Cascade Crew

aaron_sK

In another silly weight reduction and automotive simplification project I decided I wanted to do true manual mirrors on my car.

I hate power mirrors because they are heavy, and always break. I also hate the silly cable-driven joystick mirrors because they are stupid and the joystick is ugly and and I always bump it with my knee and the cables always jam and break.

I figure I drive with the window down in all weather anyhow, so having a true manual mirror is fine with me. I tried swapping a manual passenger assembly into a driver's shell, but that failed due to GM using riveted spring steel, and then gluing the glass over the rivets. Rolling Eyes

So today at the junkyard I was shocked to find these (mirror off of the Banana used for comparison):

They are the same frontal dimensions as the normal mirrors, and they use the same glass, but the shell is flat on the back:

Same bolt pattern:

They have LH and RH respectively stamped on them, as well as a GM-looking part number, which is making me think that they are not aftermarket. The3y use a different plastic seal than the normal unit, but the same holes. They are bevel to fit perfectly on thirdgen doors. They are both true manual units (spring and a pivot ball inside both units).

They came off of an '82-'84 Bird that was super-duper base model. Like we're talking 'Duke and Saginaw hardtop with no A/C basemodel here. Laughing

I threw one of them on for the heck of it, and I don't think they look half bad. As a cool bonus they are a bit lighter as well. Very Happy

I have never seen anything like these before at all. I tried searching for pics of early 'Birds on Google and TGO but all I can find are Trans Am cars, which all seem to have the areo mirrors. Was this some crazy first-year base-model option?

DBL_TKE · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 3:08 pm Post subject:

Never seen those before but I think they are ugly, exactly how much weight did you save with these anyway? I can't imagine it being enough to justify having to look at those.

aaron_sK · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 3:18 pm Post subject:

Weight savings was negligible. Wink

When I first saw them I thought they were ugly, but they grew on me fast. I love unique crazy stuff like this, and they have the exact inner mechanicals I want.

chevymad · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 3:46 pm Post subject:

Are those the "Flag" mirrors other countries got? Europe requires them so you can fold your mirrors in when you park. Otherwise the streets are so narrow people break them off driving by.

aaron_sK · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 4:09 pm Post subject:

They are not the Euro or "GTA" mirrors. Those were power, they were higher, and these do not break away (solid casting).

The mystery, however, is solved!

http://www.earlythirdgen.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=35

The remote driver mirror was apparently not the base option, there was one below that, and these are it.

jchaussee · Member Joined: 14 Nov 2010 Posts: 1318 Location: renton

I would be extremly concerned of the lack of aerodynamics Surprised

iansane · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 5:36 pm Post subject:

Oooglay. That's what those are.

Hanging on the shop wall so you can tell stories about? Yes, ultra cool. Putting on your car so you can explain them to everyone? Not so much...

We know you like odd but at least choose odd that flows with the lines of the car. Very Happy

Alphius · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 6:43 pm Post subject:

Contrary to these chuckleheads, I love them. They give it a very 80's look, and that is a sweet find. Cleaned up, I think they'll look spectacular especially considering the rest of the visual effect you are going for with the car. If you find another pair, grab 'em for me! Smile