when we bought this car new in '62, it had no exterior mirrors...I would like to add some now, so I would appreciate some advice on which of the mirrors available on the market would be most correct for this vehicle and era...
Correct reproduction mirrors are available from Ecklers as well as other vendors of 1960-1970 Chevrolet parts. It will have a Bow Tie cast into the back side. Price about $40 and will fit on both the right and left side.
i see that eckler's lists these for '55-'57 chevy & '63 corvette...should the mirror have the long pointy base?..I've seen some with a more rectalinear base without the pointy ends...i assume those would not be as appropriate?..
this quote from a similar thread earlier this year:
Originally Posted by Verne_Frantz
The mounting locations are different depending on models. Sport Coupe & convertible have one location and all other models have another location. A template is provided with a new mirror. The accessories installation manual only shows the actual dimensions for the Sport Coupe & convertible. The rear hole for the bracket is 2-5/8" forward from the rear edge of the vent window pillar. The forward screw hole is 2" forward of that and both are 19/32" below the lower edge of the door revel molding.
Verne
using these dimensions as a guide, i mocked it up today...
the vent window cleared the mirror head and base on both sides, but on the passenger side, the view in the mirror was partially blocked by the vent / window bar...this could be eliminated if the mirrors were moved rearward about an inch and a half...
on sport coupes and convertibles following the above dimensions, where does the mirror head ball end up in relation to the vent / window bar?..
gene, mine is a sport sedan, the four-door hardtop...we bought it new in december, 1962, without mirrors...
unfortunately, the mirrors i received (oer brand from classic) did not have any instructions...so I'm hoping to get some direction from the members here...
I should add that, when i mocked it up yesterday to verne's dimensions for the sport coupe & convertible, the plastic base ends up pretty close to the window reveal molding...i assume that would also be correct?..
Models other than Sport Coupe & convertible use different locations. I don't have the measurements. All the literature I have says to follow directions on the templates (which I don't have). It may take some time, but try to find an NOS '63 (or '64) mirror and see if the seller will get you a copy of the template.
i'm hoping a fellow member here will read about my need and offer such a template or dimension...
but, i'm assuming that you have a '61-'64 full size?..if so, i'm guessing yours is likely a two door, but could you answer two of my previous general questions:
1. on sport coupes and convertibles following your dimensions, where does the mirror head ball end up in relation to the vent / window bar?..
2. when i mocked it up the other day to your dimensions for the sport coupe & convertible, the plastic base ends up pretty close to the window reveal molding...i assume that would also be correct?..
could you post or send me a close up of your installed mirror and base?..
Give me some time and I'll be able to do that for you. I have an unrestored '63 Sport Coupe (Best of Show winner two years in a row). The '63 & '64 mirrors are a lot closer to the revel molding than '61 & '62s are (were).
Here are two pics. They are a little dark because the car is in a trailer. The mirror is actually closer to the edge of the door than I remembered but it is a factory installation. Just so you know, a right side OSRV mirror wasn't offered as an option on a full size Chevy. Hard to believe, but even the left hand OSRV mirror was an option; not standard. If the customer wanted one, a lot of dealers installed one after they received the car rather than specifying it as an option on their order form. Therefore, you can't always be sure it's in the right position if you see one on a car. Many times, the mirror doesn't even have the Chevy bowtie on it because the dealer bought it from an auto parts store. ( more profit for them).
thank you for the pics, verne...they are very helpful...
however, from your post on another thread about these mirrors, "both (mounting holes) are 19/32" below the lower edge of the door reveal molding"...your mirror mounting holes appear to be much more than that from the reveal molding, unless i am misunderstanding the directions...for the mirror to be that close to the edge, it would seem that the mounting holes would be about an inch and a half from the reveal molding?..or could the instructions have been 1-19/32"?..
it looks from your pics that the ball head of the mirror is right at or just beyond the rear edge of the ventipane divider...that makes sense...i am assuming that the ventipane dimensions are different on two and four-door models, but I am not certain of this...
yes, I was aware that the right side mirror was not offered at all, but it would be reasonable to expect that if one were added, it would be mounted in the matching position to the left?..
I double checked my Accessories Installation Manual and the 19/32" dimension is for Sport Coupes and convertibles only. But I noticed that the panel is labelled "Chevy" rather than "Chevrolet", so I think that refers to the Chevy-II rather than the full size car. Unfortunately, there is no dimension listed for other models. It just says to use the template provided with the mirror. The panel labelled "Chevrolet" shows the template in place and the + mark indicating where the screw hole should be does agree with the position of my mirror. I have an NOS '61-'62 mirror with a template, but not a '63-'64 style mirror. I think your best bet is to just wait until you find someone with an original template. If they can photocopy it, it will be the right size. A photograph of it won't be sized correctly, so be careful what kind of copy they send to you.
As for mounting a RH OSRV mirror, I would probably use the same dimensions as the LH mirror just for the sake of symmetry on the car, even if that position didn't afford me the best view from the driver's seat.
i just found a drawing in the back of the '63 assembly manual, section z01, sheet 4.00...
dimensions given here for an exterior driver door mirror whose mounting holes are measured from the "rear edge of c.v. pillar"...2.18" forward to the rear mirror bracket mounting hole, another 2.00" forward to the front hole...both holes are measured down from the "break line" below the window reveal and is given as 2.33"...
but i can already tell that it will be closer to your pics than the dimensions you posted, because it will be near the outer edge of the door, rather than the window reveal...
i mocked it up and the position looks pretty good...
except that the diagram showed a straight line measurement from the window reveal...this would place the outer edge of the plastic base right at the edge of the door break...
your pic shows your mirror base about a quarter inch in from the edge... if i use a flexible ruler to follow the concave surface of the door, then it moves the mirror location in an eighth of a inch... this seems better than having it right at the edge...
Yes, I would suggest using a cloth tape measure like a seamstress would use. Do you have the correct metal bracket that attaches to the door? Chevy used two sizes of them over the years, so I'd suggest test fitting it to the mirror base before drilling.
