TR4/4A Rear view Mirror

[carpecursusII]

Can someone post some pictures of TR4A mirrors. I read the parts book and see at least 3 part numbers but no commission numbers to align them too. I have a plastic mirror with a flexible base and the edges of the glass covered. I think this is original to the car but I'd like to be sure. CT59xxx ~11/65 build date.

 

[Geo Hahn]

Sounds very like what my late 64 TR4 has - not that that answers your question.

I recall for years being impressed with the design as the slightly convex shape (curved outward left to right) made everything look skinny but gave a wider field of view.

I finally figured this was not by design -- the plastic had warped so badly it had actually bent the mirror!

 

[3798j]

Your description matches this one in my 4A.

 

[charleyf]

You are apparently looking for originality. In case that is not the case, I bought a mirror from TRF that is the duplicate of the original except that it has a night driving "switch" on it. The only outward difference in appearance is the "switch" on the bottom. As TR 4 and 6 use the same windshield ,I believe this comes from the later TR6.
Charley

 

[carpecursusII]

I am going for originality. Jay, you mirror is close but seems slightly different. I will try and add some pictures next week.

 

[TR4nut]

For what it's worth i think Jay's is original, I've seen a couple of styles installed on 4s and 4As.

 

[Geo Hahn]

For what it's worth i think Jay's is original...

Me too. The original on my 64 says;

WINGARD​

MADE IN ENGLAND
PAT. No. 909769​

On the backside below the fitting. Can't see this specifically in the one pictured but I fancy I can catch a glimpse of some raised lettering in the correct spot.

The replacement (from TRF) looks good to the casual observer and works fine, but could never be mistaken for an original.

 

[3798j]

Mine has those same markings as Geo's.

 

[HerronScott]

Can someone post some pictures of TR4A mirrors. I read the parts book and see at least 3 part numbers but no commission numbers to align them too. I have a plastic mirror with a flexible base and the edges of the glass covered. I think this is original to the car but I'd like to be sure. CT59xxx ~11/65 build date.

Looking at the TR4A SPC, there are only 2 part numbers, 614090 and 614173, and the first one matches the part number for what was listed for the later TR4's in the TR4 SPC.

I checked my 2 TR4A's and it looks like I have one of each. The mirror appears the same with both but the base is different. The base on the earlier car is adjustable at the frame end as well as the mirror end while the base on the later car is fixed at the frame end and only adjustable at the mirror end. The base in the earlier car also has a cover over the screws.

1966 TR4A rearview mirror (CTC69123L)




1966 TR4A rearview mirror (CTC72159LO)




Scott

 

[JerryVV]

Interesting, my car a 66 4A CTC69150L which is 27 units newer than Scotts CTC69123L has the mirror that his later car has. Have we found an approx. change point? I believe mine is as supplied originally as I've owned the car since 1969. These cars still have mysteries to be discovered.

 

[Geo Hahn]

FWIW - the replacement I have from TRF is similar to the later design (exposed screws, movement only at mirror end) but is a metal shaft and the shaft and the mirror back have a black crinkle finish.

 

[HerronScott]

Interesting, my car a 66 4A CTC69150L which is 27 units newer than Scotts CTC69123L has the mirror that his later car has. Have we found an approx. change point? I believe mine is as supplied originally as I've owned the car since 1969. These cars still have mysteries to be discovered.

Jerry,

The reproduction SPC has a space to document the cutover but no commission number is given. I'm pretty confident that the one in my later car is original to it as well. I can't be so confident of the one in my earlier car though since I restored it and would have picked the best used one that I could find at the time (and there were lots of used parts available then in the local British car wrecking yard and swap meets at the car shows). Jay has the earlier one on his 1966 so it would be interesting to see where his commission number compared to ours.

Scott

 

[sail]

I just got home to check CTC58457L TR4A IRS which has the double hinge like Geo's

WINGARD

MADE IN ENGLAND
PAT. No. 909769​

 

[3798j]

Here's my 4A's number: CT57927L

 

[HerronScott]

I just got home to check CTC58457L TR4A IRS which has the double hinge like Geo's

WINGARD

MADE IN ENGLAND
PAT. No. 909769​

Note that the mirror part is the same between both types with the same information on the back including the same patent number.

Scott

 

[JerryVV]

Jerry,

The reproduction SPC has a space to document the cutover but no commission number is given. I'm pretty confident that the one in my later car is original to it as well. I can't be so confident of the one in my earlier car though since I restored it and would have picked the best used one that I could find at the time (and there were lots of used parts available then in the local British car wrecking yard and swap meets at the car shows). Jay has the earlier one on his 1966 so it would be interesting to see where his commission number compared to ours.

Scott

Scott, while I have changed my mirror to a TR6 style for the headlight dimming feature I still have the original in a bag. I believe it to be original to the car as the car was pretty much untouched in June of 1969 when I bought it. So I guess this will remain a puzzel to be solved if anyone really wants to dig into this minutia. Cost savings perhaps was the reason for the change.