Some clarifications: First, the early cars don't really have a "seal". The seal is the butyl (read: disgusting) glue that is placed between the glass and the body before the glass is installed. When the windshield in these cars is replaced, glass shops nowadays use urethane sealant. It isn't prone to warming up and dripping on your slack, dashboard, visors, etc. The same is true for the later cars with the flush outer "seal" instead of a molding.

The "outer seal" on the early cars is simply the rubber edge that's attached to the anodized, aluminum trim. Yes, it deflects water from getting into the windshield recess, but the sealant behind the glass is the key.

The newer style flush seal comes in two varieties. There is "stock", seal material that glass shops install by the foot. There are also later 240 windshields that have the seal already attached. This latter seal is very smooth and flat, while the former, the aftermarket/OEM seal is like Volvo's stuff with a ridge in it. The flush seal on earlier cars when they are a dark color, disappears. Somehow on the light colors, the flush seal looks strange, especially in contrast to the bright side moldings around the windows. something appears to be missing. The exception is a turbo car, where the black flush molding looks good (IMHO). The metal molding itself was NLA when I checked with a couple of dealerships about five months ago. The good news is that unless the rubber is torn or otherwise damaged, a good set of new clips will get it back in place and the molding will look great. You can have the anodized surface buffed, or you can have it polished off down to the aluminum which can then be polished.

Safelite has the clips for less than 20 a bag. I keep them on the shelf nowadays. Usually they are one day away in major cities. Removing the molding will almost certainly result in all the old clips breaking. It is possible to squish new ones into old butyl, but not easy. If your glass is good, have them re-seat it with urethane sealant and new clips and snap the molding back into place on top. Done!