Hudson Glare-Proof Rearview Mirrors

railknight
railknight Expert Adviser
edited January 2015 in HUDSON

My '53 Super Wasp has a glare-proof (day & night) rearview mirror.  This was an accessory offered by Hudson dealers apparently starting sometime in 1953 (see May, 1953 Hudson Service Merchandiser).  The one my car originally came with was at best in fair condition.  The chrome metal was pitted and the mirror itself had faded silver paint.  Over the past two years I could never find a decent one at any parts swap areas at either the National or Regional Hudson meets.

Then, last year, at a general vintage car show and swap meet at Elkhorn, Wisconsin, I ran across a dealer selling a brand new reproduction of this rearview mirror.   Merv's Classic Chevy Parts sells an exact (if you pardon the phrase) "mirror image" of this day & night mirror.  About the only thing different from the Hudson mirror is the bolt that attaches the new mirror to the metal bracket above the inside windshield is a bit larger in diameter necessitating a simple taping out of the bracket hole.  One other difference from the original mirror is that where it use to say, "Made in U.S.A.", it now says, you guessed it, "Made in China." 

Merv's website is www.mervsclassicchevyparts.com.  The part number is #MH-07 53-55 Chevy Accessory Day & Night Mirror.   Price I paid was $49.95.

 I also found this same reproduction rearview mirror for sale on eBay and it was for use on 1950's Chrysler cars which indicates several other auto manufactures besides Hudson made this optional glare-proof mirror available for their cars.

My own experience with this mirror versus the one that normally came with a Hudson stepdown is that you get a wider rear view.  However, the rear depth view is not as distant as the standard mirror.  That's the tradeoff.   And yes,  pushing back on the mirror glare tab does indeed cut down on rear glare, especially from the nut behind you who has his brights on!   Anyway, if you have this day/night mirror in your stepdown and need to replace it, you now have that choice. 

Dan

 


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Comments

  • StillOutThere
    StillOutThere Expert Adviser
    Of course Hudson did not "MAKE" these mirrors nor hundreds of other parts of the finished car.   They bought them from outside vendors and suppliers.   Did they "make" the headlight bulbs?   No, General Electric did.   The tires?  No.   Etc.  
  • lostmind
    lostmind Expert Adviser

    I think Guide was the original supplier. I had one that had a gold tone backing in the mirror.

    I was surprised at how many people noticed it when I showed the car.

    It was in my 49 Commodore , could have been bought after 53 at the dealer.

  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    A few years ago I purchased a "Chevy" reproduction mirror to replace the Guide day/night mirror in my 54.  I knew the mountings were different but I was just going to swap out the mirror and use my original housing.  The "Chevy" mirror was about a 32nd taller and would not fit in the original housing.  I took it to a local glass shop to have it ground down to fit.  I cost about $45.00 to have it ground down with no guarantee that they would not break it.  It fit perfect when they were done, works great.
  • 402Bowtie
    402Bowtie Member
    Hey Dan, I like your Sacred Hear of Jesus statue on the dash. It's good to have him riding around with you! =D>
  • railknight
    railknight Expert Adviser
    edited January 2015

    I've had that plastic Jesus adorning the dashboard of my Hudsons for nearly 25 years!  Purchased him at the St Louis Cathedral gift shop on Jackson Square in New Orleans, LA. back in the summer of 1990. 

    By the way, my old, original glare-proof mirror has the word, GUIDE, on the push tab for changing mirror from day to night and back.  Never realized that was the manufacture's name.  Also reads on the top of the frame, "glare proof" and "Made in U.S.A."  

  • Glowplug
    Glowplug Expert Adviser
    Kool...my son was a Tulane student and we visited St. Louis during our trips to visit him.
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