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Rotunda Racing Mirror

Discussion in '1965-1970 Shelby Mustang GT350 & GT500' started by rshelby, Apr 18, 2011.

  1. Apr 18, 2011 #1
    rshelby

    rshelby ShelbyForums Admin Staff Member

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    Does anyone have an NOS Rotunda Mirror that I can buy or know where I can locate one? See the one pictured in the attachement. I see them for sale occasionally on eBay but not sure where else to check. Is this the correct mirror for 1966 GT350?

    Randall
    [​IMG]
     

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    rshelby, Apr 18, 2011
    rshelby, Apr 18, 2011
    #1
  2. Apr 18, 2011 #2
    vernonestes

    vernonestes Well-Known Member

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    I could have sworn there was a guy on saacforum who was just selling one in the last month. But my searches are turning up nothing. You my wanna check there again. They come up on ebay every now and again so be sure to keep an eye out, ill be looking for one as well for you.

    Best regards,
    Vern
     
    vernonestes, Apr 18, 2011
    vernonestes, Apr 18, 2011
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  3. Apr 18, 2011 #3
    Bob Gaines

    Bob Gaines Well-Known Member

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    Ebay is probably the easiest place to shop for a mirror. you can try Jim C at Shelby Parts and Restoration. Yes that is a correct mirror for a 66 GT350. Bob
     
    Bob Gaines, Apr 18, 2011
    Bob Gaines, Apr 18, 2011
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  4. Apr 18, 2011 #4
    TJinSA

    TJinSA Well-Known Member

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    Bob,

    How do the reproduction mirrors differ from the original Rotunda mirrors?
     
    TJinSA, Apr 18, 2011
    TJinSA, Apr 18, 2011
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  5. Apr 18, 2011 #5
    roddster

    roddster Well-Known Member

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    I can't speak for Bob but, I have a pair if similar mirrors on my 66 coupe. One thing is optical clearity. Meaning what you see reflected in the mirror is not very clear.
     
    roddster, Apr 18, 2011
    roddster, Apr 18, 2011
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  6. Apr 18, 2011 #6
    TJinSA

    TJinSA Well-Known Member

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    All the more reason to slip the judges some strong brew! It's not the car! :dance:
     
    TJinSA, Apr 18, 2011
    TJinSA, Apr 18, 2011
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  7. Apr 19, 2011 #7
    steveshelbymustang

    steveshelbymustang Well-Known Member

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    Certainly not suggesting this is what this photo has..but One should be cautious of original boxes with repo mirrors.... just sayin....
     
    steveshelbymustang, Apr 19, 2011
    steveshelbymustang, Apr 19, 2011
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  8. Apr 19, 2011 #8
    Bob Gaines

    Bob Gaines Well-Known Member

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    I spoke to a friend who owns Virginia Mustang to help because he goes to great lengths to sort out the good from the bad repros. You can always count on Brant and Virginia Mustang to have the best that the reproduction community has to offer and he even has items made up to spec when he sees a need. It doesn't hurt when he is a 65/66 GT350 owner ether for motivation. Brant sells two types one is a cheaper version for the economy minded and a more expensive concours version which looks almost as good in some respects and better in others then the genuine Rotunda version. Some of the mirror glass on the originals have faint date codes. Some other genuine ones are so faint you can't see it or don't . The good repro has better chrome then most of the boxed Rotunda ones. The base of the original has sharper edges then the good repro. Other then that the good repro is just that a good faithful reproduction of the original . You can't say that very often. Bob
     
    Bob Gaines, Apr 19, 2011
    Bob Gaines, Apr 19, 2011
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  9. Apr 19, 2011 #9
    steveshelbymustang

    steveshelbymustang Well-Known Member

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    I second Bob's comment on Brant....
     
    steveshelbymustang, Apr 19, 2011
    steveshelbymustang, Apr 19, 2011
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  10. Apr 19, 2011 #10
    s2ms

    s2ms Well-Known Member

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    I third the comment on Brant...

    Originals have a code etched on the edge of the mirror surface. It's very small and hard to see, I don't believe it's a date code but a DOT or manufacturing spec code, on all the original mirrors I have seen it is the same. The repops do not have this. Originals also have a number cast on the inside of the base, don't know if the repops have this or not...

    Dave
     
    s2ms, Apr 19, 2011
    s2ms, Apr 19, 2011
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  11. Apr 20, 2011 #11
    rshelby

    rshelby ShelbyForums Admin Staff Member

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    The one in the photo above does have a number cast on the inside of the base. I don't recall exactly what that number is but I will take a look on Thursday and report back. I will also look at the glass to see if there is a code. Thanks to all for the good info!
    Randall
     
    rshelby, Apr 20, 2011
    rshelby, Apr 20, 2011
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  12. Apr 21, 2011 #12
    rshelby

    rshelby ShelbyForums Admin Staff Member

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    Here are some photos of the mirror I have. Let me know if you guys see another one of these for sale somewhere. Thanks!

    The code inside the base is: DS - 100021

    And the code etched on the mirror is: J - AX - 4
    I tried to take a picture of the etched code and it is obviously not clear but you can kinda see that it is right up on the edge of the mirror.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    rshelby, Apr 21, 2011
    rshelby, Apr 21, 2011
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  13. Apr 21, 2011 #13
    s2ms

    s2ms Well-Known Member

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    Yep, those are the correct numbers. Looks like an original to me.

    Dave
     
    s2ms, Apr 21, 2011
    s2ms, Apr 21, 2011
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  14. May 9, 2011 #14
    rshelby

    rshelby ShelbyForums Admin Staff Member

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    I was just looking at one that I think may be one of the good repros but it was represented as an original NOS. It has a more rounded edge on the base, no code on the glass, it is heavier than an original and it seems to have better chrome. The chrome is very bright and more "silver" when compared to the NOS which has a very, very slight goldish tint to it. It does have the code DS-100021 inside the base but the code is a different font and has much tighter letter spacing as well as being a little smaller.

    Do you all think this is one of the good repros?
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2011
    rshelby, May 9, 2011
    rshelby, May 9, 2011
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