Mirrors, 'correct', incorrect, and acceptable enough

["John Hertzman" <johnhertzman@domain.elided>]

Dan Walker, writing about exterior mirrors, says "The reproductions out there
are either incorrect ( logo cast in main housing and smooth base ) or are the
wrong size" - -

I assume he probably means incorrect for a particular car, but if someone
reads it as meaning categorically incorrect that is not true. There were two
(actually more than two)) similar but different mirrors, original and
nitpicking-correct on different models. 105.03.61.017.00 (first used on the
Duetto, according to its '105.03' prefix) was original and thus correct by the
strictest standards through the 1971 1750. This is the one he describes: "( no
logo or part number cast into the main mirror housing and the "stippling" on
the base )". The other, with smooth base and logo, is 105.48.61.017.00, used
on the 2000. IAP offers repros of both types, but incorrectly says that the
logo version was used from 1967; Centerline offers only the logo version.
Either would be an anachronism on the wrong car. I am not that fussy, and
neither was Alfa: the 105 Catalogo Rapido lists a third single mirror,
105.64.61.017.03, originally a Montreal part, for all 105s. Early Alfetta
coupes used 105.64.61.017.04; when I ordered a mirror from ARI in the
seventies to be a second, passenger side, mirror for my 1750 they sent the
logo version, but in primer, unplated, implicitly to be painted to match the
car; I believe this was the Alfetta version. (.04 painted, .03 plated, I would
guess) One sees photos of Sprint Zagatos, 1900s, and other such vintage
concours cars with the painted version, presumably to meet current mirror
regulations in the country of residence as unobtrusively as possible.

FWIW, the early Alfetta Berlinas used the trapezoidal mirror also used on
Spiders from 1975.

Enjoy yours,

John H.
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