66 day/night mirror usage?

**Donald T.** · May 10, 2008, 01:32 PM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

In 65 it was part of RPO Z01 comfort and convenience group and also included back up lights. It was no longer offered as an option for 66 and became standard.

**Michael H.** · May 10, 2008, 02:42 PM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

Originally posted by Donald Terry (38740)

In 65 it was part of RPO Z01 comfort and convenience group and also included back up lights. It was no longer offered as an option for 66 and became standard.

I think the day/night mirror for 66 must have been available along with some other option, or possibly alone. I know of a lot of 66's that have their original standard non day/night mirror.

**David T.** · May 10, 2008, 09:04 PM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

I know a fellow who has a 1966 convertible that he says he bought new and it DOES NOT have the day/night mirror. Also if you look carefully at a picture in Noland Adams' book showing 1966 Corvettes on the assembly line it does not appear that they are equipped with a day/night mirror.

**Michael H.** · May 11, 2008, 07:52 AM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

I just looked at a 1966 dealer new car order form that was pictured in a June 96 issue of Vette Vues Magazine. Interesting that there is no option listed for a day/night mirror so I don't even know how a buyer got one if he wanted one.
Possible that it was a "dealer installed" item in 66 and never available in production?

**Brian K.** · May 11, 2008, 08:16 AM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

I never thought this would be such a hard question to answer, boy it shows how little is know on some subjects.

**Donald T.** · May 11, 2008, 08:27 AM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

Noland's book (pg 373) states the following:

"An optional comfort and convenience group was available for 1965. I t was also planned for 1966, but was dropped on September 9, 1965, shortly before the start of 1966 production. The two basic components of Z01 - the day/night rearview mirror and the backup lights - became standard and were installed on all 1966 Corvettes."

However, as was commented earlier, the pics in his book show what appears to be the standard rearview mirror. Perhaps early 66 production used remaining stock of 65 standard mirrors?

**Michael H.** · May 11, 2008, 10:40 AM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

Originally posted by Donald Terry (38740)

Noland's book (pg 373) states the following:

"An optional comfort and convenience group was available for 1965. I t was also planned for 1966, but was dropped on September 9, 1965, shortly before the start of 1966 production. The two basic components of Z01 - the day/night rearview mirror and the backup lights - became standard and were installed on all 1966 Corvettes."

However, as was commented earlier, the pics in his book show what appears to be the standard rearview mirror. Perhaps early 66 production used remaining stock of 65 standard mirrors?

The mirror in my late Nov 65 built 66 is dated 11-DMI-5. That means the mirrors were still being made well after the end of the 65 model year.
Has anyone looked in th 66 AIM to see if there was a part number change?

**John H.** · May 11, 2008, 11:35 AM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

Originally posted by Michael Hanson (4067)

Has anyone looked in th 66 AIM to see if there was a part number change?

Yes, there was. The '66 AIM shows two P/N's (911358 or 3886676), which replaced 910453 and 3849571 on revision date 8-30-65. 910453 and 3849571 are the standard mirrors shown in the '65 AIM; the '65 day-night mirror (part of the Z01 package) was 910597.

**Jack H.** · May 11, 2008, 11:43 AM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

Hum, interesting point here that I've not considered before, John. The use of two PN's (either the base non-D/N mirror as well as the D/N mirror) and the difference in assigned PN sequence suggests there was an alternate source to Guide as the sole supplier.

Comments? I think we currently judge only Guide mirrors as being 'correct'....

**Michael H.** · May 11, 2008, 12:42 PM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

Originally posted by John Hinckley (29964)

Yes, there was. The '66 AIM shows two P/N's (911358 or 3886676), which replaced 910453 and 3849571 on revision date 8-30-65. 910453 and 3849571 are the standard mirrors shown in the '65 AIM; the '65 day-night mirror (part of the Z01 package) was 910597.

A 1966 printing of the parts book shows basically the same for the standard mirror. (one of the two possible standard mirrors used in prod. Either the 911258 or the 3886676)
It also shows the non glare mirror.

1966 Mirror, inside (chrome).......................................... 911358

1966 Mirror, inside non-glare prismatic.............................986600

Just a guess but I'm thinking the day/night mirror was a dealer only option for the 66 model year? (I don't have a 66 option booklet)

The mirror in my early 66 is chrome back and does not have GUIDE stamped in it. Same for a LOT of other original 66's I've seen over the years.

**Brian K.** · May 15, 2008, 07:39 PM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

I thought I would give this a bump to the top in case anyone else knows the answer.

**Michael H.** · May 15, 2008, 10:36 PM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

Originally posted by Brian Kotula (42040)

I thought I would give this a bump to the top in case anyone else knows the answer.

Brian,
This is the 1966 DEALER accessories folder that shows the day/night rear view mirror as a dealer installed option.

I've searched a lot of other paperwork and I can find absolutely nothing that shows that the day/night mirror was ever available individually as a production option or as part of another orderable factory installed option.

**Brian K.** · May 15, 2008, 11:07 PM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

Thanks Mike, my 66 march build also has a standard non-day/night mirror. I'm thinking of putting in a day/night mirror and wanted to know how these where available, everthing I could find said day/nights were standard. My 66 has been in our family since 1973 and I know the mirror is original and not a day/night one.

**Michael H.** · May 16, 2008, 05:44 AM

Re: 66 day/night mirror usage?

Originally posted by Brian Kotula (42040)

, everthing I could find said day/nights were standard. .

I think the brochure that shows the day/night mirror as an available dealer installed option proves that new 1966 Corvettes were assembled/shipped with a standard mirror.
Does the 66 JG state that all 66's had the day/night mirror as standard equipment? If so, I think an adjustment is in order.

I always thought the standard mirror looked better anyway.