Original door mirror fame

[68camaroz28]

Thanks for the info but the goal here is to find and document other 68/69 Camaro's with their original LH door mirror frame that has no mold line/seam.

Chick, I highly doubt you're going to find any.

There were three suppliers to Chevrolet for the outside rear view mirrors in the 1960's. Donnelly, Ajax and Standard. (Although I've never seen a Standard mirror on an original first generation Camaro. If you DO have a Standard mirror on your car, please contact me!!)

I've examined literally hundreds of these mirrors over the last 50 years and ALL Donnelly mirrors had the line, even on service replacement mirrors that were supplied well into the 1990's. Ajax mirrors even had the line, although not as pronounced as the Donnelly mirrors. I don't have enough pictures of a Standard mirror to tell, but from what I do have, it appears they don't have a parting line. But again, I've never seen a Standard mirror on a 67-69 Camaro.

Your theory about the chrome platter cleaning up the line is valid since I've seen that several times in the past. It's unfortunate, but unless you stipulate that the line needs to stay, they may not know any better.

Your only option now would be to get another original mirror and have him rechrome it, but this time make sure he doesn't remove the dumb line!!!

Ed

Ed, I have found!  I have a hard time believing the platter I used who does high quality work in all kinds of restorations would take the time to completely remove a feature but yes, its possible and that was the only thing I could think of at the time until I saw the other 68Z survivor at MCACN with 21K miles that has the same mirror as ours and posted the picture at beginning of this thread. Looks identical! Then I posted the 5 DMI 9 mirror on a 69 survivor with the same mirror so I would assume there are others, but also realize this is the exception, not the rule. Concerning the Standard mirror, I've already posted the underneath GM part # and other markings in the first picture of this thread. To be honest my original mirror frame is off the car and has been replaced by one with a mold line but with our correct 10 DMI 7 mirror/glass so it looks correct. There had to be multiple molds just like they had for bell housings, headlamps, etc.. Totally realize the normal mirror base observed will have the mold line and do not doubt your recall over the 50 years. I believe the lemans blue 68Z survivor with the same mirror opened some eyes as well as another very knowledgeable Camaro person told me they had not seen a mirror like that when I pointed it out. Maybe we will learn something and one has to wonder over the years how many original things were changed out due to a judging event or other information that in reality should not have been.
I will see if I can contact the owner of the 68Z survivor and Randy of the 69 and see if we can get a picture of the underneath but realize I would not blame them if they said no.
Thanks Ed for collection of photos and if I uncover anymore I will make sure they are posted and you have.

[bertfam]

Chick, I try not to say never which is why I don't participate in judging (just WAY TOO MUCH DRAMA), so it's very possible there were mirrors with little to no parting line. However, that being said, the process of die casting leads to quality issues after xxx number of castings have been done. Dies wear, and especially dies where you have to place two or more dies together to form one part. The mirror base consisted of two separate dies, joined together at the parting line and then the metal poured into the die. While I don't know this for sure, I'm fairly certain the GM directive stipulated that the excess slag be ground off. This would have probably included any excess slag at the parting line. Especially at the top where it's easily seen. Did they always do this? Apparently not since original mirrors have been observed with a HUGE parting line (up to a few millimeters in fact)!

Yes, I'm sure there were many sets of dies, and lots of replacements once the originals became too worn to use. This same exact base was used on the Camaro, Chevelle, Nova, Full size... and even other GM divisions for several years, so it stands to reason there would be varying degree of parting lines due to the number of dies used, the age of a particular set of dies and the degree at which the metal worker cared!!

I've attached a picture of a base with the "typical" parting line usually seen (although I've seen a LOT worse than this one!), and another picture of a base with a very wide parting line as shown if you were looking forward seated in the driver's seat.

However, all this being said, if you're having your car judged and the rules say there should be a parting line, then there should be a parting line! But again, I don't get involved in judging since I don't need the headaches!

Ed

[68camaroz28]

Ed, not arguing with you but I do not need pictures on a mold or parting line. I've stated now at least twice I know the norm is a parting line. And the parting line does vary from distinct to light. All I'm trying to determine is some quantity of original mirrors that do not have the parting line. And I'm confident there are some, that's all, as now I've seen a couple in a short time. No big deal, its just asking if anyone has one.
Thanks for all your help and assistance as always!

[mgreenz]

There were three suppliers to Chevrolet for the outside rear view mirrors in the 1960's. Donnelly, Ajax and Standard. (Although I've never seen a Standard mirror on an original first generation Camaro. If you DO have a Standard mirror on your car, please contact me!!)

Tried to message Ed but was blocked?


Here are photos of the outside mirror on my 67 06E Norwood car. The makers mark on the mirror glass has a S in a circle and is appropriately dated for the car. The car has been painted a number of times and the mirror is on a repop gasket. Is it original to the car? I can’t say it is or isn’t but it could still be a data point of interest.
Here’s a CRG’s members words, with respect to data, that I’ll refer to “ If you only input what you know to be true it will only tell you what you already know.”

[Mike S]

Is an 'S' mirror picture still needed, Ed?
My 67 04B LOS still has the original mirror.

Mike