I am switching from the chrome remote outside mirror to sport mirrors on my 71 442. It currently has the square escutheon with the recessed hole. Which escutheon is correct for sport mirrors, square or the rectangle one with the raised hole? Thanks.

 

Brian, the 71 mirrors I have use the rectangle with raised hole.

 

Rectangle.

 

Curious, what's the difference besides shape?

 

Allan you are first guy I thought of that would know that answer.

I have no idea.

Would GM use two parts that could do the same thing? hmm...

 

The type of escutcheon is dictated by the type of joystick used by the remote mirror. There were two styles of joystick and there is a different escutcheon for each.

 

That's exactly what I was wondering. And here's the reason I ask:
My 72 did not come with sport mirror option D35. When I did the bodywork though I bought the OEM D35 mirrors from Olds at the time and they came with the escutcheon shown in the pic I'm attaching. This was in 1985. My original 72 Cutlass had the D33 remote left side chrome mirror and it had exactly the same escutcheon plate on it as the D35 one I currently have on the car. Possibly the escutcheon was changed up at some point in time? IDK but the one I have now is OEM and I'm keeping it that way.

 

Thanks everyone for the responses. I was leaning towards the rectangular one as being more common for the sport mirrors. I notice the Parts Place offers it for $29.00, not too bad a price. I have noted in parting a few Cutlasses over the years, that the toggle stick varies on some mirrors as Texas69 referred to. Some are open into the cable section and some are closed, signifying different mirror versions. You gotta love the money GM had in those days for being able to do the same thing in different ways.