hatch louvers were the coolest things ever. I loved them when i put them on my car. 3 months later they were in the trash. Novelty quickly wore off, it came down to them looking like armadillos, blocking some vision, always getting leaves caught in window, leaving rear window dirty, always rattling, and added 27lbs which i really did not care for. I say leave them off and tint window, for the best.

 

no louvers .

 

I'd remove the louvers and tint the window with limo tint. Its your car though, its up to you.

 

See sig for opinion

 

I have them on my car. Factory louvers, with the third brake light. I've gotten nothing but good comments from everyone, I think they look great, i'll post a pic tomorrow.

 

Hi,

I am posting the pictures of my car and louver.

First, I would like to thank everyone for their opinion. The board seems as divided on the issue as my household is. After looking at the pictures of the fixed up cars on this site, I have decided to remove the louvers and tint the rear window. I will keep the louvers just in case I change my mind.

I have tried to keep my car stock, the way she came from the dealership with only four little miles (now 85k). The only change was when GM painted it in the mid 90’s because of the primer/clear coat problem (note: no gray strip on the bottom). I think this little change will not alter the appearance that much.

Thanks again

 

The louvers

 

omg! I forgot those things even existed on thirdgens for a bit lol.. I dont like them that much but what ever floats your boat. Looks all.. back to futureish

 

It seems the majority opinion is that louvers =

If you're of age to recall being in the eighties when these cars were in their prime, perhaps you might recall seeing a pristine Camaro adorned with glistening louvers which accented the hatch while adding aesthetic contrast to the car. Maybe it's just me, but that's a sight that resonates with me to this day.

Or maybe it's just 'cause of the Delorean.

 

we had bought an 89 iroc in 93 from a car dealer and it had them on it ...i like the louvers

keep them

be different

 

The DMC12 was an awesome car. I drove my dad's on several occasions and I will tell you first hand the louvers are the last thing anyone notices. The attention these cars draw was one thing I will never forget and I never recalled anyone laughing while pointing to the louver !


I have seen too many real crappy tint jobs by Billy Bobs Tint N Tackle that I dont know how you can apply film to one of the most complicated hatch glasses known. (It was a real automotive feat for its time ) and expect it to last without bubbling.

My brother had his window in his 77 Z-28 done but he took it out first and the shape is not as complex.

The louver really keeps thing cool inside and I appreciate the fact that my interior is not sun bleached out to the point of falling apart.

Anyway it looks good to me so keep it !

 

One more shot, I really dont see anything limp wristed about this !

 

85 your cars is just amazing. I mostly dont like louvers. But on a clean bird like yours or a camaro like say Scotts. Then its really nice

 

Loose it. Armadillows are creatures. Not beasts.

 

I personally am not a fan of the louvres and would say to take them off. Don't bin them though, keep them in case you ever change your mind - or sell them on the classifieds.

Just do what you think is best. Try restoring and cleaning them to a good shine before you decide.

 

well here's another vote for keeping them. i love mine AND my hatch is tinted, too. it was tinted before i found the louvers...

KAM

 

don't really like them....

 

well, i really don't like them, but i must say what no one else has, Lady, your Z28 is BEAUTIFUL! it is so nice to see one of these in awesome shape and especially with the ORIGINAL owner. i wish my '86 Z28 was in that good of shape...maybe when i return from Iraq...

Josh

 

if you deside to sell them let me know i have been looking for a set for a while for my 92. thanks sean