This section covers the MGA interior rearview mirror and wing-mounted mirrors, the interior mirror mounted to the scuttle on a chrome-plated stalk, and the externally-mounted wing mirrors available in handed left and right fitment with a choice of flat or convex glass.
Interior Rearview Mirror
The period-specification interior mirror for the MGA was mounted on a chrome-plated stalk fixed to the scuttle with two crosshead screws, a simple mounting arrangement common to sports cars of the period. The factory specification for the mirror backing plate is metallic tan or gold, a specific period colour matching the interior trim's metallic accent pieces, and most MGAs left the factory with an unframed mirror, though some cars exported to France from chassis 79663 in November 1959 had a special framed mirror with safety rim to meet French market regulations.
The period mirror was used across a range of British sports cars in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and the correct direct-replacement item is available for factory-specification restoration, the bronze finish matching the period specification and giving the mirror its characteristic warm-toned appearance against the interior trim.
Wing Mirrors
The MGA left the factory without wing mirrors as standard equipment, mirrors being an optional dealer or owner-fit accessory, and the wing mirrors stocked for restoration reflect period-style mirrors with chrome-plated stalks mounting to the front wings near the A-pillar. They are handed left and right because the stalk angle and the mirror head orientation differ between the two positions, so ordering the correct handedness ensures the stalk points naturally away from the body and the mirror head faces the driver correctly. Flat glass gives a true-to-life image without distortion, making it easier to judge the distance and speed of following traffic but with a narrower field of view, while convex glass gives a wider field of view by curving the reflective surface, the trade-off being a compressed image that makes judging distance less intuitive, though most owners adjust quickly. Both glass types are available in both handednesses, so a matched pair can be specified for any combination.
Period Practice & Mounting
Some MGAs were fitted with a single wing mirror, usually on the driver's side only, while others had two, one on each side, and when a factory-fitted luggage carrier was specified a wing mirror was always fitted alongside, as the carrier blocked rearward visibility, making the wing mirror essential. For a car in regular road use, two wing mirrors significantly improve blind-spot coverage compared to a single driver's-side mirror. UNF hardware is supplied for interior mirror mounting, recessed raised-countersunk screws and plain zinc nuts, the raised countersunk head giving the screw a domed appearance when fitted through the scuttle and matching the finished appearance of the factory mounting. For factory-original restoration, the period-correct interior mirror with chrome-plated stalk and metallic tan or gold backing plate is the correct specification, while for regular road use convex glass provides a wider field of view and flat glass truer distance judgement, with matched pairs standard practice for cars used in traffic.