Fender mounted mirrors

[erikgiles]

I love the fender mounted mirrors I see on old Fairladies. (see http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~satotats/zhp/zgazou/catalog.htm)

I found some mirrors that fit the bill in the JC Whitney catalog, but they say 'clamp on' style. What does this mean?

Thanks.

Here's my ride (looks a little different now) - it's a '70 with a '75 engine

[Alex 240Z]

I can not help with the mirrors but I have say that is one nice ride and I think I would leave well enough alone you cannot improve on perfection !!!! That's my 2cents !!!!

" Enyoy the Ride" and a nice one at that !

[beandip]

I personally love the fender mounts they are the most useful because you hardly need to glance to the side to use them. The clamp ons are just that . They fit on the lip of the door and clamp on with a couple of set screws. If it were me I wouldent drill holes in the fenders and screw up the beautiful paint job , fantastic color , steller job. Gary

[zorro]

Bugger the fender mount mirrors, why would you want to mount mirrors on that paint work. Looks great!!!!!!!!!!

[EScanlon]

That is the style in Japan. As far as I know ALL the Fairlady Z's in Japan had Fender Mounted Mirrors. If you'll notice, they also did NOT have rear fender marker lights.

If I recall right, from a friend who was stationed in Japan, their roads are so narrow, that having the mirror mounted on the window frame does not allow for enough angle of view in order to determine if someone is right next to you, but just out of your peripheral vision.

Then again, think of the hazzle of having to get out of the car, go around to the front, tweak the mirror, get BACK into the car, and repeat ad nauseum because you never sit down the same way twice.

And I agree with everyone else, why mess up a perfectly good paint job to mount two mirrors on the fenders? Besides, are you going to leave the ones on the doors? Or are you planning on filling the holes?

[240znz]

I had a Japanese imported 1200 coupe with those hideous front mirrors:sick: First thin gI did was remove them..

Yes...most Japanese cars have these types of mirrors if made there...as all the Japo imports into NZ have them.

Don't do it...that paint is too good to mess up.

[HS30-H]

The Japanese Home-market mirrors are surprisingly good to use. Because of the distance between the eye and the mirror, it means that you do not really need to re-focus when looking from the road to the mirror and back. The distance between the viewpoint and the site of the mirror actually means that any movement of the viewpoint ( such as movement of the head or a slightly different interface between posterior and seat... ) does not result in much of a difference in view. The glass in the mirror also slightly magnifies, and is convex - so acts as a wide-angle lense. Once you have adjusted them into the best position, you really do not need to mess about with them any more..............

In fact, these styles of mirror were necessary on cars in the Japanese market because of width restrictions related to taxation class ( not because of any difficulty in using door mirrors effectively ). The taxation classes for vehicles stated the parameters for width, height, length and weight, as well as engine size and other details. Of course, this was to make an incentive for the Japanese people to buy smaller and less polluting cars, as well as to make them more practical for use in the tight urban and rural roads of the 60's and 70's. The taxation classes have changed quite a lot since that era ( and so have the roads ) but you still see the evidence of this legislation in the automatic-folding mirrors of most Japanese Home-market cars.

The Japanese market mirrors have a really big mounting hole, with a screw hole either side. They have an internal spring which allows the mirror to spring back off its base ( for safety ) and that is why the big central mounting hole is necessary; its where the spring mechanism is mounted.

Apart from drilling great big holes in your car, they can make great holes in your pocket. They are not cheap. "Reassuringly Expensive" I would say...............

Pedants like me enjoy the fact that so few Z owners seem to like them. For most Japanese Z owners, it is quite funny seeing the mirrors that were fitted in other markets. In the UK, the official Nissan importers fitted Sunny wing mirrors to the cars..........

[AxtellZ]

I looked into purchasing a set- found that Yuichi from www.strictlyz.com could get them for me (NOS). The downside is that they were $180US! He offered some discount, but still..

It has been suggested to get a similar style from Moss, or Long motors, one of the MG or Triumph suppliers, but i haven't looked into it. HTH, Jeremiah

[EScanlon]

Thank you for clearing it up, I knew it was something specific to Japan and the only part of the conversation I could recall was the reference to the angle of view. Seems I had my data messed up.

Sounds as if you have no objection to spending a lot of money, these are an accessory to have. At that point, buy a pair of Japanese Fenders, with the holes already drilled. While you are at it, get a pair of Japanese Doors so that you wouldn't have to weld and shut the holes you currently DO have, then mix and swap and VOILA an American Fairlady.

Let us know how it goes Erik

[HS30-H]

Hi Escanlon,

Nice to hear that you appreciate the trivia that I can come up with. This is the product of a nose for the unusual, and a desire to get to the bottom of a story as far as is ever possible.

However, please be assured that I am most certainly NOT rich - and I detest having to pay a lot of money for anything ( especially car parts! ). I would prefer it if I could get them cheaper, as long as they still retained a little exclusivity.

Whatever cars I have owned in the past, I have always been attracted to the rare or unusual specs. and options - usually those that have a sporting or competition flavour. On the early Z cars, these can be particularly rare ( in some cases, rarer than the coolest of Porsche or Alfa Romeo parts that I used to hunt for ) and if I was a millionaire I would give up work and roam the world to hunt down what is left.

However, I am most certainly NOT a millionaire - so I have to keep dreaming about what I CAN get, and keep hunting.......

Alan.

[Kerrigan]

Just got a set from Erickson Nissan in Canada, little spendy but there are some which pop up from time to time. They are stock on the Fairlady Z and really neat when you get used to them. Just a glance from eyes driving position and you see all. Plus they draw the looks and comments, or maybe it's just the rh drive car in a lh drive country.

[kyteler]

I was just wondering whether anyone could tell me whether the Fender Mirrors have a Part No on them anywhere and if so, where and what the part number is.

Thanks in advance. :classic: