The interior and exterior mirrors section covers the interior rear view mirror and the externally mounted door and wing mirrors across the full production run.
Interior Mirror
The interior rear view mirror changed specification at several distinct points on the MGB. The original Roadster mirror from 1962 was frameless with a gold-painted metal backing plate, clamped to the windscreen centre brace with height adjustment.
From mid-1968, a mirror with a grey plastic backing plate and frame was fitted, similar to the type already used on North American MkII models and on GTs from the start of GT production, all these early mirrors being non-dipping. From the 1970 model year, a dipping interior mirror with black backing was introduced on a bracket to the upper windscreen frame, the Roadster windscreen frame being modified at the same time to accept the new mounting, and this dipping mirror remained standard to the end of production. The MGC uses the same Lucas-type interior mirror as the contemporary MGB. The interior mirror is available in chrome and standard finish for post-1970 cars, with the dipping mirror head available separately where the stem and mounting are sound but the glass or mechanism has deteriorated, and the mirror mounting bracket should be checked for security periodically, as a loose bracket causes the mirror to vibrate and makes the reflection unusable at speed.
Door & Wing Mirrors
External mirrors were not standard factory fitment on the MGB until 1973, when a driver's side door mirror became standard on UK home market cars, and pre-1973 cars left the factory without external mirrors unless fitted for specific export markets, so cars being fitted with a door mirror for the first time will require the plinth kit, which provides the correct angled mounting base ensuring the mirror sits at the proper angle against the curved door skin. The plinth fits both the standard door mirror and the torpedo-style mirror. Door mirrors are available in chrome and black finishes as handed left and right units, chrome being correct for chrome bumper cars where the original factory mirrors were chrome-plated, with factory-fitted mirrors changing to stainless steel from March 1976 and black correct for rubber bumper cars. A torpedo-style mirror is available as a period-correct alternative, and a sports racing mirror for a more purposeful appearance suitable for door or wing mounting. On the MGC, original-style Lucas or Tex wing-top mirrors mount to the front wing crown, and overtaking mirrors with long arms provide the widest rearward view, a popular period accessory.
Mirror Selection & Glass
The choice of mirror style depends on the owner's priorities of originality versus practicality. For concours restoration, the correct period type provides the authentic finishing detail, while for everyday driving a larger door-mounted or convex wide-angle mirror significantly improves rearward visibility, a genuine safety benefit on a car where the standard mirrors provide a relatively narrow field of view, particularly on the Roadster with the hood up, and many original cars were delivered with only a single exterior mirror.
Replacement mirror glass is available in flat and convex options, allowing a broken or deteriorated glass to be renewed without replacing the complete mirror assembly, and mirror mounting brackets, fixings, and adhesive pads are all available.