Bullet Mirror Placement

[Randy Forbes]

Don't want to get left out of "The Great Mirror Thread". I have the Lucas type with convex mirrors mounted over the apex of the wheels because that's where the dime-sized holes were drilled when I got the car from the previous owner and I didn't want to weld them up. They work well enough, but I find the adjusting part annoying too. Perhaps if I had a 72" sleeve length. I'd be a bit worried about having solidly fixed ones like Randy showed that some boob at a show would smack into them hard enough to crack the paint around the base.

Steve, I wonder if they put the mirrors on luggage rack cars because the dash mounted mirror would have been useless with luggage loaded on the rack? Of course they could have used my E-Type mod and got a day/night function as well:

I feel the functionality of these spring-loaded mirrors must be getting lost in my description of them. Unless you're like Steve, that also understands their principal virtue, I may not be getting my point across.

I took these images minutes ago, and I won't waste one (<1) second the next time I go to drive the Healey, because the mirrors will be exactly where I set them, years ago (and no chipped paint from the dozens, if not hundred times I've snapped them about ). In fact, when someone walking through the (albeit crowded, with 6 cars) garage bumps one of the Healey's mirrors, I usually give them proof-positive that they did no harm, by smacking the mirror about a few times myself!

In that last shot, I was trying to expose the spring mechanism, and the square base & socket (that allows the mirrors to be positioned at quarter-turn increments) but lighting was apparently not my friend today.

In closing, I just wanted to reinforce the point that I think they're great for the purpose, and cannot believe that anyone would be sorry once they tried them.

 

[andrea]

After read all the replies to the argument - if I am too young i can have a little artisan laboratory to make a LUCAS mirror copy, with remote control by wire- sure a successful article
BUT one other more modern solution can be a rear camera with dash display -NPInterst
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Rear-View-Camera-Car-Wireless-Reversing_1714082640.html

 

[Keoke]

Another advocate for them being centered over the wheels----ME TOO

Of course mine were factory installed Talbot Bullet units and now cost $300.00/EA.---OUCH !!

However, when traveling I have a Ski Boat Mirror attached to the top of the windscreen which provides 180 Deg Rear view. The view remains fixed and just a glace tell you all you need to know.

 

[Keith_M]

Earlier in this thread, I said that my mirrors were over the wheel wells, but I was mistaken. I remember now that I spent a lot of time testing different locations, and in the end I decided to put them quite a bit closer to the driver. I picked a location that was not blocked by the windshield pillar but was close enough that I could actually see things in them. I agree that they look better over the wheel wells, but in the end I chose functionality over looks.

 

[Goldie]

Thanks for the input. I am trying to decide if I will place the bullet mirrors I had before back on the car or go for an upgrade (more $). I was not pleased with fender damage done by the mounting screws when I removed them for painting. I did not like the location as they were hard to adjust and seemed to lose alignment whenever I removed the car cover. I am inclined to put the mirrors near the door pillar on the fender if I stay with bullet style but out near the front wheels if I go with the stem type. Goldie