Wink Mirrors

[ZCurves]

Something different, 17" panoramic mirror. I use the roll bar mount version, but looks like the basic version can attach to an existing mirror.

http://www.ioportracing.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MIR-R17-M&Category_Code=IOPP

This looks pretty dog gone cool! I may have to order one for my Z. My stock Rear View is pretty shabby. Thanks for the link.

[Goose52]

I've been running the 5-panel Wink for about 35 years. I mounted it high and didn't have any problems with forward vision. The stock brackets that come with it are flimsy and the mirror would vibrate like mad on a rough road (and I have stiff springs/shocks) so I made a center bracket that attaches to the stock rear view mirror position - this center bracket "loads" the center of the mirror (pushes it up) and eliminates most of the vibration. After that, I really liked the mirror and as said above, it minimizes/eliminates blind spots.

When I installed the SBC in my car in '77, I also installed a competition roll bar with diagonal cross brace. The top of the hoop blocked the view of the Wink so I had to mount the Wink a bit lower and make a new left bracket and center bracket. I'm still using the stock right bracket (see photo). I WAS able to fit the brackets under the stock sun visor brackets so I didn't have to drill new holes to mount it. HOWEVER, if you use the brackets that come with the mirror, you WILL have to drill new holes right through your headliner trim (yikes). The bad news was that while I still have OK forward vision (I'm only 5'9") the Wink is low enough where I can't see a traffic signal if I'm stopped at a light and have to lean down to look under the mirror to wait for the light to change

I recently moved to Tennessee and now have a problem with driving in hills that I can loose some "up" vision when I'm going down a dip in the road and have a steep incline to go back up...

Anyway, I like it even with the drawbacks and as Steve said, I feel sorta blind when I'm in my daily driver as compared to the Z.

FWIW

Edited January 23, 2010 by Goose52

[Goose52]

Rolled the car out of the garage to take a drive and snapped a few more photos of the Wink. FWIW ...

[geezer]

Lots of great input and pics! The panoramic mirrors are nice too., but I prefer the period correct aspect of the Wink. I don't remember the panoramic style being around as long. From what everyone has said, I have decided to go ahead and order the 4 panel Wink for now, then see how I can custom reconfigure it to fit as high and as close to the windshield as possible and still maintain adjustability. I am also thinking of making some custom sun visors designed to co-habitate with the Wink. I don't plan on having a roll bar hoop so that will allow me to mount it higher. I want to do this without permanently altering anything on the car.

[jmortensen]

I WAS able to fit the brackets under the stock sun visor brackets so I didn't have to drill new holes to mount it. HOWEVER, if you use the brackets that come with the mirror, you WILL have to drill new holes right through your headliner trim (yikes). The bad news was that while I still have OK forward vision (I'm only 5'9") the Wink is low enough where I can't see a traffic signal if I'm stopped at a light and have to lean down to look under the mirror to wait for the light to change

Looks to me almost like you could swap sides on your brackets and push it closer to the windshield.

[Goose52]

Looks to me almost like you could swap sides on your brackets and push it closer to the windshield.

But then not get the angle I needed I think...

When I changed the mirror height in 1977 to clear the roll bar hoop, I basically dropped it straight down. The right end of the mirror needed to be near the right side of the car to get the view and angle I needed to see not only out the back window and the right side of the car, but also the left side as well.

It's been so long since I played with the install that I can't remember what the view was with the mirror up as close to the windshield as possible. I imagine it wasn't good or I would have put the mirror there...