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Convex outside mirror?

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Old Mar 3, 2011 | 09:47 PM
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Oxnard Montalvo's Avatar
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Default Convex outside mirror?

The LH Scott Drake convex standard outside mirror carried by Mustangs Unlimited doesn't seem to have any convex to it. Its a nicely made mirror, it just doesn't seem to be convex. If you use the mirror to look at a background, it doesn't give you that slightly distorted look that convex mirrors always do. I saw no "Objects Are Closer Than They Appear" look. If you lay a straight edge across the glass it seems to be perfectly flat.
Is this the way these mirrors are and its just that they're not that convex, or was there a mix-up at Scott Drake? Is my vision shot? I had a pretty good sample of mirrors. Three. The Counter Kid was kind enough to open and check three mirrors. He said, "Don't worry about it, I've got plenty of tape," so I said, "go get three more..."

Are all the convex mirrors like this?
Old Mar 4, 2011 | 04:57 AM
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I don't think that there is actually a wide angle mirror available for the passenger side. All the ones I have seen are just like a driver side mirror.
Old Mar 4, 2011 | 05:07 AM
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They're only very slightly convex, just enough to widen the field of vision on the mirror to better reduce the blind spot, but not distort or shrink the image. You'd prolly need a feeler gauge and straight edge to notice the convex shape.
Old Mar 4, 2011 | 10:53 PM
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My passenger side mirror is a twin of the driver side. Its like sitting in the passenger seat looking at the driver mirror. Its more of a cosmetic thing having dual mirrors than anything. I have looked and can't find anything wide angle.
Old Mar 5, 2011 | 09:50 AM
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I've never seen a driver's side mirror that is convex, I think by law.
Old Mar 5, 2011 | 10:34 AM
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I see it as a safety improvement issue, just like switching to a dual bowl MC and riding on radial tires. I've found that the small stick on mirrors help but aren't quite as good as a full size convex one. I would think there would be a market for a true convex mirror. Time to call a glass shop.
Old Mar 5, 2011 | 10:50 AM
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http://www.drakeautomotivegroup.com/...=141&kw=convex
Old Mar 5, 2011 | 11:49 AM
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2+2, thanks for the input, but those are the ones I had in hand. There is negligible curvature to the glass, in fact a credit card sits perfectly flat on the mirror's surface. I see no advantage. If I can muster a little motivation I may call around and see if a truly convex 4 inch diameter mirror can be found and then mounted in a Mustang base.
Old Mar 5, 2011 | 11:59 AM
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I've never liked those government-mandated convex mirrors. Too much distortion. A well-aimed flat mirror works just fine.
Old Mar 7, 2011 | 05:10 AM
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Really? I don't see how a well aimed flat mirror works for the passenger side. I have that and it is next to useless.

This Scott Drake one actually shows the mirror as having the objects are closer than they appear on it. Maybe the ones they had are all the regular mirrors.

http://www.drakeautomotivegroup.com/...C.aspx?wid=141


Last edited by tx65coupe; Mar 7, 2011 at 05:15 AM.



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