opinion on outside mirrors

O

oliverguy

Senior Member
Hi all,
I have a 31 slant windshield town sedan with window wings. I'm in the market for some outside mirrors for both sides of the car, and I see there are lots of different types.

I kind of like the kind that attach to your side mounted spares, but I wonder if I can actually see behind me with them. My car has stainless bands around the tires, I thought I could put a piece of rubber between the band and the bottom of the mirror mount to keep them seated.

I see there are types that attach through my door hinges, and kids the clip onto my window wings. These seem like they could fall off, or get knocked off by walking close to the car.

Does anyone have a preference, or pro's and cons of each kind? I really only want to buy these one time.

thanks

Bryan
 
Mirrors mounted on side mount sapres are worthless. They are too far away and they vibrate too much. And on top of that my friend has them and they can't even be adjusted to line up to be viewed.

I'd say you'd have the best view to the rear by using door mounted mirrors.
 
I have the mirrors that mount on the door hinge on my '30 Town Sedan. I'd be lost without them. I do wish that they had just alittle bit more adjustment. I have them at their maximum adjustment and I can see OK but a little more would be nice. Don/WI
 
I agree with Tom, the side mount mirrors are not money well spent. The vibration makes them useless.

The door mounted mirrors that "clip" on to the side of the doors not only damage the finish but also frequently prevent the doors from closing correctly.

I much prefer the hinge mounted mirrors but they do not come without a problem. The replacement hinge pin is smaller in diameter and softer than the original pin and will eventually lead to a loose hinge. The best case would be to machine new hinge pins and use them with the aftermarket mirrors.

With my driving restriction, I couldn't legally drive my A's without two side view mirrors. Gar Williams
 
This is an interesting post of Oliver guy for me also, as I have a 31 Town Sedan. As of yet I only have one spare mounted mirrior, which I also agree is almost useless. IMO when you have already have windwings you are limited to either the clamp-on design at the top of the door (not impressed), or the clamp-on type on the windwings.
Looks like we both need suggestions........?? Possibly pictures
 
As I recall, the Slant windshield cars may have a slightly larger upper hinge than the earlier cars. I know the pin is unique so it would be worth your while to make sure that the mirrors you purchase indeed will fit the S/W hinge. Gar Williams
 
I too would lean toward the windwing clamp on mirrors since you have the windwings installed already. You will most definately have the most choices of mounting anywhere on the windwing to acheave the best result given the obvious limitations. I have clamp ons on my roadster windwngs and can see fairly well with them...
 
I found that adding a convex mirror to the windwing mirror on the passenger side of my tudor increased my visibility a great deal. I happened to find one that was the same diameter as the wind wing mirror.

I just felt that the field of vision was a little restrictive on that side of the car. I am much more comfortable in heavy traffic with this arrangement.

your results may vary.
 
Not the best picture, but these are the mirrors on my 'driver' slant window 160B.
RectangularConvexMirrors.jpg

They started life as two 3" round/flat mirrored jobs with terrible set-screw clamps that held them to the edge of the door. Straight from an A vendor's catalog.

I tried several sizes of stik-on convex mirrors to widen the view, but they all had too much curve, as they were designed as blind spot mirrors. Then I replaced the 3" flat/round mirrors with these convex curved 3.5" x 5" mirrors that I bought at a truck stop on I-80. They were intended for right side use only, and had a lesser curve. I discarded the brackets they came with. After finding the best vertical placement I removed the set-screw brackets, filed off the extra 'lip' and screwed them directly to the sheet metal door edge. Yes, I drilled holes in the doors!:eek: I figured the screw holes on the door edge were easily reversible and spot paint-able, vs accident damage from poor vision! They are absolutely solid and hold their adjustment through multiple door slams. Three screws on the back allow you to make the adjustment ball socket as tight as you want.

The view is spectacular compared to any flat or round mirror, and they are the correct distance out. It does take a little getting used too the curved mirror on the driver's side. I am always careful to heed the printed warning: "Objects in mirror are uglier than they appear", or something like that.
 
I have a 1930 town sedan with spare tires on both front fenders, they have mirrors on them , they work great for looking down the side that is the blind spot. it also has round clamp on mirrors on both doors witch work great. I have never seem them viberating.
 
Since you have windwings, i would get the mirrors that clamp onto the windwings. I have one mirror on my drivers side, and it's tough to see because i have the windwing (with etching) and at night with the reflections from the windwings, i can not use that mirror. I have a clamp on mirror on my passenger side that is much more useful and nicer to look at.
 
mount them on the door hinge pins, thats the most secure place for them, and they are actually useable there, and if they get bump hard nothing gets damaged or broken except the mirrow, they are cheap and easily replaced
 
Have hinge type mirrors on both sides, after nearly getting "clipped" about 3 times trying to merge into rh lane. Work for me.
Paul in CT
 
I tried one of the round mirrors that clamps on the edge of the (driver's) door, but it would not adjust to an angle that would let me see much. I like MikeK's setup. I wish somebody would sell mirrors that actually work on a S/W car!

Doug
 
My S/W has windwings and the clamp on type of windwing mirrors. They work better than the floppy clamp-on-the-door types by a long shot. They can be moved up and down along the glass edge to the best position. But, even tho' they are better than the door mounted ones, they remain pretty dinky. Mike's idea looks like a real improvement.
 
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