Does anyone know where I can find a correct dated outside mirror for my 69 coupe? Thanks, Mark
C-3 outside mirror
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Re: C-3 outside mirror
Pat's right. Paragon owns the factory original tooling from Donnelly Mirror, Inc. which is why their exterior mirrors get full credit on C2/C3 cars... The 'repro' parts ARE identical to mirrors originally supplied to the factory!
Many other catalog houses carry the Paragon part. Just ask before you buy. Plus, for a few dollars more, Paragon (or one of their distributors) will date the glass to match your needs....- Top
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Re: C-3 outside mirror
Just a heads up....
Paragon no longer has the correct drivers mirror assembly but they still can provide you with the dated mirror itself.
I was going to order one of these for my 69 and the sales person told me straight out that their supplier ran out of the correct ones so now they are sell some cheap made it China ones that he says will not pass judging. He doesn't know when or if they will be getting the good ones again.
I'm a little confused though since Patrick says that they own the original tooling but the sales person said it was a supplier issue.
I'm thinking I might call them again and see whats up.- Top
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Re: C-3 outside mirror
...I was going to order one of these for my 69 and the sales person told me straight out that their supplier ran out of the correct ones so now they are sell some cheap made it China ones that he says will not pass judging. He doesn't know when or if they will be getting the good ones again.
This allows GM to contractually forbid the sale of that part to any other reseller, but primarily, it allows them to pull the tooling and negotiate pricing with a new supplier whenever their supplier jacks their price up to extortion levels. Just the knowledge that GM can do this whenever they find a better deal keeps steady downward pressure on pricing.- Top
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Re: C-3 outside mirror
Well this has been bugging me so I called Paragon today just in case they might infact still carry the correct mirror....they don't.
They do in fact own the tooling so it isn't a supplier issue...pretty smart Chuck...not that I doubted you!The sales person talked to one of their tech guys and they don't know why they stopped making this correct mirror...but they have. I'm sure that the all mighty dollar has something to do with it though since the mirrors are now imported.
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Re: C-3 outside mirror
This is a timely post for me as today I ordered two dated mirrors from Paragon. I too wanted to replace a mirror with the GM Replacement part, but that's not available. Who could rechrome my originals at a reasonable price? Anyone in the NC area?
I ordered the mirror glass only.- Top
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Re: C-3 outside mirror
Paragon is then faced with a hard choice...they can sell one or two genuine GM Restoration Parts mirrors a year to those that care enough to pay the extra dough, or they can join everyone else selling the Chinese copy mirror in their usual volume. Alternately, if the Chinese mirror isn't cheaper to the customer, then it's no doubt cheaper to the vendors which increases their profit margin on that item. It's a shame that those that care about authenticity didn't really have a vote, but that is why you were told their supplier had "run out of mirrors".
I am curious how Paragon, who owns the original GM tooling, and the General have worked out their licensing agreement when Paragon sells a "looks alike" mirror not made on the original tooling. Hmmm...interesting.- Top
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Re: C-3 outside mirror
I met the owner of Thunderbird Headquarters in Concord CA years ago and was totaly in awe when he took me in the back to show me row after row of his preproduction parts that were stacked to the ceiling! Some of his parts were made in the USA and other came from overseas and I remember him showing me a repop tail light lens... The originals had FoMoCo inside an oval as a trademark or whatever it's called but his only had the oval...no FoMoCo! He said that he could repop all he want and Ford couldn't do a thing about it UNLESS he put the FoMoCo inside of the oval and then he would have to pay them all kinds of fees,ect for the use of their name.
I would tend to think that there is no need for a licensing agreement between Paragon and GM because there is no trademarks on the mirror, it's only a part number which may or may not have been on the repops when they were making them.
Looks like the price of nice original mirrors just went up.- Top
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Re: C-3 outside mirror
The new Paragon Mirrors are not correct. My daughter bought me one for Christmas and it differs significantly from my original.- Top
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Re: C-3 outside mirror
If you produce a part with ANY form of GM identification on it anywhere (part number, casting number, or anything else), you need the license. GM has folks from EMI (their third-party licensing company) "on the hunt" all the time looking for reproduction parts with GM identification that are being produced without a GM license.- Top
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Re: C-3 outside mirror
I need a mirror also and called Paragon without success. The tought of trying to disassemble a mirror, rechrome and re-assmble does not sound too inticing or successfull to me.
I know that Paragon will restore your inside rear view mirror, does anyone offer this option for the LH rear view mirror?- Top
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Re: C-3 outside mirror
mark..Don't know if this can help you...but....I have dealt with this place on several occasions and have very good luck. www.corvettesalvage.com They specialize in 1968 to 08's...Hope they can help you- Top
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Re: C-3 outside mirror
Corvettesalvage was no help.
Has anyone sucessfully restored an original LH rear view mirror? There has to be away to successfully disassemble the mirror, take it to the chrome shop and put in back together.- Top
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