Fender Mirrors

[coldwar]

I have a '76 300D, which is the W115 body. It is 100% original and in real good shape (see picture). Due to having a major back and neck problem which makes it hard for me to check mirrors while driving, I have been thinking about putting a set of mirrors way out on the front fenders (or should I say "wings") like used to be done in the U.K. In fact, I managed to pick up a good set of 60's vintage chrome mirrors at a yard sale that I think would look about right, and serve the function needed for me to drive safely.

But before I start drilling, I would like some opinions. I've read on this forum that all '75 and '76 300D's that went to the U.S were all fully loaded, including sunroof. Mine is in Canada, and it is U.S. spec fully loaded except without sunroof. I would also expect there wouldn't be many of these left on the roads in Canada. Would this make the car a "true classic" that shouldn't be altered in any way? The car would certainly be a beautiful candidate for a frame-up restoration, because there is very little rust to deal with (never winter driven), 140,000 miles and absolutely everything works. The only things missing are front door pockets, hood star and the original radio (has super-nice VW Premium radio instead).

Bottom line is, I plan to mount these mirrors this weekend because I think if I drill a few holes they can always be filled in again. But if someone can tell me this would be a real bad idea because the car is really worth big $$$ in original condition, and drilling the fenders would ruin it, please let me know.

Dave

My 240 had 2-inch "fisheye" mirrors stuck on the standard door mirrors by a previous owner...really improve visibility.

You can also pick up mirrors which mount on the front doorjambs via built in clamps...and would be easily removed. I've had a set on my Packard for years.

I don't think they'd look TOO terrible if installed on the front "wings", and after all, they could mean a lot in your ability to both enjoy your car and operate it SAFELY. I WOULD make sure that the mirrors will do all you expect of them BEFORE you have them installed. Modification should not be that hard to "undo" sometime in the future.

A very pretty example...congrats, and enjoy!

[68_Mercedes]

I don't think these are particulary "sought after" cars.... but either way, enjoy your car. Fenders are replaceable, so if worse came to worse, and you could get a million out of the car, just replace the fenders if you didn't want to bondo them back up.... although a good body guy could conceal it so that even the best eye couldn't tell anything had ever been done..........

[coldwar]

Originally Posted by Jim B+

You can also pick up mirrors which mount on the front doorjambs via built in clamps...and would be easily removed. I've had a set on my Packard for years.

I WOULD make sure that the mirrors will do all you expect of them BEFORE you have them installed. Modification should not be that hard to "undo" sometime in the future.

A very pretty example...congrats, and enjoy!

Hey Jim- thanks for the good words. Actually, the mirrors I picked up do have those door jamb clamps included, but they don't have to be used. Mounting on the door jambs, as you can appreciate, wouldn't give me what I need. What I plan to do is stick 'em with double back tape to find the optimum mounting points, then drill the screw holes. Should work out fine.

I pick up the occasional U.K. Classic Car magazine and notice the wing mirrors were pretty much a staple into the early '70's- no doubt some early U.K. W115's would have had these.

Kind of wish I lived in the U.K.- they take classic motoring so seriously- it's pretty cool. Even the lowly Ford Consul is now considered a classic! Then they have those cool Triumph Stag's and Dolemites, etc. and my all time favourite- Rover P6. I'm looking at a picture of a '65 P6 right now that has the wing mirrors way down front. I want a P6 real bad, but I sure wouldn't trade my 300D for one.

BTW- what Packard do you have? Wasn't there a time when MB's were sold by Packard / Studebaker dealers?

Dave

Just kidding...I love the early '50s "auntie" Rover saloons, with their association with Scotland Yard "flying squads" in old English movies, and rural veterinarians in PBS programs.

Have a '49 Packard which unfortunately takes a back seat to my 3 W123s recently. Packard and Mercedes had MANY things in common...emphasis on great and incrementally developed engineering, radiator grille styling cues that were always identifiable no matter what year the cars were produced, durability, and style. I like to think that...at least until the '80s...Mercedes carried on many great Packard traditions.

In the early '50s Packard was US distributor for the big 300 series cars...it wasn't until later that what would become MBUSA entered the market at a range of price points. Even then, they went after the conservative but quality-minded clientele that had formerly been Packard's market niche.

As to what is and isn't collectable...over the weekend I read one of the first books ever written about Duesenbergs...published in 1948, when many Duesies were younger than our Mercedes-Benz models! These cars weren't very expensive to pick up at that time, and owners USED and enjoyed them! They also appreciated the enormous quality and durability of their cars, which after 20 years of use was remarkable...again, much like our Benzes. Now Duesenbergs rarely move for less than a million bucks a copy...so its hard to predict WHAT will be a "valuable" car in the future.

Lastly, in the UK people seem not to "over restore" their old cars...be they blower Bentleys or Cortinas. In fact, they seem to relish cars that show a careful amount of wear. "Throroughbread and Classic Car" is a great magazine that shows a very wide range of interesting "bangers" for every pocketbook.

GOOD luck on the mirrors!