1970 Calais Right Side Mirror

[billinkansas]

Hello all.  My first post about my first Cadillac.

1970 Calais, A- shape.  I understand how rare the passenger door mirrors are.  I would like to find a nice correct one some day!  Until
I can get my hands on such, I would like to put some kind of mirror there that will look ok and have a similar enough mounting footprint to the correct one so as to not be a problem later.  Any ideas?  Pontiac, Olds? Other?
Thanks much in advance!
Bill

[mgbeda]

My idea (never tried this) would be to use one from a later model Cadillac.  They were common and looked mostly the same.  The difference was the angle at which they met the door skin.  So you will end up with one that is a little crooked, but it'll look better than a different make mirror.  I'm pretty sure the footprint on the door would be the same, or nearly the same, as well.

Remember when adding a right hand mirror that you need to put a brace on the inside of the door.  Otherwise the thing will vibrate so badly you won't be able to see out of it.  I learned this the hard way on my '76.

-mB

[billinkansas]

Thanks, Mike.  After looking at pictures, I am thinking that a newer model mirror might work for me, and not cost $900 or whatever. My car is black and I have some black Star Board polymer material from which I could make an angle adaptor.  I thnk will work!

[EAM 17806]

Thanks, Mike.  After looking at pictures, I am thinking that a newer model mirror might work for me, and not cost $900 or whatever. My car is black and I have some black Star Board polymer material from which I could make an angle adaptor.  I think will work!

BILL!  I suggest you give John Gatley in Roxbury, MA a call at 1-617-445-3300 before you go getting involved in a mirror that doesn't belong on your car. John has a large Cadillac only used parts yard and a great assortment.  Try him and you might be a winner!  EAM

[billinkansas]

Thanks for the tip!

[76eldo]

On these mirrors, is the mirror head the same as other right hand mirrors and it's the base that's different?

Someone in the machining business could reproduce the base and open up a lot of possibilities.

Here are some photos of the mirror and base.

Brian

[EAM 17806]

Thanks for the tip!

Let us know how you make out calling John Gatley in Roxbury, MA?

[billinkansas]

Thanks, guys.  Just sent an email to John in MA.

[billinkansas]

I got a quick reply from Kevin at the Gatley's.  No luck - they get requests weekly for these mirrors.  He did suggest contacting https://www.mcveys.com/ for a repro, but they only have older stuff.

It looks like I am going to have to retrofit from a newer Cadillac - or spend $1,200 for the real thing if it can be found.

Brian might be on to something - would be a market for a repro mirror.  Thanks for the help, everyone.

[mgbeda]

Oh, and when removing a mirror from a junkyard car, do NOT cut the cable.  (Or don't buy one with a cut cable).  Tension in the three cables is the only thing that holds the mirror glass in place.  Don't ask me how I know.

-mB