False reflections of cars never got me too bad, it's the night time reflections of street lights and the glow on the road and such that is weird with the side windows. I guess I got used to it years ago when I started driving and DD the 40, then my 40 set for nearly 6 years and I moved on through a 60 series and my T100. This past summer I got it back into a DD condition, but with a soft top now. I was surprised how bad the glare and reflections were. The brighter headlights definitely do not help the issue. I also have found the glare from my own headlights of the road, illuminates the sag and bends in the rear soft-top window, that then proceeds to dance and flicker and flash back on the rearview mirror and windshield to a point. I keep thinking a car has suddenly come up behind me, or maybe aliens, or it is just plain distracting at other times.
So no, you guys are not alone. I use a 73 International LoadStar dump truck on occasion in the dark to plow with. The side windows are pretty flat on it, the windshield is pretty tore up, but pretty flat and all the glass is clear, no green or blue tint of course just like the factory glass in a 40. Reflections in it at night is really bad too. I'm trying to recall if the 1979 Scout we had growing up was bad, the windows in it were flatter than a 60 series and clear as I recall. Even a 60 series has a little reflection, but just the slight inward slant seems to really deflect it from your vision. If you think about no new cars have flat glass anymore, not even Wranglers, they all tilt inwards to a point. It must have been a big enough issue that it has been designed out. The rear windows of a 40 hardtopped are tilted in for a reason. I suspect to eliminate the reflection of oncoming traffic and lights, otherwise think about the reflection it would make on the windshield.
I actually don't like tinted glass at night, makes me feel totally blind, even at dusk, I hate my pickup out hunting because you can't see very well at dusk while watching for animals moving about. Even worse at night, can't see a thing behind me, backup lights are not bright enough to give me anything while using the mirrors. Our semi new to us 80 series is problematic too at night I feel with the window tint.
I do recall however, most of my early driving with my 40, seems the window was down a lot of the time, winter or summer, either it was hot, or the windows were covered with ice from the inside, so that fixes side window reflection issue.
I've noticed my new polarized prescription sunglasses do strange things when looking through the pre 75 FJ40 side windows, they must be polarized too, because they are full of black dots and make rainbow colors. The tint in my truck makes all shiny surfaces rainbow colored, that is actually pretty distracting too.
