When did Chevy come out with power windows?
Chevrolet first offered factory-installed power windows in the mid-1950s, with early optional installations on select models and broader availability in the late 1950s and into the 1960s.
Historical timeline
This timeline highlights when Chevrolet began offering factory power windows and how the feature spread across the lineup.
- Mid-1950s: Power windows appear as a factory option on select high-trim Chevrolet models, typically on full-size sedans.
- Late-1950s: Availability expands to additional trims and more mainstream models as dealers offer the option across more lines.
- 1960s: Power windows become common across Chevrolet's lineup, sometimes standard on higher trims or as part of option packages.
These milestones reflect a gradual rollout as automakers and buyers valued improved convenience and technology in mid-century cars.
Model and package context
Power windows were typically offered as an optional accessory or as part of a luxury or convenience package, rather than as a standalone feature on entry-level models in the era. Availability varied by year, model, and region, with certain years producing more limited production runs of the option.
Summary
Chevrolet's power window option began in the mid-1950s and, by the 1960s, had become a common feature across many models. The rollout varied by model and market, but the trend was toward broader adoption of electrical window systems in Chevrolet's lineup.
When did Chevy start using power windows?
Chevrolet introduced the oddity of power front windows (only) in the 1954 model. Ford also introduced full four-door power windows in sedans in 1954. The full-sized 1955 Nash "Airflyte" models featured optional power windows.
When did cars start getting electric windows?
Power windows became a standard feature in most cars by the end of the 1970s. They were first introduced in the 1940s but were initially a luxury item available only on high-end models. By the 1960s, they were becoming a standard feature on many higher-end vehicles, but it took the following two decades for them to become common in nearly all vehicles.
- 1940s: The first power windows were introduced on the 1941 Packard 180 series using a hydro-electric system. Other manufacturers like General Motors and Ford also began offering similar systems on their high-end or convertible models.
- 1950s-1960s: Power windows continued to be a luxury option, but their availability expanded to more vehicles. Cadillac, for example, began offering them as standard on some models, like the Fleetwood, during this period.
- 1970s: By the end of this decade, power windows had become a standard feature in most vehicles, replacing the manual crank as the norm.
- 2000s: Some automakers started to phase out manual windows entirely, with some converting completely to power windows by 2008.
Did the 1969 Camaro have power windows?
The power window system in our '69 Camaro is typical of GM cars of that time, though some of the components began to evolve in the years to follow.
What was the last car with crank windows?
The last vehicle in the U.S. to be offered with crank windows was the 2025 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator, which dropped them for the new model year. Therefore, the 2024 models were the last ones that could be purchased with this feature. While other models, like the Nissan Versa S and Chevy Spark, were some of the last cars without standard power windows, the Jeep was the final one to offer them at all as an option.
You can watch this video to see a review of the 2024 Jeep Gladiator with hand crank windows: 1mBen HardyYouTube · Feb 8, 2024
- The 2025 models are no longer available with crank windows .
- For 2024, the base models of the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator still offered crank windows.
- Some international models, particularly in less developed markets, may still offer crank windows. For example, base trims of the Dacia Sandero and Hyundai i10 have them in the rear.
