Thread: Half Aus loop trip- Do I need a windscreen stone guard?

A new windscreen every year is included in many insurance policies now, which is why the Defender has had two in three years. Already paid for it, so might as well use it.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Having just replaced the windscreen on the County (crack from top to bottom), I agree. I replaced it because I knew it would not pass the annual inspection.

Talking about the past, I remember (1963), one of our trucks (F600) set off from Roma to Brisbane - got less than 30 miles and returned with a broken windscreen. Repeat the next day. The third day he got past Condamine before it got broken, and continued on to Brisbane without a windscreen. And those were expensive windscreens.

An indication as to the number that were being replaced was that Roma had at least two windscreens for a relatively uncommon truck. For that matter, I could have got a windscreen for a Citroen in Condamine a few months later - if I carried that much cash (no credit cards then). And Condamine, even then, I doubt ran to more than one horse!

Dalby to Condamine was known to Qlders as the Crystal Highway from the amount of windscreen glass. Laminated windscreens were an optional extra at GM-H in the 60's and 70's. I remember the option codes on the build tags. A22 was a plain laminated windscreen and AO2 was a lam screen with a colour band on top. Before 1/1/71 there was third option of a tinted screen which was tempered glass. The ADR's scotched this so in the final months of 1970 we built cars with tinted windscreens until we ran out of them. The dealers squealed at being charged for something they hadn't ordered. We put them in dealer order cars and plant stock.