Vent windows were common.  Vent windows are auto glass windows that are mounted on the sides of vehicles, usually next to retractable windows.  Vent windows differ from quarter glass when they can tilt open.

In the last 20 or so years, almost no vent glasses open on passenger cars.   Now the purpose is cosmetic or to make rear door glasses able to roll down farther than they would without the vent glass, due to the rear wheel taking up part of the corner of the door.   Vent windows are in rear and front windows, or sometimes in front of the front doors.    Many early closed cars included front door vents (ventilation windows).  Some, such as the 1940 Pontiac Torpedo, had front and rear vent windows called "ventiplanes".

Vent windows had hinges and a latch, thus they can be opened for additional ventilation.   This was a nice feature for most cars, because airconditioned cars were rather rare.   Most vehicles since the 1960s have removed this feature for cleaner styling, known as "ventless" windows.

The 1953 Chrysler Imperial was one of the first production cars to offer modern automobile air conditioning as an option.   Most drivers used their vent windows instead of purchasing the expensive air conditioner option.