64 Convertible Mirror Questions

[beatnavy]

After about 5 years in storage I pulled my Ghia out this winter and began trying to get her back on the road and to some sense of her former glory. My Ghia, I'm sure like a lot of them, was hacked together over the years, and I often struggle to recognize what things are supposed to be in stock form vs. what someone made work at one point.

Rear view mirror. I have no rear view mirror, nor any real visors (other than some red plexi someone put there at one point). I have a mount on the windshield frame and visor rods extending from that. What are people with '64-ish convertibles doing these days for mirror / visor replacements? It doesn't look like much is available for sale, original or decent reproduction. I'm ok going with something that's not 100% correct as long as it's in the ballpark aesthetically and period-wise.

I see something on ebay for almost $600, but it looks like it's probably for a coupe, and I'm not sure it would fit my convertible. Plus, $600....

Photos below show what I'm dealing with (I hope). Thanks for any help.

[beatnavy]

Will a coupe mirror of the same era fit a convertible? Will a convertible beetle mirror fit?

Any help appreciated, thanks.

[John Moxon]

You should find some useful information in this topic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695544
...particularly this post from the same topic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8712516#8712516
_________________
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[beatnavy]

Thank you, John. I did go back and re-read that one thread in more detail and managed to find the part number I needed (which then helped me source something).

I apologize. I've spent more time working on 914's where there is significantly more uniformity in parts and options. In contrast, the number of variations across models and years in the VW universe makes the head spin a bit sometimes.

[John Moxon]

[Rome]

I don't know if a Ghia Coupe visor is the same as the same year's Cabrio visor... but have you seen these in the Classifieds? They both have the retaining screws which would be important for you. You could glue a piece of off-white pebble grain vinyl over the damaged side to make it presentable, cut precisely to the outline of the visor half; and using brushed-on contact adhesive. Then a coat of ivory-colored vinyl spray paint to both sides so that they visually match. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2724242

It looks like your windshield mount bracket is cracked, so be careful to not exert much force on it when removing to clean it (or swinging the driver's visor up/down for test fit), though you have the other 3 screws to hopefully keep it in place.

Do you know if your '64 is an "early" or "mid-year" production? Some differences are the style of front blinker, separate radio speaker grill on the dash, and the shape & size of the pressings in the engine compartment under the battery. My '64, which I've owned since 1983, is from early 1964 production; VIN 6265xxx.