Hi and thanks for reading,
As you can see in my little pictures I've been an Eldorado Convertible driver and fan a long time. My wife and I have fallen in love with a 67 Coupe de Ville convertible. Can't explain it, it just happened :-)
Here's my problem/question. Anyone out there know where I can get a right side mirror for it? Looks like a one winged duck with one mirror but, more importantly I'm not supposed to drive without one. I've Google till I'm blue in the fingers and I can't even find one mentioned that's out of stock. Thanks for any input. have a great day.
I have a 67 Eldorado so I have the same problem. Apparently a passenger-side external mirror was not a factory Cadillac option in 1967.
I bought a plain-jane round one but have not yet installed it because I am reluctant to drill holes in the door.
https://www.amazon.com/CIPA-17000-Universal-Chrome-Mirror/dp/B00029WRM8/
Another option (which I haven't tried) would spare you poking holes in the factory sheet metal. But it does not exude a 1967 vibe. :-)
https://www.amazon.com/Zone-Tech-Adjustable-Round-Mirror/dp/B01N6GHP2V/
Thanks but, dang that second one is UGLY :-[
There are several 1968 RH mirrors on eBay BUT they want your first born chlld or similar inducement to part with one. From $800 to $1700. (I didn't check to see if they would send them post paid or not.)
Hi, kinda depressing. Wouldn't putting two 68 mirrors on a 67 be bad for "originality?
First, your car is NOT a Coupe deVille convertible.It's a DeVille convertible with a big D.
Secondly, Cadillac did NOT offer a RH mirror from 1965 to 1967. STUPID move. 65 & 66 LH mirrors were the same. 67 LH mirrors were 67 only.
Thirdly, I've heard that some people were able to convert a LH mirror into a RH. Maybe someone will chime in. I thought I remember some repro vendors offering RH mirrors. McVey??
Barry, a 68 mirror would fit the door but look totally wrong because it's square. He needs a round mirror.
HTH, Bob
Bryan.....if you find a solution, let me know. For years I’ve faced the same situation and never came up with a satisfactory idea on how to solve this problem.
I have the same issue - 66 Eldorado â€" and have never understood why Cadillac didn’t offer one as an option. This is the closest substitute I’ve found: https://www.caddydaddy.com/shop-parts/mirror/1961-1962-1963-1964-1965-cadillac-series-75-limousine-right-passenger-side-out-side-mirror-reproduction-free-shipping-in-the-usa.html
The mirror and stanchion approximate the ’65-67 style but angular position is a bit greater when mounted on the door. I spoke with the owner the car, a very nice 65 Eldorado, who was satisfied with performance but wishes the base was identical to the driver’s side.
Sorry, it's been years since I've had a '67... For some reason, I never had a '68.
It's been long enough since I've told this war story on myself, so enjoy... My '67 was a limo and I'd been driving it long enough to think that it might make it to Orlando and back. My mom was wanting to visit my sister and so Gay and I loaded her up in the car and set out. Made it to Bowling Green and found I was low on oil. Put more in and got south of Nashville. The wipers stopped working. Got out the tool box and finally (in the rain) reattached the wiper arm. Kept on and made a left at Birmingham and headed for I-10 through middle Alabama. (There are NO gas stations on that road.) Limped into Dothan and stopped at the first gas station and while waiting to speak to the owner, saw a copy of Hemmings lying on the desk, so I figured at least the guy would be sympathetic. He said he could tear down the car and fix it. So, I called around and found that there was a convention in town and I got the LAST rental car available.
While I was scurrying around switching the luggage from the Cadillac to the (Ford) the station owner was standing next to Gay and my mom. Trying to make conversation, he asked Mom, "Has he been driving for you long?" My mom didn't miss a beat and replied, "Quite a while now..."
Don't ask about the trip home. The guy cracked an exhaust manifold and a '67 Cadillac is LOUD that way. Before too long, the guy I bought the car from wanted it back, and I sold it with a sigh of relief. I finally found out from the guy that the dip stick had been cut off for some reason was why I was running two quarts low all the time.
Maybe it's me but I've never understood the lengths some will go to get a passenger mirror on a car not originally equipped. Even in modern cars, I never trust them. I always glance back.
I recently owned a '59 on which someone had installed a passenger mirror. It was as useless as a raincoat against machine gun fire. I wished it was never put on.
It's not a zero-sum situation: You can both glance back *and* use a mirror.
If two mirrors are helpful on a Honda Fit, they'll be even more so on a 1967 Eldorado.
I'll take all the visibility I can get!
Interesting stuff. I am required to have a right outside mirror. I can't see out of my right eye so my drivers license has a big red " R " on it. Means right outside mirror required. I'm going to order a driver side mirror and "modify" it so it will go on the right side. Bases will be the same. It they are different it would drive me nuts. :-\
Bob is correct in his post.
There is a video or info on the 65/66 Caddy forum on how to convert a driver side mirror to a passenger side, and this would apply to the 1967 Cadillac too. The 65/66 forum participants are very comfortable with modifications.
Agree with Eric, is it really worth drilling you passenger door for a mirror that really is only for appearance (matter of opinion)? I always look as well, rather than relying on the mirror. When did this practice of using mirrors instead of looking become a technique for backing and changing lanes? My Dad started using mirrors when he got older, and yah suffered a minor crash or two as a result.
Quote from: Scot Minesinger on February 16, 2018, 09:35:06 AM
is it really worth drilling you passenger door for a mirror that really is only for appearance (matter of opinion)?
Yes. For safety. Why do all modern cars sport mirrors on both sides?
Here's a quote from the Wikipedia entry "Wing mirrors":
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In the 1940s many roads were unpaved and had two lanes, one in each direction. Drivers had to be aware only of traffic on their side and directly behind them (rear view). Due to this, most passenger vehicles with an internal rear-view mirror until the late 1960s had the passenger-side mirror only as an optional addition, as it was considered a luxury.
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Quote from: Scot Minesinger on February 16, 2018, 09:35:06 AMWhen did this practice of using mirrors instead of looking become a technique for backing and changing lanes?
There is no "instead" situation here. With an external mirror, you have more options that you can quickly switch between.
I shudder to think of driving a non-mirror-equipped monster Caddy through rush-hour traffic in Chicago. That person would be the left-lane-blocking impediment lurching along at 30 MPH because he couldn't swivel his head fast enough to keep full 360-degree track of his rapidly changing surroundings.
Many of these big old cars have huge blind spots. When I look back over my shoulder in the Eldorado, the part of the road I most want to see is blocked by the car's wide sail panel. A mirror gives me a visual angle that looking back cannot.
Of course, a mirror won't do you any good if a big, long truck pulls right up next to your 18+ foot long car in a parking lot. In that situation, you have to move a good 6 feet of sheet metal into harm's way before you can see oncoming (orthogonal) traffic. So I started working on a combined set of rear-view cameras -- mounted close to where the license-plate light is -- that provided side views with two 120-degree lenses. Of course, the angle between the cameras has to match the pointy part of an Eldorado's rear bumper. :-) I've attached a picture of my 3D-printed mockup.
I'll use one of my old iPads as the display, whenever I get back to that project. But right now, that job has fallen way down in my list of priorities.
QuoteThere is a video or info on the 65/66 Caddy forum on how to convert a driver side mirror to a passenger side,
Scott,
Link please, or more specifics about which forum.
Quote from: Ralph Messina CLC 4937 on February 15, 2018, 09:53:53 AM
I have the same issue - 66 Eldorado â€" and have never understood why Cadillac didn’t offer one as an option. This is the closest substitute I’ve found: https://www.caddydaddy.com/shop-parts/mirror/1961-1962-1963-1964-1965-cadillac-series-75-limousine-right-passenger-side-out-side-mirror-reproduction-free-shipping-in-the-usa.html
The mirror and stanchion approximate the ’65-67 style but angular position is a bit greater when mounted on the door. I spoke with the owner the car, a very nice 65 Eldorado, who was satisfied with performance but wishes the base was identical to the driver’s side.
Cadillac never offered then because they are USELESS. Even the larger ones on the 68 & later are essentially useless because of the size of the cars. It wasn't until the curved glass RH mirrors started appearing that they got a little better and were marginally useful. Even so the Cadillac chrome shrouded mirrors are still too close to the side of the car.
The modern ones are more useful because they stick out from the car like Dumbo ears. One of these days I'm going to crack my hip bone on one of them.
Mike,
I respectfully disagree. Every new Cadillac or other brand that I’ve owned since 1971 has had a right side mirror. If your three mirrors are adjusted properly you can get a quick view of left, middle and right traffic. Some mirror sizes and mounting are better than others. I prefer a glance in the mirrors, because at 60 MPH, a 1-2 second head turn to see beyond the “C†pillar means driving forward 90 to 180 feet while looking behind you..
Ralph,
I have the original RH mirror on my 1968 and it is marginally useful at best. All of the flat glass mirrors of this design are marginal at best. They are too close in to the car body.
The RH mirror on my 1996 Fleetwood on the other hand gives a full view, but it sticks out completely from the side of the car.
My '41 Convertible had a factory-style RH mirror when I bought it. Looks nice, but useless. I modified it by installing convex glass ... no more blind spots!
And there is no "glancing back" on this car. Can't see a thing because of the bling quarters and small rear window.
Quote from: G Pennington on February 18, 2018, 04:58:49 AM
My '41 Convertible had a factory-style RH mirror when I bought it. Looks nice, but useless. I modified it by installing convex glass ... no more blind spots!
That's a great solution given you already have the mirror! I've only owned the 76 Eldorado and was perplexed at the stock passenger mirror and how useless it was. I even posted asking if this was an incorrect replacement mirror, but was informed that it was stock. I'll have to look for mirror replacement as you have done, but in the meantime.....
I've installed this large, clip-on style mirror which works well for viewing the blind spots. Given the massive size of the car, it doesn't really look out of place. I'm having range of motion in my neck, so it really helps, was cheap, and easily removed. In my cars where the mirror is more at eye level it can be a nuisance at times, but not the Eldo.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001A0J2JO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Now to find that replacement mirror glass......Dean
I bought my 68 ELDO in 1973. I soon figured out that I needed a righthand mirror. I went to the dealer and they had one in stock. I mounted it on the car and it was a help, but it was a flat glass mirror so was not real helpful. I found the dealer also had a convex mirror glass replacement that has an adhesive back. I stuck it to the flat glass and it works well.
Check with an auto glass shop, I was able to get replacement mirror glass for the wife’s car.
I used the same clip on convex mirror on my '41 because a right hand mirror just doesn't work well. The clip on works quite well - solved the problem and I can unclip it if I show the car.
Quote from: Glen on February 19, 2018, 01:45:17 AM
I found the dealer also had a convex mirror glass replacement that has an adhesive back. I stuck it to the flat glass and it works well.
Check with an auto glass shop, I was able to get replacement mirror glass for the wife’s car.
I'll look for an adhesive back mirror solution, as that would be fast and reversible. Given this has the remote adjuster, I'd be hesitant of having to remove the old mirror without damaging the mechanism (actually don't have a clue what's in there). Thanks, Dean