Should I chrome my flag mirrors?
 

I've been working on a pianting and partial backdate project for my 86 and I need some feedback on the mirror options. I've had all the black trim, door handles and targa bard polished or chromed and with all that in hand I don't think painted flag mirrors will look right. The car will still have the impact bumpers and side skirts but all the trim will be nice and shiny.

I think I have 4 options and was wondering which option you think would look best;

1 - Just paint the flag mirrors in body color (Meteor Metallic Silver) put them back on the car and be done with it.
2 - Go for the chrome early 70s style 911 mirrors that Pelican sells.
3 - Go for a set of Talbot bullet mirrors in chrome.
4 - Or, have the flag mirrors polished and chromed. I'm not sure if anyone has done this but it might be an interesting way to go.

Let me know what you think.

J

1.

1+

option 1

1.

paint
 

painted

4 and pick up a used set of shells to paint at the same time. can always swap out if hte chrome doesn't look good and flag shells are super cheap.

I think option #4 would look terrible. I'd go for #1. But it's not my car.

1 or 3 ......jmo

Did you get #2-4 from cruising Ebay motors?

#1

1 for sure

There should be no chrome whatsoever on any 911 after 1973. None.

#4

Hate them. I have them. Heavy and ridiculous. Get rid of them. Go with a body color flush mount to the A-frame racing mirror. That's what I hope to do when I have the courage to fill the hole in the door.

+1 for 1

I had some Sebring mirrors mounted on my front fenders for a while, like on the old Speedsters and Spyders. They looked really cool, but I couldn't see a damn thing. I couldn't wait to get the flag mirrors back on, just another instance of form following function...

5. Go with the later oval mirrors.

Actually I have no opinion on this. It's an option and a direct swap.

There should be no chrome whatsoever on any 911 after 1973. None.

Absolute Rubbish ! go for option 2
Polished mirrors with polished window trim and headlight rings looks great

Not correct - the 74 had stock chrome pieces also (headlight surrounds/sugar scoops on us-spec cars), mirrors, etc. Brushed metal Targa bar & window trim also.

But I get what you're saying. Somewhere I have a copy of the dealer catalog from 1974 that I got with my car - the 911 and 911S have the chrome trim bits, the Carerra has black. I believe the flag mirrors became standard on all 911 models 1975 and later.

and the 1974 had a stainless steel driver's side mirror

Jeremy's right. Definitely not chrome.

You do know that 2 or 3 would require filling large holes in the door and painwork.

I love the talbot mirrors and if I didn't mind welding holes shut and painting that is the way I would go. There is someone on the board that recently did a good job mounting mirrors on the Flag mirrors base. It's a great way to get rid of the bulky flag mirrors, but avoid having to fix those big holes in the door.

If you like the chrome / polished look go for it on the flag mirrors. Like Shaun said worst comes to worst you can simply repaint or replace them for next to nothing.

Third world state
 

If you live in a third world state it would be fine to Chrome your 911 mirrors. If not, you should keep them stock. Nick

Correct, stainless not chrome but the point is those trim pieces are metal, not painted (I apologize for calling it "chrome", which is a plated material).

The flag mirrors don't particularly look good on a 911, IMHO but are period-correct for mid years after 75, SCs, etc.

Thanks for all the feedback boys!!

This is why I love this site, everyone is ready to share an opinion. The upside to flag mirrors is that they are large, and with the huge butt on our cars they give a good view of what's on either side. The down side is that they aren't the best looking mirrors ever.

Option 4 seems to be the least popular so scratch that. At least the next person that asks will find a good thread on the subject. Chroming the mirrors is a pretty pricey exercise so I won't do it just to see how it looks.

I'll most likely do option 1. I really don't mind the flag mirrors.

As for options 2 or 3, Welding holes in the doors so I can do Talbots or another type isn't a big deal but it is a one way street. Once I weld up the holes in the door I don't want to drill new holes if I choose to go back.

If someone can point me to a thread where someone mounted nicer looking mirrors using the Flag mirror holes I'd appreciate it.

#2 looks good, I did it !

if you go with smaller mirrors you could put a wink mirror in ......

great rear coverage for the big but and very period correct

Would the wink mirror be a small convex stick on mirror?

Chrome sucks Donkey Dicks..............