Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello. Does anyone know if there is an ideal position for wing mirrors on a Morris Minor. On the wings obviously, but how far back from the headlamp bezel for example. What is the best make of wing mirror available today? I have been looking at the Tex site. I find door mirrors inadequate the ones I have don't have long enough stalks. I am new to the Minor scene and my car is currently in northern France. Regards, William.[frame][/frame]

If that's your car I'd say you already have mirrors in the ideal position.
I'm 5 ft 10 in. The drivers seat is knackered, but I can still barely even see the nears side mirror.
The view from the drivers side isn't much use either.

Whatever you fit, using the "lifesaver" (looking over your shoulder) is highly recommended.

Get an assistant, preferable beautiful, to hold a mirror in potential positions to get an idea of how much, or how little, you can see in them.

I have been told from someone who should know, that wing mirrors are fitted 7 inches back from the headlamp rims, but of course folk may fit them where they like!

As mentioned best thing is to get someone to hold them up and check the position that best for you. I have mine fitted 9" back from the centre of the headlamp bezels as I found that best! As for style thats a personal issue, my own favourite is the classic round type but you get a better view from the desmo type. Hers a link to ESM who that shows all the types available, a pair will probably cost about £50ish

http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/adv ... 25531_2647[/img][/frame]above is the desmo type[frame][/frame]these ones fitted to the traveller are the classic round ones[frame][/frame]The green minor came with these type fitted, not sure of the name but they are also very good though fitted a bit to far forward for my liking at only 6" from the bezel

Mine are 8 in back, but the important thing is to fit convex glass mirrors, flat glass is useless. Also fit the longest arms you can find, except van arms.

and expect the chrome on the arms to start bubbling after 18 months even with the car garaged and not out in the rain

I have bullet shaped door mirrors from Minispares. For me they look the part, blending in with the curved shaped of the Minor. You can get two types-one with a longer base, which is what you need. They are mounted on the doors, about 2" back from the front edge, just below the window frame. Not perfect, but they work well enough, and yes, the lifesaver look over the shoulder is always a good idea, in any car.

Cheers N

Thanks to everyone who sents suggestions, you have been very helpful. I can't see much with the left hand door mirror which is important on continental roads. I am still undecided, I hate the idea of driiling holes in the wings![frame][/frame]

Don't do it then.

You won't see enough in it to ensure safety, it might even lull you into a false sense of security.

I made this mistake with a much more modern car that had factory fitted mirrors on the doors.
A 3 ton lorry would easily fit into the blind spot that thing had!

Didn't cause an accident, just some horn blowing and a bit of light swerving .

Since then I'll do mirror,signal, life saver, manoeuvre if I'm in any doubt about what's behind me.

MarkyB wrote:Don't do it then.

You won't see enough in it to ensure safety, it might even lull you into a false sense of security.

I made this mistake with a much more modern car that had factory fitted mirrors on the doors.
A 3 ton lorry would easily fit into the blind spot that thing had!

Didn't cause an accident, just some horn blowing and a bit of light swerving .

Since then I'll do mirror,signal, life saver, manoeuvre if I'm in any doubt about what's behind me.

I think you're right, as far as I can remember, in the fifties and sixties, fewer cars had exterior mirrors. People used the interior mirror and looked over the shoulder a lot. For example, when overtaking I was taught not to pull back in until the vehicule behind is in full view of the interior mirror. Nowadays people have a tendancy to cut in. Too much reliance on door mirrors? I think every driver at some time has had a nasty moment with that dangerous blind spot!

I user to know a guy that had a series of parabolic mirrors across the top on the windscreen (inside) on a beetle. the reward view was surprisingly good!

if you wanted the ultimate in rear view you could replace a couple of the rear bumper bolts with mini cameras and use then to feed 2 small screens up front. I have even seen interior mirrors with a tiny screen built in (maybe a 1") these are intended for displaying DVD images (only slightly dangerous then!)
If you used the bolts on the curve then you would almost eliminate blind spots.

I have exactly the same problem with these door mirrors and is still not resolved-see
http://www.mmoc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33986
Regards
Declan

wing mirrors on the wing i find are the best, you dont have to take your eyes off the road as much to look and it can help when judging your width in narrow spaces. the passenger side doesnt really do much but look nice.