Which was the first car to have a door mirror?
Which was the first car to have a door mirror?
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Discussion

ChevronB19

Original Poster:

8,522 posts

184 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
This kept me awake last night.

What car (preferably mass produced rather than a special) was the first car to have door mirrors as opposed to wing mirrors?

TIGA84

5,501 posts

252 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
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Educated guess would be something late 70's or early 80's?

I'm going some kind of Mercedes or Volvo?

Huzzah

28,468 posts

204 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
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I'm going 60s

Fiat 124 spider.

Metric Max

1,784 posts

243 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
My Dad had a Mk 4 Cortina new in 1976 (R reg) with at least drivers door mirror as I have a pic of it. Because he towed a caravan he also fitted wing mirrors and because he was shall we say, carefull with money he wouldn't have bought both so I think the door mirrror was factory fit.

I had a new 1975 Scirroco with drivers door mirror not passenger side

MesoForm

9,671 posts

296 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
I'll go very early 60s - if you look at old minis they seem to go from wing mirrors to door mirrors around 61/62.

alscar

7,699 posts

234 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
My first car ( briefly ) was a Vanden Plas Princes from 1967 - only wing mirrors.
My next was a 1972 Capri GT XLR again only wing mirrors.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

31,606 posts

256 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
It's hard to imagine now driving without a door mirror.

I remember I fitted one from a scrapped Datsun to my Viva.

Just the one mind hehe

Riley Blue

22,811 posts

247 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
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You're all way out, a 1920's Model A Ford had door mirrors:


motco

17,210 posts

267 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
My 1947 Morris Ten Series M had one door mirror for the same reason as the car above - no wings in the right place.

In the modern era, though, Austin Maxi had one as standard. Two later I think.
I had a Hillman Hunter 1968 model and it had no exterior mirrors which was quite normal at that time.

ferret50

2,606 posts

30 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
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My MG Midget that I bought new in August '72 only came with an interior mirror....

However, the Morgan 4/4 that I collected from the factory in March '82 had two mirrors, internal and on the driver's door.

So I would suggest that door mirrors were made mandatory mid/late '70's.

Every day a journey

2,597 posts

59 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
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But what had the 'best'?

I'm going for the early versions of the 1980s Testarossa

Dogwatch

6,355 posts

243 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
MesoForm said:
I'll go very early 60s - if you look at old minis they seem to go from wing mirrors to door mirrors around 61/62.
My father bought a new Deluxe 850 (it had a heater!) in 1965. No door mirror though.

I seem to remember that for some years UK cars only had an offside door mirror to the delight of the Italian cops who issued a ticket to any car without a mirror on their offside.

MC Bodge

26,786 posts

196 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
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The most successful door mirror must be the Citroën CX

TA14

13,986 posts

279 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
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Riley Blue said:
You're all way out, a 1920's Model A Ford had door mirrors
as did a 1906 Silver Ghost

TA14

13,986 posts

279 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
MesoForm said:
I'll go very early 60s - if you look at old minis they seem to go from wing mirrors to door mirrors around 61/62.
Good observation!

Shooter McGavin

8,549 posts

165 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
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Discussed 12 years ago on this thread!

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Peterpetrole

1,290 posts

18 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
quotequote all
Shooter McGavin said:
Discussed 12 years ago on this thread!

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Top bearding

Geertsen

1,490 posts

80 months

Wednesday 17th September 2025
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MC Bodge said:
The most successful door mirror must be the Citroën CX
What’s special about them?

MattsCar

2,002 posts

126 months

Thursday 18th September 2025
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Geertsen said:
MC Bodge said:
The most successful door mirror must be the Citroën CX
What s special about them?
Graced many a parts bin specials....multiple Lotus' and more.

No idea why maybe because they are pretty sleek. Maybe they were cheap/ Citroen had plenty in inventory.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...

Geertsen

1,490 posts

80 months

Monday 22nd September 2025
quotequote all
MattsCar said:
Geertsen said:
MC Bodge said:
The most successful door mirror must be the Citroën CX
What s special about them?
Graced many a parts bin specials....multiple Lotus' and more.

No idea why maybe because they are pretty sleek. Maybe they were cheap/ Citroen had plenty in inventory.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=16...
Aah, that’s interesting, I didn’t know that. Thank you.