Jump to content

mirror


Mondo

Recommended Posts

Those are neat but$$$. Look on ebay and type in "wink mirror". They are about 1/4 that price. I'm thinking about getting one. I have found if it says it is for a "Seven" you can double or quadruple the price. Russ

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They are much better for a seven than a wink mirror. They are shorter and blend in to the windshield frame, doesn't block your forward vision as much as a wink. Worth it if that iis important to you. I have one on my windshield and love it. I don't like adjusting it though.

 

Rod

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have one also and it works well. It took a little while to get used to it. Its the only mirror on my car now. I looked at the Wink mirrors but as Rod pointed out, they are taller than this one and block too much of your forward view.

 

BTW, the person behind the Mirrors for Sevens is Bob Simon, a member of this group and an all around good guy.

 

Its a well made piece and I find it easy to adjust. It does worry me a bit when I let someone else drive my Se7en as I don't think they pay much attention to the mirror. But in a Se7en, in the words of a famous Italian driver "Whatsa behind ya doesn't matter".

 

Skip

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hunted around, bought and returned several 'racing' mirrors which were all too big but the Mirrors for Sevens was by far the best, agree it takes a little getting used to. I have a simple solution to the adjustment problem - I don't let anyone else drive it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought the price was a bit stiff but figured how many is this guy going to really sale compared to the investment so that's how I rationalized it;)

 

The deal is that it's only about an inch and a quarter in width. I doubt you'll find something that narrow anywhere else as that's not an issue with "regular" size cars.

 

Plus I don't really need to put on the side mirrors now. Slightly illegal I know, but in California I probably have the same chance of getting pulled over for no front license plate (which never happens here though I got pulled over 3 times in Idaho for no front plate but that's another story).

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To offer a slightly different idea.... I first used a dash mount mirror, very similar to those found on Cobra kits. It actually comes from an English design and was used on the full sized Austin Healey 3000's.

 

I found that the mirror was too low for my use. I'm about 6'2" and my shoulder blocked most of the view (as in rear view). When I had a passenger on board, it was worse.

 

I then remembered a design used on MGA's and B's, along with some other English roadsters, and similar to something I had on my Porsche roadster. It's a mirror designed to mount on a 5/16" thick rod, and through a locking set screw it's adjustable anywhere along the length of the rod.

 

I welded up some of the rod, mounted to a small steel plate. The rods are formed in such a way as to also provide an additional brace on my Lexan windshield. The rubber bumper at the top is actually a vacuum tube block off plug from a Holley kit. It rests against the windshield and pretty much removes any vibration from the mirror. The best part is that being adjustable, I can set it at a position ideal for me, or move it for someone else to drive the car. In addition, there is a chrome "racing" mirror on either side of the car, for a wider view of the left and right lanes.

 

The center mirror came from Ebay, as much of my car did, and cost around $20-25. The gold anodizing is original to the English piece.

 

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/915227180_stalker210.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am sure the sideways periscope design works well , and God knows, side and center rear view is a problem with this car,; however, it does look a bit fugly .

Then again, one of the recent "7" road tests described the car as looking like " the offspring of an Aardvak and and electric toaster", so maybe it will fit right in with time.

But on a serious note, for what you gain in rear vision do you not loose of front due to the size and position ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am sure the sideways periscope design works well , and God knows, side and center rear view is a problem with this car,; however, it does look a bit fugly .

Then again, one of the recent "7" road tests described the car as looking like " the offspring of an Aardvak and and electric toaster", so maybe it will fit right in with time.

But on a serious note, for what you gain in rear vision do you not loose of front due to the size and position ?

 

Good points.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

But on a serious note, for what you gain in rear vision do you not loose of front due to the size and position ?

 

The mirror sits flush with the top of the windshield frame so it obscures about an inch of the upper windshield. I find I have to look up to use the mirror and have never felt like it was blocking my forward vision. However, I am 5' 9" tall and it may be a problem for taller folk.

 

Looks wise, I find it neither fugly nor beautiful, it's just functional and I like the look and less drag of not running side mirrors. I had SPA mirrors on the car for awhile but they were so small as to be mostly useless for me.

 

I left the standard Caterham center mirror on for awhile after mounting the new mirror, sort of like training wheels while I got used to using the new mirror.

 

Skip

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 14 years later...

For a smaller mirror on a previous Birkin, I bought a cheap review mirror at Walmart.  To test for size, I taped off the part I thought was unnecessary and drove around until I was sure I had the right size.  I removed the mirror from its housing and cut (broke) the ends off with a glass cutter.  I then took it to a glass and mirror place with huge wet sanding belts to round the edges and achieve the final shape.  I cut the mirror housing down and used double sided foam tape to secure the mirror to the housing.  I liked it so well, I did the same thing for an Elise and an MR2.  Adjustments had to be made carefully, but since my seat is not adjustable, any guest drivers have to be close to my size anyway.

 

I was planning the same fabrication for my current Birkin, but found it was unnecessary.  The racing seat touches the floor, so there is only a thin layer of carbon fiber between me and the floor.  I am 5' 10" but sit low enough that the mirror does not obstruct my vision.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...