Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => Technical / Authenticity => Topic started by: bongo7777 on February 18, 2011, 04:37:40 AM

Title: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: bongo7777 on February 18, 2011, 04:37:40 AM
I have a 58 Fleetwood with an original right hand mirror, I am in Melbourne, Australia so it is very handy as we drive on the Left.
I have seen the occasional right hand mirror for the 59 and 60 models but never for a 57 58 Cadillac.
Cadillac must have made hundreds or maybe thousands of them if I have an original on my vehicle but I have not seen anything from the era advertised and my 58 accessory catalog has no mention of one.
Can anyone please let me know if they are available as a reproduction? I have a 57 Fleetwood that could use one. I tried McVeys but no go.
Thank you,
Graham.
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: TonyZappone #2624 on February 18, 2011, 06:52:08 AM
I have  a right hand mirror on my 58 convert that I bought many years ago (repo).  It is a quality piece, very well made.  However, I found out why one was never offered from Cadillac.   You can't see the mirror, and there is no way to adjust the head so you can see it.  However, it does look nice on the car.  I can't remember where I got it, perhaps Jay Fisher?  Maybe the reason your car has one was because it was built for export?
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: Coupe on February 18, 2011, 09:13:26 AM
Try McVey's they are not cheap but look very good.
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: bongo7777 on February 18, 2011, 02:01:42 PM
Hi Tony,
I just received the car from the US so it was not built to Australian standards. I also have a factory photograph showing the same model with a right hand mirror fitted. I know what you mean about not being able to see it!! It is a registration requirement here though.
Very few Cadillac's were delivered new to Australia, they were very expensive at the time and also required left to right hand drive conversion. Thankfully nowdays once a car is 30 years old it can stay LHD.
Thanks,
Graham.
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: Bob Hoffmann CLC#96 on February 18, 2011, 07:10:49 PM
Graham & others,
According to the MPB, Cadillac DID offer an optional RH mirror. Group # 60.0550 or 33.2100, Part # 1471021. Very few were sold for 2 reasons:
#1 Cadillac did NOT promote them.
#2 Many cars still had LH mirrors as on option much less thinking about a RH one.
I've always been a proponent of RH mirrors for several reasons:
#1 They balance out the car.
#2 They do help as a safety issue, even if you can only see a fraction of the mirror.
I'd rather see part of an idiot paceing me in my blind spot rather than nothing.
HTH, Bob
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: 57flw on February 19, 2011, 04:08:01 AM
If anyone can help Graham out and has found a source I would be interested in one for my 57 also.

Ken
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: bongo7777 on February 19, 2011, 06:24:31 AM
Thanks for your very knowledgeable reply Bob. I sat in my 58 today and I can see about half of the mirror and that is better than nothing! I also agree it balances out the car.
I did think Cadillac must have supplied the right hand mirror as I have a factory pic of the same model as my car pictured with one.
I also had a good look at my mirror and it has without doubt been there been there from day one.
Graham.
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: bongo7777 on February 19, 2011, 06:34:52 AM
Hello Ken,
If I can't get a 57/58 RH mirror for my 57 I will fit a 56 I think.  There is not a huge difference and only "the pure" would be able to tell!!!   I may be able to help with a 56 mirror for your car, I think I have 2.
Graham.
0417-610-777
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: TonyZappone #2624 on February 19, 2011, 06:38:50 AM
Someone must have thought there was enough demand for a right hand mirror to reproduce them.  Now that I recall, the one that I finally had installed on my car was definitely a repo:  it was very heavy, either cast from brass or bronze.
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: bongo7777 on February 19, 2011, 06:53:48 AM
There seems to be a lot more 59 and 60 model RH mirrors available and you can get a repro 55/56 ok.
The 57/58 repro was available for a short time I was told, but no longer available.
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: D.Yaros on February 19, 2011, 10:20:40 AM
While I have not looked specifically, I would think Original Parts Group (OPGI) would have this?

I have seen them for my '55, and yes it was an available option from the factory.  However, as has been noted it is useless, and the cost is $184 + S&H!
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: Bob Hoffmann CLC#96 on February 19, 2011, 08:39:06 PM
Reply to Ken & others,
McVeys has the RH mirror available for $377.
Dave, if you don't have first hand experience with RH mirrors of that era, don't assume they are"useless". Reread my post about what you can expect to see. I'm glad that they were reproduced. They are very rare & impossible to restore even if you do find a used one.
HTH, Bob
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: bongo7777 on February 19, 2011, 09:07:17 PM
I just returned from putting fuel in the 58 and took paticular notice of what I can and can't see.  Sitting in a "normal" position (I am 5'10") I can see through about half of the mirror BUT if I lean forward I can see almost all.
It certainly is worthwhile, especially if you drive on the "wrong" side of the road.

Thanks to all.
Graham.
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: Bob Hoffmann CLC#96 on February 19, 2011, 10:07:58 PM
Graham, thanks for adding that fact. I forgot to mention it & I'm aware that it does make a difference.
Bob
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: D.Yaros on February 20, 2011, 06:41:04 AM
Well, I guess it depends on how one defines "of that era"  I do have a RH mirror on my '62 Olds, and it is a useful aid, no doubt.  I have personally tested/tried/used the RH mirror on other Cads like mine, when investigating the purchase of one.  On my '55 CDV, where it would have to be placed makes it next to, if not totally, useless.  That is my humble opinion, and I am stuck with it!
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: bongo7777 on February 20, 2011, 04:44:26 PM
Hi Dave,
The 55 and 56 are a lot different to the 58 (the car we were discussing)  I agree it would not allow much vision, but it would look good!!
Graham.
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: D.Yaros on February 21, 2011, 08:38:41 AM
No doubt it would look good, but not for $184.00!!  ;D
Title: Re: 1958 Cadillac Right Hand Mirror
Post by: bongo7777 on February 21, 2011, 06:01:36 PM
McVeys got back to me and they have a RH mirror for my 57 @ $377.00. It's a really nice car so it get's a RH mirror!  Besides, as I previously mentioned, it is a requirement for registration in Australia.