Replacement Mirrors For The Gt

[scodari]

Can anyone reccomend a decent replacement exterior mirror for the GT?

[jvandyke]

One man's "decent" is another man's butt ugly.
There's reproduction mirrors out (was discussed a few months ago, search turn up anything?) that are said to be of great quality (OGTS?). I like the originals myself. Someone else will have to chime in on "sport" mirrors.

I did find this thread.

[Phoenix]

Repro Mirrors

Sport Mirrors

[George]

I bought a driver side reproduction mirror from germany.It looks good with nice chrome and all but the holes where not big enough for the screws and the mirror glass has a lot of distortion.I'm looking for a good stock mirror to replace it.

[BobCGT]

I believe OGTS has good reproductions in stock.
If they dont have them,try Splendidparts in Germany.I got a set from them last year,nice copys of the originals.

[lkyrog]

I'm on a waiting list at OGTS for stock looking mirrors....awaiting shipment from Germany.
So if you want the original style call them up and get on the list.....hope it doesn't take too long though

[newman27]

I have the OGTS driver and passenger side mirrors on my car and they look great. Note: if you install the passenger side mirror in the symmetrical position based on the location of the driver side mirror (i.e., same height and distance front to back), you can't actually see anything useful in the passenger side mirror when looking from the driver's seat. I stuck a concave mirror on the passenger side to give me an actual view of the next lane over. This may be why Opel didn't actually put a mirror on that side.

Matt

[jvandyke]

Both my mirrors (right and left side) are OEM style but mounted higher, the edge of the mirror almost touches the lower window sill frame (1/2" from it) and about 2 1/2" back from "point" of window frame (where bottom edge and top edge meet). Original holes filled over and painted by PO.
I find both mirrors useful and couldn't stand to be without a passenger side mirror. Can see the hump of the rear wheel arch all things to the that side. If you're repainting, then is the time to move 'em, wonder why Opel didn't put 'em there? (of course if you rest your elbow on the open window edge, you can't use the mirror).

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by newman27 I have the OGTS driver and passenger side mirrors on my car and they look great. Note: if you install the passenger side mirror in the symmetrical position based on the location of the driver side mirror (i.e., same height and distance front to back), you can't actually see anything useful in the passenger side mirror when looking from the driver's seat. I stuck a concave mirror on the passenger side to give me an actual view of the next lane over. This may be why Opel didn't actually put a mirror on that side. Matt

I'm glad that I wasn't the only one who noticed this problem. My question is where did they mount them on European cars. Did they mount them higher from the factory in Europe then in the States?

[hallgeir]

Originally Posted by Phoenix I'm glad that I wasn't the only one who noticed this problem. My question is where did they mount them on European cars. Did they mount them higher from the factory in Europe then in the States?

I too have the reproduction mirrors from OGTS, and I think they look great, but I have also noticed this problem. This wasn`t a problem back in the 60`s and 70`s, so the factory mounted mirrors must have been slightly different.

[StefanLee]

I have bullet mirrors on my GT, I think they look great and really adds that classic racing touch.

Stefan

[jvandyke]

Originally Posted by StefanLee I have bullet mirrors on my GT, I think they look great and really adds that classic racing touch. Stefan

Where did you install them and do you have pictures? I've always liked the bullets too, and there's pictures of period GT (in Europe) with them mounted on the fenders, a cool look I think but in the way when working on the car I'm told.

Went to your gallery and saw your GT, very nice!

[guyopel]

I used the 92' Buick C&H body mirrors that you can paint to match the car and you can use ele. or manual mirrors , and see out both sides .
John

[PROPEL]

Originally Posted by hallgeir I too have the reproduction mirrors from OGTS, and I think they look great, but I have also noticed this problem. This wasn`t a problem back in the 60`s and 70`s, so the factory mounted mirrors must have been slightly different.

I have been holding off on installing my OEM passenger mirror for this exact reason. I know that the old Brit sportscars mounted the rightside mirror further back towards the rear of the car, so that left and right were not symmetrically mounted.

Did Opel also mount the passenger mirror further back or higher up? Maybe one of our European members with factory mirrors could chime in here...

On a sidenote, a passenger mirror is required by law in California if the car has any tinted windows. For this reason, my friend's GT came with a factory rightside mirror (aluminum, not steel repro). However, his passenger mirror is mounted in the same opposite place as the driver's, and full rearward vision is definitely impaired.

[jvandyke]

Just curious as to what the passenger mirror view is like when using same location as driver's side. As said, mine are higher up and the view is something like this. Bit of quarter window, hump of rear wheel well.

[Phoenix]

With my stock mirror mounted in the symmetrical position, I see somewhere out at the 4 O' clock position. No where it would be any usefulness.

BTW, I had purchased a set of 64-66 Mustang mirrors. They were brillant chrome and sell all day long on EBay for the lighter side of 40 bucks. 64-66 Mustang Mirrors

My uncle has a bucket full of a bunch of different non-Opel mirrors that came off of various Opels. All kinds of Mustangs and other period cars.

[hallgeir]

Originally Posted by jvandyke Just curious as to what the passenger mirror view is like when using same location as driver's side. As said, mine are higher up and the view is something like this. Bit of quarter window, hump of rear wheel well.

Actually, I don`t see anything of the car in the passenger side mirror. I have to lean over to the the passenger side to see what`s going on on the right side when backing in to the garage. Same location as driver side mirror. My -72 Ascona had them mounted symmetrically from factory, and it wasn`t a problem there.

[newman27]

Originally Posted by hallgeir Actually, I don`t see anything of the car in the passenger side mirror. I have to lean over to the the passenger side to see what`s going on on the right side when backing in to the garage. Same location as driver side mirror. My -72 Ascona had them mounted symmetrically from factory, and it wasn`t a problem there.

Same here - you can't see any of the car in the passenger mirror without leaning over. My GT didn't have a mirror on the passenger side when I bought it so I have always assumed that they weren't shipped with a mirror on that side (to the U.S. anyway). If they were shipped with a passenger mirror, my theory is that the factory mirror must have had a wider range of motion. If the repro mirror would pivot in toward the car further, I think it would be useful to the driver. The repro mirror stops short of being able to be rotated in toward the car far enough to be useful.

Matt

[West Coast GT]

I've installed a set of California Custom Rod mirrors painted with the same paint used on the car. They've been mounted symmetrically for appearance - but as others have found, the passenger side mirror is useless. I've added a shim that came with the mirror to adjust for the GT's curvature. No luck. Even with the widest shim.

So, the passenger side mirror is just for looks (yep, that's a pun).

[ungermm]

I really like the look of the California style mirrors also. I've had GT's with them, Vitaloni mirrors, and stock. I think it all depends on what you like and what goes with the style you want for the car. If you want something that is more vintage looking and chrome, take a look at the Lucas style chrome mirrors 4 1/4" round mirrors.

lucasmirrors.JPG

Just beware that most of the alternatives to stock mirrors mean that you will probably not be using the original mirror hole(s). Measure their base size and hole position.

Jerry

[kwilford]

Quite a good thread at:
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/2d-body...t-mirrors.html
I personally like the RX-7 mirrors which are power remote, as described at
http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/oana/tech/Pwrsm.pdf
John Warga installed his set as shown in post #29 at
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/2a-body...k-mirrors.html

HTH

[jtb]

Hi,

I used Mazda Miata mirrors. The mounting holes were extremely close to the existing holes, which I assume were stock, but the car didn't have mirrors when I got it. They are not chrome, so you might have to paint them if you don't like the colour.

jtb

[Phoenix]

Heads-up on the new repro mirrors:

The glass/reflective part fell out of the housing and broke. I'm not sure if it maybe a common problem or not but I'm going to take out the other one and re-attach it my way in addition to finding a replacement glass for the one I broke.

[newman27]

Originally Posted by Phoenix Heads-up on the new repro mirrors: The glass/reflective part fell out of the housing and broke. I'm not sure if it maybe a common problem or not but I'm going to take out the other one and re-attach it my way in addition to finding a replacement glass for the one I broke.

Ouch - so far, mine are OK. If you find a glass that fits and is of the "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.." type, it would be cool to put that type of reflector on the passenger side like they do on modern cars.

Matt

[Sparky73]

I got a pair of polished stainless mirrors for the first GT I restored.. but I'll have to look through the forums and see if I can remember what website I got them from. They looked VERY close to the original. Very good quality also.

Not very good pictures, but you can view them here. The blue car