C3 Door Mirror Date Code Questions

[Jimmy P.]

The right side door mirror on my 73 has the following date code: 6 DCA (R with a circle around it,tmk?) -1
Would this be June 1971? Or is it a later reproduction? I would think it should be 6DMI1 for that date.
I know that Donnelly Mirror Inc. (DMI) changed over to Donnelly Corporation of America (DCA) at some point but not sure when.My driver's side has no date code, so I'm planning on changing out the mirror glass for the correct April 73 code for judging ,getting it from Paragon. Would I need to replace the passenger side glass also because of this date code? Or doesn't the passenger side date code really matter for judging because they would have been a dealer or owner install at a later date? Minus the holes in the fiberglass for mounting it deduction of course. I would think it kind of strange to have a mirror dated 1971 on a 73 car, if indeed that is a 71 date code
Thanks for any clarification guys!

[Patrick H.]

Re: C3 Door Mirror Date Code Questions

Donnelly didn't have a name change until long after your 73 (1984), so DCA wouldn't be correct. However, since the mirror itself is not correct it really makes no difference. The holes will receive the deduction, not the mirror date, so you can leave it as-is.

The mirror might be 1986?

I frequently pass by the plant that used to make the Corvette mirrors. Donnelly (now Magna) still owns it, but it's not a production facility any more.

Patrick

[Jimmy P.]

Re: C3 Door Mirror Date Code Questions

Hi Patrick,
Thank you for the info. That's what I thought about the right side mirror and judging. I checked back in the receipts I got with the car. A previous owner bought them from Ecklers back in 1992. Interesting thing though, the left side mirror with no date code was $60.00 and the right side with a date code cost $50.95. Having just looked at the Ecklers site the right side is more than the left side. I have no other documentation to show that the mirrors were changed again later. But, that's not to say that they weren't. They are both in like new condition with no scratches or pitting. I just want to replace the driver's side glass with a dated one for judging in June.
Regards,
Jimmy

[Michael W.]

Re: C3 Door Mirror Date Code Questions

I would think it kind of strange to have a mirror dated 1971 on a 73 car, if indeed that is a 71 date code
Thanks for any clarification guys!

Not that it matters for judging, but a dealer installed right side mirror could have been sitting in a parts warehouse or dealer's shelf for years.

[Edward B.]

Re: C3 Door Mirror Date Code Questions

Also be advised that unless it's been improved in the last year, the reproduction date coded glass won't stand up to intense scrutiny. Note the difference between an original (top picture) vs the repop (bottom picture).

Ed

[Jimmy P.]

Re: C3 Door Mirror Date Code Questions

Also be advised that unless it's been improved in the last year, the reproduction date coded glass won't stand up to intense scrutiny. Note the difference between an original (top picture) vs the repop (bottom picture).

Ed

Ed,
Is that a recent repop photo of a Paragon date code? From all the research I've done here in the archives on the subject it seems that Paragon provides the best service for this and all have done very well at judging. One of the archival posts from 2009 mentioned that Paragon actually bought the Donnelly DMI tooling.
Thanks,
Jimmy

[Edward B.]

Re: C3 Door Mirror Date Code Questions

Yes, that picture was taken about two years ago. Like I said, unless it's changed, that's what you get.

However, since Paragon is the only source for this, and it's only $12.00 plus shipping, it's still a deal and a half!

And I could be wrong, but I would imagine that during judging, the date code isn't examined that closely anyway. But a judge would have to chime in here.

Ed

[Reba W.]

Re: C3 Door Mirror Date Code Questions

Don't assume the code won't be examined. The date is worth 20% of CDCIF, but I am not sure how many points are assigned to the right hand mirror for 1973. We don't deal with it in 1968-72, the years which I am usually judging.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: C3 Door Mirror Date Code Questions

Don't assume the code won't be examined. The date is worth 20% of CDCIF, but I am not sure how many points are assigned to the right hand mirror for 1973. We don't deal with it in 1968-72, the years which I am usually judging.

Hi Reba,
According to the 73-74 TIM&JG: "The currently acceptable standard is to ignore the right hand mirror. Make a small deduction under originality for the missing fiberglass due to the holes created to attach the mirror. A small deduction will also be made for the missing paint." The 73-77 Exterior Judging sheet doesn't have anything to score the right hand mirror. Just the left side which is a total 6 pts. Originality and a total 5 pts. Condition.
The right hand mirror matching the head size and overall style of the left side mirror was listed in the September 1972 Dealers Option List for the 73 model year. But, it was only available as a service part beginning with the calendar year 1974 and the rest of the model year 1974. The JG also states that the mirror therefore may be a "timely" dealer installed option for some 1973 and all 1974 Corvettes.
BTW, does anyone know if and when the 73-74 TIM&JG is up for revision?
Regards,
Jimmy

[Michael W.]

Re: C3 Door Mirror Date Code Questions

The JG also states that the mirror therefore may be a "timely" dealer installed option for some 1973 and all 1974 Corvettes.

Not all '74 Corvettes left the original dealership with a right side mirror.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: C3 Door Mirror Date Code Questions

Not all '74 Corvettes left the original dealership with a right side mirror.

Michael,
I agree with you in that regard. That's just the way its written in the TIM&JG.

[Edward B.]

Re: C3 Door Mirror Date Code Questions

As an update, Jim purchased the mirror glass from Paragon and sent me a picture of the date (see below). Not a great picture, but it does appear that they've improved the process. Well done Paragon!

Ed