Mirror at the right side 2.4 1973

[911MRP]

This is his uncle, Prince Bertil’s blue 73 Carrera RS an early second series example that was built to Swedish specification possibly still with the type and position of the round Durant pair presumably still with unusual ( unique to country ) convex shape reflector on (one or both) that was required by Swedish regulations of that time:






Are the pair symmetrically mounted ? Are they mounted in the same position as the nephew’s 73 Targa ?

Steve

[McOtto]

Thnx ! No need to search for original RH side mirror obviously. Not sure now what I would do : keep it as it is with the 2 round mirrors or replace anyway with (small) flags. I prefer the flags for 2 reasons : they look far better imho then the round ones and give better visibility. Drivers side I can buy an original used one from a friend. RH side I'll have to buy a new reproduction or take of mirror and find an acceptable solution to fill the 2 wholes :-).

Safety considerations aside, I like the unique nuance of having RH and LH original round mirrors and knowing that configuration is period correct. Sets your car apart from the rest. Great cars and coffee discussion topic.

[911MRP]

Personally not a fan of the flag as used on lhd in 73 and even less of a fan later even bigger more protruding pair:

I much prefer the neater single round mirror look….. but I’m biased being from a right hand drive market

…. also it goes beyond aesthetics as any self respecting racing enthusiast should know Porsche endurance racers with two seats for example most notably all the twenty-five examples of the legendary 917 that were lined up for homolgation in this famous photo by Porsche AG were typically built in right hand drive form. Rhd often used for factory racers for very sound motorsport reasons

This is the first win for the 917 model with driver (David Piper) at the wheel positioned on the right hand side which might also explain why this particular example has just one external mirror on that same side:

Regarding the Durant round mirror as used in 73, the 930 a model that was announced 50 ago today (embargo of press release I have is dated 2 Oct 1974 ) for launch at Paris show. When the second example a rhd appeared at the Earl’s Court British motor show mid October 74 it had a silver round Durant mirror on the driver’s side


This is the Earl’s Court motor show car in 74


Sources: Snodgrass 930 book and Car magazine cover featuring the red rhd turbo prototype and Porsche AG

[kristof356-911]

Hi guys, thnx a lot for the pictures and info ! Steve, amazing to see the blue RS with 2 round mirrors. It realy makes me realize that what's on the car is period correct and maybe better leave it as it is, as Mcotto suggests. Maybe I just have to drive the car for a while and see how it feels in terms of visibility. i'll have a look later today to check if the mirrorglass on the right is any different.

[911MRP]

Be interested to see the mirror if it’s a period piece with correct three star stamps positioned wrt the maker’s name and reflective glass is other than the regular flat. The Swedish one seems to have had a different part numbers l&r for the base to the regular mirror base.

Source my 72/73 spare parts book hard copy not PET
While the round Durant mirror is handed so can be fitted either side
perhaps different mounting bases l and r for Sweden vs the more commonly base is to allow better visibility along with any further advantages of convex shape ? While there are examples of non-symmetrical mounting are the Swedish examples in photos I posted symmetrically mounted due to having different bases as well as the convex reflector for Sweden. A combo that maybe permits better visibility in lhd cars in symmetrical fitting rather than simply flipping the standard and moving one side. What is different about the Swedish?

Why not offer these bases to other lhd markets not only Sweden since Durant a OE supplier to Porsche went to the bother to make a unique bases for a smallish market regulation?

Perhaps somone with a Swedish car still equipped with originals of that market specific mirror set would oblige with photos showing any noticeable difference to mirror base and the convex reflector and confirm if mounted symmetrically can see behind in lhd.

Steve

[kristof356-911]

Helllo Steve, the LH mirror is not placed as on pic of the swedish cars. Also the base of the RH mirror looks the same to me as left. And the glass is flat, not convex .... Some one just installed a LH mirror on the right side I'm afraid. The view on the right side is also poor, there's a dead corner of about 50cm or more from the rear of the car, so pretty useless ....

[911MRP]

Quite different each side. Let’s see if any Swedish originals gets posted showing more detail than the royal pair of cars

[edmayo]

You simply sit in the car and have someone hold the mirror in various places on the right door until you can see what you want,,,then mount it.

[911MRP]

While that is of course the simplest it would seem from post #21 car in question is said to be “like new very original”.

Evidently it already has a mirror pair mounted asymmetrically as can be seen in post #36 above. So holes exist in doors already, for better or for worse!

Hence my less “invasive” suggestion to first investigate / experiment to establish if convex glass like was used in Sweden might help. Also try to discover more about how the Swedish unique l&r mount part numbers differed to the regular mount design in case the Swedish parts allow better visibility if using car’s existing holes.

Maybe there is a way to make use of the current holes — improve visibility sufficiently avoid need to drill different extra holes then fill / paint when any revised positions leaves visible holes. Would seem a pity to turn what is described as “very original like new” into Swiss cheese if with a bit of thought drilling to mount in different places can be avoided. There are companies advertising in the UK who claim to make circular convex car replacement mirrors of ans diameter and 3mm thick for £12 so might be possible to get suitable to replace typical flat in existing mirror body if it turns out swapping for convex reflector would be a solution.

Perhaps worth a shot to explore if Swedish regulators in 73 might have solved the visibility problem with their niche requirement for convex glass and / or different mirror mounts. Do the Swedish mounts allow better visibility than the normal with flat — if so how are these mount left and right pair different to the commonly mounts that aren’t handed ? Can the regular mounts be modified to the Swedish’s version if that helps— better that than drilling more holes in nice original doors.

In any event even if the suggestion turns out not to be a solution I’d still be curious to learn how the niche Sweden only components differed as I’ve not seen them and don’t believe this single country mirror part design differences are well documented on the forum