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What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 11:28 am
by sweet66monza
All this convention prep and cleaning the dust out of my always empty opaque washer bottle got me to thinking: has washer fluid always been blue? If not, what color was it as obtained from the dealer in the '60s? I know its a ridiculous question, but also would perfer to be as accurate as realistically possible.
Thanks as always!
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 11:32 am
by Phil Dally
Pretty sure our Concours Chair will know what color it was...details details details!!!
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 12:07 pm
by Westds1
I believe it was black and white no color.
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 2:22 pm
by RexJohnson
I had some original fluid and it was green.
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 4:13 pm
by 66vairguy
RexJohnson wrote: ↑Fri May 09, 2025 2:22 pm
I had some original fluid and it was green.
Being old ------ I have seen both green and blue in GM bottles, but don't remember what years the colors apply to.
Fact is driving in Winter slush and you could go through a GALLON of windshield washer fluid in a week. That itsy bitsy GM bottle didn't last long -
With our company cars the daily winter routine was, check tires, check oil, check gas - FILL up the windshield washer bottle and hope it lasted a day!!! Seems like most stores sold gallon bottles of windshield washer fluid during the "slush" season in the rust belt.
I will say I never though I'd see this question, but for concurs it makes sense.
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 4:21 pm
by flat_six
The green stuff in the glass bottle was concentrated. It was diluted with water for use in the washer reservoir.
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Fri May 09, 2025 8:28 pm
by Doug Ward
I've been tempted to use the mouth wash " Listerine". It looks exactly like the washer fluid that's in my Corsa. It's a bluish / green color.
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Sat May 10, 2025 9:05 am
by 63blackspyder
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Sat May 10, 2025 9:13 am
by flat_six
You might be able to convince the classification crew that this is a suitable replacement part number:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ado- ... 3tEALw_wcB
It's not green, but it's Kleen!

Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Mon May 12, 2025 7:34 pm
by cnicol
Unless you're trying to get into "Factory Stock" class (almost impossible), fluid color is of no concern. In CORSA rules it's all about cleanliness and workmanship. Dirty bottle, stains, rusty bracket edges, that's what counts.
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 7:08 am
by sweet66monza
I am not worried about it from the points side, just curious from having hours and hours to let my mind wander while cut and buff occurs. The price and effort to obtain is basically the same between blue, red, yellow, green, orange, and clear, may as well lean toward what is avaliable that is most accurate for the era
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 1:40 pm
by SpyderMan
I always thought it was green. When I see Green fund I usually by a bottle to have on hand.
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 2:06 pm
by Phil Dally
When I see Green fund I usually by a bottle to have on hand.
What do you mean by "Green fund"?
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 2:14 pm
by SpyderMan
Fluid!!

I am a bad speller and a bad typist. Deadly combo.
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Tue May 13, 2025 5:20 pm
by flat_six
Seems that somewhere I read that up to 66-67 or so the washer fluid was green. After that it was blue.
Back in the 70's few people cared about "stock". Actually Corvairs were everywhere so people worked hard to make them NOT stock. It was the thing to do.
But in the old car hobby, there is something for everyone. I kind of enjoy researching and finding out what GM did back in the day. It's kind of a sport to me.
Here is the label from the jar. Early on it was called Kleer-View and later it was Optikleen. Interesting to know that you could just go to the dealer and buy a bottle of this stuff and snap it into your trunk bracket.
Here is a thread where the Buick folks were discussing it:
https://forums.aaca.org/topic/403221-washer-fluid/
Re: What color was 1960s era GM washer fluid?
Posted: Wed May 14, 2025 10:14 am
by 66vairguy
Great post flat-six. The "triangle" bottle brings back memories!