1964 "NOS" bow-tie mirror - when did GM start the blue, white & black package labels?

[Scott S.]

I was watching a bow-tie mirror on eBay, advertised as NOS in the box, mirror dated "1 DMI 4". Were the service replacement mirrors dated? Did GM use the blue/white/black package labels in January of 1964, or did those come along later, in the 1970s?

[Chuck S.]

Re: 1964 "NOS" bow-tie mirror - when did GM start the blue, white & black package lab

I was watching a bow-tie mirror on eBay, advertised as NOS in the box, mirror dated "1 DMI 4". Were the service replacement mirrors dated? Did GM use the blue/white/black package labels in January of 1964, or did those come along later, in the 1970s?

I suspect that the dated mirror glass tells you when the mirror was manufactured. If it's a genuine GM service part, and NOT one of those "GM Restoration Parts", GM would not have "back-dated" the mirror glass...what you saw is what you got. Do a close examination of it, and take a chance if warranted.

When GM Restoration Parts first began, I believe it was proudly indicated to be "GM Restoration Parts" on the box. But, if discerning buyers began spurning them as "repros", then the suppliers may have figured out they needed to "reproduce" the packaging as well. I'm unaware of the present status...I've never bought any, and won't unless it's a last resort.

[Scott S.]

Re: 1964 "NOS" bow-tie mirror - when did GM start the blue, white & black package lab

I suspect that the dated mirror glass tells you when the mirror was manufactured. If it's a genuine GM service part, and NOT one of those "GM Restoration Parts", GM would not have "back-dated" the mirror glass...what you saw is what you got. Do a close examination of it, and take a chance if warranted.

Hi Chuck,

This mirror was bid up to $565 early on, and that price held to auction end (I didn't bid). A January 1964-dated mirror seems much earlier than the era of the common blue/white/black GM label. The dated mirror-glass could have come from anywhere, but if the mirror-glass is not legit, there's no reason to think the rest of the mirror is genuine either. The seller had another NOS mirror for sale, the mid-1967 type with no bow-tie, in a similar box with a similar blue/white/black label.

A January '64 mirror is practically 1963-era, while the non-bow tie service replacement mirror was produced through at least 1977, and I suspect much later. If GM didn't use the blue, white and black label in January of 1964, then either that mirror or that box is a time-traveler.

And if either of those objects have actually traveled through time at a non-standard pace (forward or backward), then it's probably worth quite a bit more than $565

[Chuck S.]

Re: 1964 "NOS" bow-tie mirror - when did GM start the blue, white & black package lab

Corvette restorers have to beware the time-traveler vortex for sure...Caveat il Vortex Tiempo...or something like that.

[Tracy C.]

Re: 1964 "NOS" bow-tie mirror - when did GM start the blue, white & black package lab

I was watching a bow-tie mirror on eBay, advertised as NOS in the box, mirror dated "1 DMI 4". Were the service replacement mirrors dated? Did GM use the blue/white/black package labels in January of 1964, or did those come along later, in the 1970s?

I searched the archives, but came up empty.

However comma....I seem to remember a discussion on this topic that concluded the transfer from the yellow/black to blue/white/black labels occured "around" the 1963 time frame.

tc

[David L.]

Re: 1964 "NOS" bow-tie mirror - when did GM start the blue, white & black package lab

I recently sold a NOS 66 Corvette water pump pulley, GM # 3788472 (discontinued April 1967 as per Chevrolet Parts History) and the label on the box was blue & white. The pulley was also used on 63-65 Chevrolets. There was not a date anywhere on the box. If the pulley was made in 1963 it probably would have had a black & yellow label.

My guess is that the change in label colors must have been occurred sometime in the mid 1960's (1964, 1965, or 1966).