Identifying the mirrors on your French classic
All the main French car manufacturers had their mirrors supplied by Cipa and Geco. They produced several styles of mirror-head, with numerous different arms, for numerous different vehicles. While that means that different cars could have the same mirror-head, it is also common to find different mirrors fitted to the same model of car. For this reason, the only sure way to identify a mirror is by its reference number stamped into the back of the mirror-head casing.
The following mirrors were fitted to some versions of each of the following vehicles (and more):
- Citroën 2cv, Dyane, Ami, Mehari, AZU, AK, Acadiane, LN, Visa, GS, CX, ID, DS, SM, HY, etc
- Peugeot 104, 203, 204, 304, 403, 404, 504, J7, J9, etc
- Renault 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, Estafette, etc
- Simca/Chrysler/Talbot & Matra
Mirror Characteristics
Fitted as original equipment to a huge number of Citroëns, Peugeots, & Renaults, some Simcas / Chryslers and also some Morgans. Citroën models included higher spec DS (Pallas etc) and a few SM. Stainless steel housing.
Glass size: Approx 139 x 88mm.
A stainless steel more shallow-bodied copy of the original 355 or 358 aluminium mirror. Has been sold over the last 20-30 years as a replacement for the original 355/358 on Citroën DS and some other French classics, including CX Series1. They were more cheaply produced than earlier Cipa mirrors.
Glass size: Approx 156 x 103.5mm.
Aluminium housing, painted a light silver-grey. Often fitted to the Citroën DS lower spec models (Special, Super, Confort), plus Citroën GS, early CX and early Visa. Also seen on a few Peugeots & Renaults.
Glass size: Approx 156 x 103.5mm.
1st version: Original equipment on early Citroën Ami 8 and on a few other French classic cars. Mild steel, painted a light silvery-grey. Prone to rusting, so it is often difficult to see the reference number.
2nd version: More recently, very poor quality chrome-plated copies of this mirror have been commonly sold as cheap replacements for numerous classic Citroëns, Peugeots, & Renaults, often with a black or translusent plastic surround, although sometimes grey.
Glass size: Approx 139 x 88mm.
Fitted to almost all Citroën 2CV, Dyane, Ami, Mehari, AK, etc, (from around 1970 to 1990), and some other Citroëns, Peugeots, Renaults and also some Morgans. They were sometimes also supplied as after-market accessory mirrors as well as extended towing mirrors. They were usually stainless steel (inox) but sometimes had a textured plastic-coated over mild steel, (eg: light grey plastic coating on Citroen 2cv vans, black plastic-coating on some Renault 4).
Glass size: Approx 140 x 92mm.
Fitted to late 1960s Citroen Dyane & Ami 6 and some other French cars (& mopeds) of the era. They were also sold as an accessory item for various vehicles, sometimes with a fixing that clamped onto the edge of the door window frame for earlier cars such as Traction Avant and many other cars that did not originally come with mirrors. Stainless steel housing.
The smaller of the two most common mirrors to be fitted to Citroën H-vans and also some Peugeot & Renault vans of the 1960s & 1970s. Often the Geco 36 was fitted to the left-hand side, with the larger Geco 187 on the right.
Geco 36 glass size: Approx 185 x 140mm
The larger of the two most common mirrors to be fitted to Citroën H-vans and also some Peugeot & Renault vans of the 1960s & 1970s. Often the Geco 187 was fitted to the right-hand side, with the smaller Geco 36 on the left.
Geco 187 glass size: Approx 210 x 140mm.
Made in Spain, under licence. Identical to Geco 22, 274, 275 mirrors (see above).
Glass size: Approx 140 x 92mm.