AutoFast

Is it possible that the light on my 71 is fiber optic? If so does anyone have pictures of how the wiring is routed from the mirror to power source and where to connect terminal for power connection?

Greatly appreciate any guidance.

MelWff

I may be wrong but I have never heard of a factory lighted review mirror on a 71. I came across ads for 72 and up to 76 but they look aftermarket..

Daveinspain

My 71 doesn’t have a map light... later years have a light in the interior of the roof in the center of the T bar...

7T1vette

I've never heard of a fiber optic map light. I think they are all just 12vdc powered. It's a bit of work to get all the interior facia covers off to wire one of those. You have to do it to make it look neat, though.

AutoFast

Having a 71 is a challenge as it seems to be part 70, part 71 and part 72. We have had this since 73 and knew the original owner. I've been doing an off body restoration and getting help has been difficult because what some people and articles say are 71 i may or may not have line front turn signals, mine are amber with amber bulbs. I bought clear lenses then found out late 71 could have the 72 amber lenses with clear bulbs, but i have both. Now it's the map light. Oh well, the adventure continues.

Thanks folks i really appreciate the feedback.

Daveinspain

My 71 was built in May of that year, I have clear lenses with amber bulbs...

jackson

I've had two '71 ... neither had map light in mirror ... or anywhere else.

Because of no OE map light, I snagged a glue-on OE S10 mirror with built-in map lights ... also have GMC Sonoma & mirror-light works great.

My "one of these days" plan is to install it in my roadster & wire it so there's also an adjunct, discreet 12vdc supply for my V1 radar.

FWIW ... my V1 is some twenty years old & works great too ... knock on wood.

AutoFast

Wow. Good info. I have the light and can only imagine that i got it as a later build and it was a 72 mirror? Tom it apart today. Have the wiring harness that plugs into top of mirror via a Male bullet connector and the other end has the black female slide connector. Enough wire to travel across my header, down one of the pillar posts and i imagine somewhere under the center console? Maybe connect near cigarette lighter? Any ideas? Obviously doesn't show in AIM but then again neither do my amber turn signal lenses. Also, standard 350 engine but i have the open air cleaner? Is that also unusual?

62corvette

You have the right to believe anything about your car that you want to.
However, studying 71’s and 72’s for many years, I can tell you this:
1). 71-style mirrors were used into the 1972 model year when the back material was changed from silver to black. No lighted mirror was available in that time frame.
2). 4 different low mile 2-owner 71’s built in the last 200 cars have clear lenses.
3). Standard motor cars after about vin number 12000 in 1970 used dual snorkel air cleaners.

The owner-inspired changes on your car are not unusual ones. I would encourage you to purchase an NCRS technical information manual and judging guide. There is lots of helpful info there. Have fun with your 71! They are great cars.

BSiegPaint

You are describing the map light mirror that was on thousands of A-body GM cars in the 70's - Is the power wire gray? It would be an easy swap into a Corvette. It's a wider mirror, and on the A-bodies it plugs into the dash harness - but you can choose any extra power source at the fuse box that you like. Many like to pick a circuit that is only on with the ACC on, just so you don't leave it on accidentally during the day and run down the battery.

BarryB72

FWIW - 73 was first year for RPO UF1 rearview mirror map light.

$5.00 to have one and 8186 night time map reading corvette owners bought one, according to Corvette DNA app.

AutoFast

Great, thank you. Had no idea these were changed in the short period the original owner had the car. That being said the he did put hooker header side pipes and cut the horizontal louvers out of the egg crates to mimic 68/69 cards. I've returned to original egg crates and factory pipes out the back. What did you mean in item 2? Were clear lenses not found on later 71 models? Where is best place to purchase guide?

AutoFast

That looks just like it. Wow, great info.