Vehicle body panel and window system

Abstract

A vehicle body has a first compartment for carrying passengers or cargo and a second cargo compartment rearwardly adjacent the first compartment. The body includes a rear wall optionally separating the first and second compartments with a lower opening between the compartments that allows access therebetween. A closure panel is mounted in the rear wall and is movable between a panel closed position closing the opening and a panel open position allowing access through the lower opening between the compartments. An upper opening in the rear wall above the lower opening is closable by a window mounted in the body and movable to a window open position wherein the window is lowered at least partially into the closure panel, thereby permitting external access to the first compartment through the upper opening. A crossbar extends laterally in the body between the upper and lower openings and contains a window drive mechanism at least partially within the crossbar. The mechanism is operable to slide the window into and out of the upper opening to reach the window closed and open positions and to control external access through the upper opening. Preferably, the window may also be lowered fully into the closure panel and moved with the panel to its open position, thereby allowing access through both upper and lower openings. Optionally, the crossbar may pivot down with the closure panel to open the rear wall fully to access the rear cargo compartment.