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Wing Mirrors

Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 8:48 am
by MattJR
Hello all,

I am new to the site and to Morris Minor ownership! As of about 3 days ago I am the proud owner of a 1969 almond-green 2-door saloon. Hardly been used by its one previous owner, garaged its whole life when not used and in lovely condition. I am loving driving it - just one thing I am really missing is wing mirrors. It has quarterlight mirrors on the bonnet but I can't see much with those. I have seen pictures of the cars with wing mirrors fitted (round-shaped ones) - they seem to e fitted to the window itself.

Any idea whether these are easy to obtain and fit ??

Many thanks,
Matthew

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 9:09 am
by moggiethouable
Welcome Matt :wink: couldnt resist that one Matty.
You will get them at most mog specialist dealers, I find my wing mounted mirrors "neither use nor ornament" as they say round here, I intend getting one mounted on the quarterlight frame of the door myself.
There is a recent thread about this somewhere, just type the keywords in the search bar.
Not sure of your location but Tom Roy have supplied them.
Post a photo of your car when you get chance it sounds delightful.

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 9:39 am
by mike.perry
[quote="MattJR"]Hello all,
It has quarterlight mirrors on the bonnet but I can't see much with those. I have seen pictures of the cars with wing mirrors fitted (round-shaped ones) - they seem to e fitted to the window itself.

You seem to be confused by wing mirrors which fit to the front wings and door or quarterlight mirrors which fit on the door window frames.
Whatever you fit you need to get convex glass and if you fit wing mirrors then the longer arms are preferable

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 5:12 pm
by MattJR
Thanks, both.

I have the same mirrors as I can see on Moggiethouable's car and they do not do much. So, I guess what I need is quarter light mirrors. I didn't realise how much I use my wing mirrors on my other car at roundabouts etc and I am finding it a bit tricky without them.

I live in Cardiff and there are Moggie specialists in Brecon and Bristol both of which are about an hour from me.

Can I call my car a Moggie or is that presumptious from someone who has only had one for 3 days?

Matthew

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 10:20 am
by mike.perry
Companies such as Moss and Europa sell a variety of mirrors to suit your taste

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 10:46 am
by LouiseM
MattJR wrote:Can I call my car a Moggie or is that presumptious from someone who has only had one for 3 days?
You can call it what you like, the length of ownership makes no difference! I've personally never referred to any of my Minors as a Moggie but it's entirely down to personal preference. You might find that you change the name depending on whether or not you are having any problems with it :D

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 12:52 pm
by MattJR
Thanks all! I am very excited to be joining the community of Morris Minor owners!

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 4:07 pm
by moggiethouable
MattJR wrote:Thanks, both.

I have the same mirrors as I can see on Moggiethouable's car and they do not do much. So, I guess what I need is quarter light mirrors. I didn't realise how much I use my wing mirrors on my other car at roundabouts etc and I am finding it a bit tricky without them.

I live in Cardiff and there are Moggie specialists in Brecon and Bristol both of which are about an hour from me.

Can I call my car a Moggie or is that presumptious from someone who has only had one for 3 days?

Matthew
You will of course at some time have to give the car a name,mine was bought new in 1965 by a lady in Dewi garage Wales who christened her Doris, so we stuck with that :wink:

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 4:47 pm
by charlie_morris_minor
I had quarter light mirrors fitted to one of my moggies when i purchased it.. they went straight in the bin when i got home..I like my mirrors sitting on top of the wings because it removes the blind spot.. and my wife likes to be able to tell where the passenger wing is.

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 5:07 pm
by Pikey
I find the quarter light mirrors an absolute god send.

My pickup as any LCV owner (Van or Pickup) will know, has hopeless rear visability due to the rear body sticking out. I simply cant turn my head to look through a rear door window because the of the cab back.

I use the extended long armed mirrors on the wings, but I find the quarter light mirrors give a bit more visibility in the blind spot that the wing mirrors dont show. Quarter light mirrors are also very handy for exiting slip roads, for that car that always sits on your rear drivers side.

I unfortunately managed to knock my drivers quarter light mirror off last weekend, whilst polishing the windows glass, and the mirror cracked. I really miss not having it.

Cheers

Steve

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 6:30 pm
by MattJR
Thanks, for your advice. I will look into it.

As to names, we are thinking Dinah as in 'Dinah the Minor'.

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 7:09 pm
by welshrat
Hi Matt and welcome, have a look at these, my only concern is wether the bolt is long enough to fit through the quarterlight frame. The second ones are a different fit ( not quite sure how as yet).
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400240064792? ... 1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150622061172? ... 1423.l2649
PS I do hope Ken from swansea sees this thread as I have been unable to email him with the information he wanted, keeps bouncing back.

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 12:41 am
by kingzdjc
Hi,

As my Minor is from 1955, it came with no side/wing mirrors at all, as back then it wasnt a legal requirement (couldnt believe it when I was first told!)

Anyway, I purchased those clip on mirrors that fit to the door window struts. They seem to the job pretty well, and look discrete.

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 2:49 am
by mike.perry
It is not a legal requirement on Minors now, except on estate (Traveller) and LCV versions

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 11:03 am
by kingzdjc
mike.perry wrote:It is not a legal requirement on Minors now, except on estate (Traveller) and LCV versions
I know even now it isnt illegal, which to be honest, I was a little suprised when I first got my Minor, you know with todays society being all about health and safety and all.

I personally purchased the mirrors purely to help me to change lanes, as I found it difficult without side mirrors.

Its personal preference really, some can do without, I for one cannot!

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 7:21 pm
by MarkyB
I don't think it's a legal requirement on travellers, they have better rear vision than saloons.
Wing mirrors are OK but there is a lot of information in a small package unless they have flat glass when there isn't much to see :o
They take some getting used to but are fine as long as they are well adjusted.
Looking over your shoulder is known as a "life saver" in motorcycling circles but is just as applicable to cars,even modern ones.

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 8:31 pm
by MattJR
welshrat wrote:Hi Matt and welcome, have a look at these, my only concern is wether the bolt is long enough to fit through the quarterlight frame. The second ones are a different fit ( not quite sure how as yet).
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400240064792? ... 1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150622061172? ... 1423.l2649
PS I do hope Ken from swansea sees this thread as I have been unable to email him with the information he wanted, keeps bouncing back.

Thanks, Welshrat, are the second ones ok as it says say they fit to an MG Midget but don't mention Minors. I'd prefer ones that clip on as it would be nice not to have to affect the integrity of the car.

Cheers.

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 8:55 am
by mike.perry
[quote="MarkyB"]I don't think it's a legal requirement on travellers, they have better rear vision than saloons.

Estate cars and Travellers are capable of being loaded to the roof, obstructing vision through the rear view mirror.

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 5:59 pm
by welshrat
Hi Matt, not sure as not used them myself, it does say SUITABLE FOR ALL VEHICLES WITH A QUARTER LIGHT.
Looks like they clamp to the quarter light glass, would not be any good for mine as I have no catches to keep the quarter lights closed, they both swing open when going around corners. It would probably also mean that your quarter lights would always need to be closed shut, not good in this weather!

Re: Wing Mirrors

Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 10:30 pm
by MattJR
Thanks, Welshrat, hadn't thought of that. Keeping the quarter light windows closed would be a shame!