Thank you, Packard Don. Not to belabor the point (though I think I am going to now), but I understand that 1951-54 had belt-molding-mounted mirrors, and 1955-56 had door-mounted mirrors. Seems to me, since the bodies are essentially the same, the 1955-56 style should work on a 1951-54 body. And, indeed, someone long ago before me had mounted a square mirror on the LH (drivers-side) door of my 1953 Cavalier. It would be nice to replace that with something a bit more period correct, as well as a matching item for the R.H. door. However, even if I could justify the expense of the repro 1951-54 mirrors, installing belt-molding-mounted mirrors at this time would also require repairing and repainting the drivers-side door (at a minimum), because of the existing mounting holes for the mirror that was fitted some time in the distant past.

Much more preferable and practical to me would simply be to procure some nice door-mounted mirrors which have a 1950's feel to them, as probably many Packard dealers and/or independent shops would have done at the time. If there are any out there that someone has had some good experience with which can still be purchased recently, such information would be welcome.

I see what some folks are calling "Yankee Mirrors" on Ebay, and wonder if those might work well, and if anyone has any recent experience with those on offer. Am I correct that those were available in the 1950's?

I'd still like to know what anyone has been satisfied with as an aftermarket mirror, quality but reasonably priced, to mount on the door (but not on the belt molding) both L.H. and R.H. side, for anything from 1951-1956. I cannot justify $1000 for a repro belt molding mirror, and anyhow somebody had already put a mirror on the drivers-side door on my car, so there are holes in the door already.

Not that I am an expert on this or anything, but given the poor state of roads and the resulting lower speeds, using mileage is probably not a good yardstick for comparison - "hours" might be better. Going 20 miles over to the next town in the Brass Age was quite a bit more involved and stressing on components than it has been since, say, the 1950's. Reading the Model T forums, minor overhauls were common after 10,000 miles, and the whole car was considered good for perhaps 100,000 miles.

I have some mirrors like the above posted by PackardDon, and they didn't "crank over" far enough to be mounted on the door and used as R.H. mirrors. Don't know the provenance of said mirror so maybe it's just a mirror only good for L.H. application.

Since I would like RH mirrors on my 1953, still wondering what folks recommend, and/or what they think of these:

RH Side Mirror 1951/1954 discussion, Mustang Mirror Option

Probably this is not what you are looking for, but I noticed that the 7.00 R16 size is available as a tire for commercial vans, for example the Firestone CV 5000:

Firestone CV 5000 7.00 R16

Of course that is not a whitewall, but could get someone out of a jam perhaps.

This guy rebuilds vacuum wiper motors and it's reasonably priced. He doesn't sell rebuild kits. He rebuilt mine works great. Make sure, if you have one, that your double-acting fuel pump is working and the vacuum side is plumbed correctly.

Ficken Wiper Service

These folks probably would rewind/rebuild it for you:

Buchannan Auto Electric, Oakland Ca

Maybe write the Wisconsin Packard Club?

nancykopp@charter.net

Wisconsin Packard Club:

nancykopp@charter.net

There is a phone number for the Minnesota Packard Club:

2187214631