The Official 356Talk Forum

Can anyone please post a picture of a correct inside rear view mirror for a 11/1953 coupe. what size has the mirror ? Thank you for your help

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I think the same inside mirror fits all pre A coupes... cabriolets are different and had at least two versions

mirror glass is approx 120 x 57mm

Ralf
I,m pretty sure the mirror shown by Rick was first used in 1954. The 53 mirror is a little smaller and more block like with a longer stem .. i'm not 100 percent sure exactly when the change was made but i know the 54 and 55 mirrors are different than the 53 mirror. i would wait for James to comment before you do anything seeing as your car is a late 53 it may have come with a 54 mirror not the 53 mirror. but if i had to guess i would say all 53 had the 53 type mirror. as i have seen early 54s with a 53 type mirror .

when i reference
54 i mean the one shown in the pic
when i reference
53 i am referencing the block mirror with the long stem not yet shown

Regards Ned
55 continental Cab

with the Info Ned provided, my measurements are from a late 52. No clue if this mirror was in the car when new, but it looks different from the mirror in my A

Ned if you have a picture of a second different mirror used in coupes that is not listed in either the 53 or 55 parts manuals please post it. There are different cabriolets mirrors listed and there is at least one additional cabriolet mirror that is not listed. The mirror that I did post is of a late 53 coupe mirror. The angle the photo was taken may offer a bit of perspective but it is the correct mirror. Brett Johnson's authenticity book page 106 would seem to collaborate the parts manual and the owner surveys. "The coupe mirror mounted via screws between the visors, was used from the first coupe through the 1956 model year." Whereas pre A's do have their eccentricities... please show your evidence! Jules is right in that the A mirrors did change they have a different foot. Keep in mind that many of the non standard items often found on these cars are owner installed or sometimes period accessories. Sometimes the accessories are neat additions... to each his own... be tolerant and KTF!

The middle mirror shown in the three different mirror image is an accessory but is still neat and has the same holding mechanism of the glass... kind of a hybrid of the attaching foot.

Jules' measurements are consistent with the mirrors that I have in hand... 120mm by 57 mm is about 4 3/4 inches by 2 1/4inches... kudos to Jules for measuring in the correct units! Ned you have an eagle eye and I mean no disrespect. Ned is also right in that there are few people as knowledgeable as James Davies. If you are in Europe Albert Haefner is a wonderful resource!

The mirror on '53 coupe 50502 built in May '53 is 120mm by 57mm as Rick mentioned. Also I was not aware that the mirror on '54 cab 60441( Feb '54) was wider than the coupe mirror. I measured it as 140mm by 57mm.

I dug a little deeper because I know that Ned has a good eye for catching small details... see attached images... there are two coupe mirrors, and the cabriolet's mirror changed in 54... good catch on the cabriolet measurement Daryl! Daryl's car 50502 is very close to the last car with hex nuts visors... this probably happened in or very close to June of 53 when the three knob dash configuration also changed to two knobs below the ash tray. In my records I have 50523 as the newest car to have the hex nuts visors...the first photo that I showed has the large foot visors and was a late 53 car. The opening question before we hijack the post involved a car from November of 53. I hope we answered your question.... :>)

With apologies to Ralf who by now could probably care less about cabriolet mirrors...

Rick,
Cabriolet 60238 (8/17/53) was fitted with the style mirror you have pictured as PN 356.70.037 applicable to chassis nos 60405 and newer. I think that style must be PN 356.70.033 listed in the '53 manual as Mod. 52. I'm 95% sure my mirror is original to the car. The mirror in Daryl's 53/54 cabriolet (Feb '54 as I recall and later than 60405) is totally different than mine and would have the newer, similar but larger ID clamping piece 356.70.038 referenced in the '55 book. Daryl's mirror is the last photo. Either way they are indeed a piece of art!

Spencer, I think your are right .... Ralf's question has truly been hijacked and is now off topic as his question was about coupe mirrors.

I believe that your mirror is original. (356.70.037) The mirror that you show as Daryl's 54 mirror is the same as on my T1 cab, and the dimensions Daryl gave matches the measurements that I made on my mirror. ... so there are at least two coupe mirrors and three cabriolets mirrors used during the pre A period...

Finally the early mirrors are about the neatest part around!

Thank you PRE A community for your help and all the perfect informations regarding the correct mirror for my 11/1953 coupe.
I found a perfect example from Mark Merz in napa valley.

...and for those 53 cab owners who are looking for a mirror, does anyone know of a source?