Make Me Smarter...

[Henry J.]

Re: Make Me Smarter...

In the most recent edition of the 66 TIM&JG, on page 32, under the heading "Hazard Warning Switch, Option V74", the last sentence reads: "The optional non-glare (day/night) mirror was also included as part of the Convenience Package, Option V74, Hazard Flasher."

In view of the discussion above, is this correct?

[Jack H.]

Re: Make Me Smarter...

Hey, Henry, that's an answer that CAN make me smarter as well as a happy camper on the current NCRS judging text!!!

The next time I'm near a '66 AIM book, I'll go flip to the V74 option to verify the day/nite mirror IS called out there... We don't see that many V74 equipped cars on the judging field though.

One input I had from a prior chapter judging chairman with a 3 Star unrestored '66 went to the effect that the State of New York jumped the gun on Federal mandates and required cars offered for sale there (after 1/1/66 I think) to have an emergency flasher system.

I can't verify the truth in that statement, but it kinda/sorta makes sense. Anyway, it seems a bit 'wierd' that the D/N mirror would be combined with emergency flasher. But hey if it's true and the AIM confirms it, what the heck...

[Gary J.]

Re: Make Me Smarter...

It will be interesting if this holds water. I know of another '66 that has the D/N mirror and it does not have the hazard flashers. We may have to run a survey.

[John H.]

Re: Make Me Smarter...

In the most recent edition of the 66 TIM&JG, on page 32, under the heading "Hazard Warning Switch, Option V74", the last sentence reads: "The optional non-glare (day/night) mirror was also included as part of the Convenience Package, Option V74, Hazard Flasher."

In view of the discussion above, is this correct?

Henry -

It would be interesting to see the background that led to that conclusion; there is no reference in the V74 section of the Assembly Manual to anything but the flasher, and there's nothing in the RPO index portion of the manual that refers to any sort of convenience package.

[Jack H.]

Re: Make Me Smarter...

Well, so much for that 'solution' path (V74 Hazard Flasher)...

For grins, I flipped through Noland Adams' book again looking closely at the pictures he published that were GM in origin (inside the factory, Etc.). There's narry a car there wearing a D/N mirror while there are several shots of D/N equipped cars in the 1965 section.

I'm starting to think that '66 was like '64 with NO factory option for the D/N mirror forcing those cars so equipped to have gotten their mirrors through the dealer/service channel. That probably won't sit well with those '66 owners who have the D/N mirror installed on their car, but that's 'life' for guys with '64 Corvettes too...

My hunch is the '66 AIM calls out two interior mirror PN's for the base car, one being the primary supplier and the other flagged [OPT] designating the qualified second source (Donnelly???). Further, some who contributed to the JG book interpreted that as distinction as indicating factory use of a standard, non-D/N, mirror as well as an 'optional' D/N mirror from the factory.

Running that one to ground would require 'someone' to pull the two base car mirror PN's for '66 and get the corresponding GM drawings for them. There's something of interest in this 'go do' though...

For some reason, the interior mirror(s) used in '66 change GM PN from those called out for use in '64-65. Our current text says the mirrors were the same.

But, my experience is GM designers didn't waste time changing/releasing new PN's just for their 'health'... There must be some difference in the '66 mirrors vs. their '64-65 equivalents (internal construction that wouldn't be visible???) that I know I don't understand. Any volunteers on this project with GM drawing access???

If there was no RPO designator in '66 to call out the D/N mirror, I guess I can't see how we justify it being a legitimate factory option vs. a dealer accessory...

[Gary J.]

Re: Make Me Smarter...

1. Wonder if the D/N mirrors were specific to the plant, either AOS or
St. Louis?

2. Early cars or late cars?

3. Cars with hazard warning or not?

[Mark L.]

Re: Make Me Smarter...

This has been an interesting string of comments on how the D/N mirror was selected for the 66. I always wondered what triggered this "option" At one time I had an idea that the Corvettes that had highly optioned interiors were blessed with the D/N mirror. After a year or two of "research" on Bow Tie cars I concluded there was no correlation.
More recently a friend purchased a 66 from the original owner. Most of the delivery paperwork was included. The dealer car invoice makes for interesting reading. Under the list of Optional Equipment & Accessories a "Night & Day Mirror" is noted for a charge of $6.00. What this means is anyone's guess. The car did come equipped with leather head rest seats which is rare in itself.
Mark

[Gary J.]

Re: Make Me Smarter...

So it looks like according to the new Judging Guide if a car shows up with D/N mirrow it needs to have the Convenience Pack, Option V74, Hazard Flasher, so it will be a deduct (page 32) acccording to the new manual.