Opinions on drilling bodywork for mirrors and stuff?
Discussion
I wonder what the classic fraternity's view is on drilling bodywork for attaching items like wing mirrors or door mirrors and radio aerials? My car will be getting a bare metal re-spray at some stage in the near future and I am beginning to ting through the plan. Currently I have what I think used to be called "overtaking mirrors" which fit into the window channel on each door. I find them invaluable for driving in modern heavy traffic and wouldn't be without them. Originally many Astons were fitted with round mirrors mounted on the doors, rather like wing mirrors but in what has become the modern position on the door near the quarter-light. As my car was never fitted with these I am loath to drill holes in the doors unnecessarily.
Also, I have a period radio and these were optional back in the day but I use an internal strip aerial which is rubbish. I am tempted to fit one of those roof aerials you see mounted at the centre front of the roof angled in a swept back position. But again it means drilling the body.
Would you say drill and be damned or not drill and work round the issues like I have been so far?
Also, I have a period radio and these were optional back in the day but I use an internal strip aerial which is rubbish. I am tempted to fit one of those roof aerials you see mounted at the centre front of the roof angled in a swept back position. But again it means drilling the body.
Would you say drill and be damned or not drill and work round the issues like I have been so far?
Is this for the DB2/4? If so, and this is a very personal taste from someone who really admires DB2/4's, I'd say 'no' do not drill the bodywork and retain the quarterlight attached side mirrors. Re' the aerial, have you thought about buying a good quality DAB aerial together with a good classic/period DAB radio?
Not sure of others views but I find wing mirrors completely ruin the lines of so many cars. My teeth grate when I see bullet shaped wing mirrors on DB4/5/6's, Saloon & MKII Jaguars, TR's, MGB's, Stags. I once saw an soft top Alvis with bulbous wing mirrors...it looked so very wrong.
Not sure of others views but I find wing mirrors completely ruin the lines of so many cars. My teeth grate when I see bullet shaped wing mirrors on DB4/5/6's, Saloon & MKII Jaguars, TR's, MGB's, Stags. I once saw an soft top Alvis with bulbous wing mirrors...it looked so very wrong.
That's right, you can just see my mirrors on the window frames, the lower picture shows the most commonly fitted period mirrors.
Regarding the radio, I have one that's been converted to receive FM and iPod but I can't get an aerial to work with it. Perhaps DAB is the way to go...?
Regarding the radio, I have one that's been converted to receive FM and iPod but I can't get an aerial to work with it. Perhaps DAB is the way to go...?
Edited by RichB on Monday 12th May 20:59
RichB said:
That's right, you can just see my mirrors on the window frames, the other picture shows the most commonly fitted period mirrors.
Regarding the radio, I have one that's been converted to receive FM and iPod but I can't get an aerial to work with it. Perhaps DAB is the way to go...?
If it was me I'd continue with the quarterlight mirrors. They can be a little restrictive...had these on the V8250 but got used to them.Regarding the radio, I have one that's been converted to receive FM and iPod but I can't get an aerial to work with it. Perhaps DAB is the way to go...?
PS the red wheelie bin looks like Q's built in an 'up telescope' device to your boot...!
I'd never noticed that, now you've said it though...
Here's what can be done, instead of drilling into the door or wing , in this case the stainless trim was cut short and a piece made to replace it that would support the mirror. Good vision in the mirror and the quarter-lite still opens OK. Roof Arial requires a smaller hole than in the wing (10mm) and can be closed with a grommet if no longer required.
RichB said:
Regarding the radio, I have one that's been converted to receive FM and iPod but I can't get an aerial to work with it. Perhaps DAB is the way to go...?
Considering that the analogue AM/FM signals are due to be switched off within the next few years, I would certainly be looking for a DAB option if you're looking to change what you have now. It would be a shame to drill the bodywork to install an aerial that won't be able to receive any signal at all in a few years time.
Had a Triumph Stag once that came to me with an MOT, but no mirrors on the outside. I needed to get an MOT, so needed at least a driver's side mirror. Went ahead and sourced one, studied pictures meticulously to get the positioning right, drilled into the door to find a load of filler 
. Think maybe someone had levered the old mirror off the door with a crowbar or something. Made a proper mess.
Wish I'd never done that - sometimes you're better off not knowing!
. Think maybe someone had levered the old mirror off the door with a crowbar or something. Made a proper mess.Wish I'd never done that - sometimes you're better off not knowing!
EggsBenedict said:
Had a Triumph Stag once that came to me with an MOT, but no mirrors on the outside. I needed to get an MOT, so needed at least a driver's side mirror.
That must have been a late Stag? I had a row with my MOT station about mirrors, they insisted I had to have a drivers door mirror as well as the internal one, and I pointed out I hadn't needed one the year before, or the year before that. After all the usual "I didn't test it last year" bravado, the guy stomped off to get the book. Whereupon we looked at the paragraph after the list of mirrors required, which says "Vehicles first used before September 1978 require one of the above". "The above" including the internal mirror, which I have.I've wondered, since I put the car back on the road, whether I should drill for door mirrors. I'm obsessed with originality, so my first
I've finally drilled the front arches for mudflaps after fifteen years, and instantly semi-regretted it. Kind of. I was prompted to do it by a couple of trips to Oulton Park last year, when even going the long way round means passing a farm entrance and getting cow-c**p up the side of the car. So I drilled oversize holes, painted around the edges, used stainless steel screws and nuts to fix them (instead of the "correct" self-tappers, despite the originality obsession) so I'm confident they won't lead to arches rusting. But it just seems a bit wrong.
My roof was already drilled for an aerial, when it comes to the car I'm rebuilding I think I'll figure out some other way, perhaps with DAB as mentioned above. I considered cutting the roof for a Webasto sunroof (the Firenza had one when I got it, and I like the fresh air) but remembered the middle of the roof is about the only panel I haven't had to repair, so decided against it.
LordBretSinclair said:
Even on this, the most famous DB5 ever??
Yes, in the flesh the mirrors look bloody awful...as if superglued on. They're completely out of character with the car as the fellows of NP intended. Here are some clearer pics of what I mean...
and here's one of a MKII Jaguar I forgot to post yesterday...shockingly poor
droopsnoot said:
That must have been a late Stag? I had a row with my MOT station about mirrors, they insisted I had to have a drivers door mirror as well as the internal one, and I pointed out I hadn't needed one the year before, or the year before that. After all the usual "I didn't test it last year" bravado, the guy stomped off to get the book. Whereupon we looked at the paragraph after the list of mirrors required, which says "Vehicles first used before September 1978 require one of the above". "The above" including the internal mirror, which I have.
Now I wish I hadn't posted that. It was a 1974 model. Live and learn.Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff