Mirror specification on classic MGs varied substantially across production. The earliest cars typically had a single interior rear-view mirror only, with exterior mirrors being a dealer-fit or customer-fit accessory rather than original equipment. UK legislation gradually introduced requirements for exterior mirrors during the 1960s and 1970s, with cars gaining factory exterior mirrors during these legislative changes. The Mirrors section gathers the door, wing and overtaking mirror options for owners renewing original equipment or retrofitting modern visibility standards to earlier cars.
Door and Wing Mirrors
The dedicated Door & Wing Mirrors sub-section covers the principal exterior mirror options, door-mounted mirrors that bolt to the door skin near the front upper corner, and wing-mounted mirrors that fit to the front wing close to the windscreen pillar. Each mounting position has its own visibility characteristics: door-mounted mirrors give the driver a view alongside the car at a position closer to the cabin, while wing-mounted mirrors place the mirror further forward where the visibility is into the lane ahead and to the sides. Both types are stocked in chromed steel (matching the period appearance of chrome-bumper classic MGs) and in stainless steel (for owners where the chromework needs to last without renewal). The mirror glass is typically convex for wider field of view, with appropriate adjustment hardware for the driver to set the angle correctly.
Overtaking Mirrors, The Period Sporting Choice
The dedicated Overtaking Mirrors sub-section covers the period-sporting wing-mounted overtaking mirrors that defined the visual character of 1960s sports cars. The overtaking mirror is a long narrow mirror mounted on a chromed stem that extends forward from the front wing, typically positioned where the driver can see the mirror through the gap between the bonnet and the wing edge. The visual character is unmistakably period-sporting, the long-armed wing-mounted mirror was a signature feature of sporting cars through the 1950s and 1960s, with classic British roadsters being particular examples of the style. The mirrors are stocked in chromed brass and polished stainless-steel finishes, with appropriate mounting brackets for the specific MG application.
Application and Installation
Mirror installation involves mounting the mirror base to the bodywork at the appropriate position, with the mirror itself then adjustable through its own swivel mechanism to give the driver the right angle of view. Door-mounted mirrors typically use a bracket that bolts through holes in the door skin (with appropriate sealing to prevent water ingress); wing-mounted mirrors use a mounting bracket that bolts through the wing panel or to the wing edge.
The original-equipment mounting positions varied by car and by production year, with the appropriate locations being part of the kit instructions. For owners retrofitting mirrors to cars without factory mounting points, careful planning of the mounting position ensures the mirror provides useful visibility without compromising the car's visual character. The technical team is available to advise on the right mirror specification and the appropriate mounting position for a specific car.