1969 Cutlass S convertible. I’m putting the trim back on after the windshield was installed. When installing the vertical trim on the sides (drivers/passenger) does the trim bolt directly to the body or does some sort of sealant or butyl tape go between?

 

The wide stainless piece (not the piece that holds the weatherstrip) typically had a bunch of grey rope calk on the underside of the part where the attaching screws are. I've pulled a few of those and it was always a struggle to "peel" the stainless away from the metal A-pillar. Of course you want them to fit flush but the rope calk would thin out as the attaching screws were tightened down. Can't tell you exactly HOW much but they were fairly generous in the application.

Just look at your pic and imagine where water would migrate under the piece and into the screw holes.

The w/strip stainless channel itself will have a strip of thin black closed cell foam tape on the underside...up and down its whole length.