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Fitting Wing Mirrors

Posted By : Aaron Tucker, 08-Sep-2005, 12:56pm

Hi there just bought a Herald 1200 Convertable and was give a box of spares with wing mirrors in it as the car does not have any fitted. The bonnet looks great and does not holes for the mirrors. See profile.

As there are no holes I am relucktant to drill them, does any one have any expereince of the clip on mirrors for the quarter lights, are they useful?? as they look like they fit too far back to be of help??

Thanks

Aaron

Followups :

fitting Wing Mirrors

Posted By : William Davies, 08-Sep-2005, 11:10pm

I have a 1200 Coupe which had one of the quarterlight mirrors fitted when purchased. After a few weeks it dropped off into the path of an oncoming lorry.........
If you have quarterlights which stay in a fixed position, ie the springs aren't broken, or you keep your quarterlights permanently closed, then these may be just about useable. My objection to them is that they look horrible, the original wing mounted mirrors are far more in keeping with the styling of the car, though difficult to set up properly,
Cheers,
Bill.
- fitting Wing Mirrors
  
  Posted By : Colin Lindsay, 09-Sep-2005, 08:14am
  
  I used the stainless clip-on mirrors for both my GT6, they then both dropped off and left an identical scratch on the top of the door which left me well pleased. I'm intending to fit one on the Mk1 but I'll use mastic to glue it in place - however - they look like sod-all squared on the Herald family and I'd recommend a good set of period wing mirrors. If you have access to the AA Book of the Car it gives an entire article on fitting wing mirrors from scratch, but if you need dimensions let me know and I'll measure the fitting point on the bonnet of my coupe which had them fitted from new.
  Colin
  - fitting Wing Mirrors
    
    Posted By : John Fannon, 09-Sep-2005, 04:04pm
    
    Colin
    
    I'd be interested in the exact measurements for my vitesse. I've got a few photos of club cars with wing mirrors to go by, but no exact measurements. Most of them seem to be mounted slightly off centre of the wheel arch (towards the rear of the car) and just inside the line separating wing from bonnet.
    
    Cheers
    
    John
    - fitting Wing Mirrors
      
      Posted By : Colin Lindsay, 09-Sep-2005, 06:55pm
      
      Hi John; now that I'm home I've taken measurements from both my Heralds - the Coupe I can vouch for as having had mirrors when new and using datum points as dead centre on the wingtop at the front edge, just before the chrome cowling, they are set 5 inches back and 5.25 inches from the bonnet side chrome strip to the centre of the stem. Sadly I don't have a 13/60 or Vitesse for your own measurements, but I would wonder if the mirrors would have originally been fitted so far back?
      The 1200 Estate which I can't guarantee to have been fitted from new has them 8 inches back from the wing front and 5.75 inches from the stainless side strip (measured using a flexible tape around the wing curve.)
      This puts the Coupe mirrors almost central on the wing and in line with the top hole in the headlamp panel when viewed from underneath; the Estate mirrors are slightly more to the outside. I think there would be some degree of flexibility even in supplier-fitted mirrors ie as long as they were roughly in the right place they were okay.
      Don't forget if anyone is fitting them from scratch to punch a pilot hole first before drilling, as a scratch in this area would be most annoying, and very noticeable!
      
      fitting Wing Mirrors
      - fitting Wing Mirrors
        
        Posted By : Colin Lindsay, 09-Sep-2005, 06:56pm
        
        By the way, excuse the rain on the above - here's a drier shot from below!
        Colin
        
        fitting Wing Mirrors
      - fitting Wing Mirrors
        
        Posted By : John Fannon, 10-Sep-2005, 08:29pm
        
        Ahhhh yes....was forgetting that the early heralds have a totally different bonnet to the 13/60 and vitesse!! So I don't think these measurements will help me much, thanks anyway. I'll have to go by the pics I have of other cars.
        
        Personally, I prefer wing mirrors. My vitesse has a single drivers side door mirror which I'm going to replace with new wing mirrors. The main reason for this is that the door mirror not only looks odd, but also obstructs the quarterlight. I had wing mirrors on a 13/60 and had no problem with rearward vision and the door mirror I have isn't great for that anyway.
        
        The way I see it is, if you want a safe car with modern safety features, buy a modern one.
        
        John
- fitting Wing Mirrors
  
  Posted By : Aaron Tucker, 12-Sep-2005, 12:10pm
  
  hi guys thanks to you all, appols if I appear to have started some sort of argument of the merits of period vs practicality
  
  I have a pair of original wing mirrors for the 1200 in the bag of spares, in nice condition to...... think i will have to have a long hard think as to the pros and cons of the drilll vs the bonnet
  
  maybe in the mean time, while i work up the courage, i might try out the clamp on one.
  
  Thanks again
  
  Aaron
- fitting Wing Mirrors
  
  Posted By : Aaron Tucker, 12-Sep-2005, 12:11pm
  
  hi guys thanks to you all, appols if I appear to have started some sort of argument of the merits of period vs practicality
  
  I have a pair of original wing mirrors for the 1200 in the bag of spares, in nice condition to...... think i will have to have a long hard think as to the pros and cons of the drilll vs the bonnet
  
  maybe in the mean time, while i work up the courage, i might try out the clamp on one.
  
  Thanks again
  
  Aaron
fitting Wing Mirrors

Posted By : Bob Bowling, 09-Sep-2005, 07:58pm

The mirrors which clip to the window channel may not look good, but they do at least work. 25 years (as overtaking mirrors) ago they were sold as the answer to wing mirrors that you could never see much through. Having the mirror so close does mean that you can actually see what is going on behind you. you only have to look for a modern car with wing mirrors - oh look, they all have door mirrors now!
- fitting Wing Mirrors
  
  Posted By : Colin Lindsay, 10-Sep-2005, 09:57am
  
  So we're back to the old argument about functionality versus originality. The closer the mirrors are to the driver, the more you see, but the likes of Heralds always did suit mirrors on the front of the bonnet - more of a period thing? I bought a huge black plastic Raydyot clip-on door mirror in a charity shop a few years back, but I don't hate any of my cars enough to fit it.... at least the stainless variety are less obtrusive and better looking!
  - fitting Wing Mirrors
    
    Posted By : Matthew Holland, 10-Sep-2005, 10:26am
    
    http://www.holden.co.uk/product_display.asp?produc...
    
    I bought one of these about 5 years ago and have never looked back....well, maybe I should say I always look back having bought one....
    
    Anyway, as vomitably expensive as it looks (that's Holden for you) it really works.
    
    Anyone who drills holes in their bonnet is a far braver man than I.
    
    : )
    - fitting Wing Mirrors
      
      Posted By : Aaron Tucker, 12-Sep-2005, 12:13pm
      
      thanks for the link Matthew, doe seem expensive but means you don't need a drill
      
      Aaron