Better Visibility?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Better Visibility?
So, I drove the '73 home from my brother-in-law's house this weekend, my longest drive with the car in almost two years (25+ miles).
The visibility sucks! I was white-knuckles all the way home on the freeway. The rear view mirror must go, and I need a passenger side door mirror for my wife anyway (long story) plus my own comfort - but I would really like the outside mirrors to be bigger than the stock chrome mirror that's on the driver's door now.
Any ideas? I've searched the forum and found a few things, but nothing that jumps out as exactly what I want... I need better side visibility. I've never driven a car like this before where I feel like the only way I can clear to make a left side lane change is to stick my head out the window and look backwards around the C-pillar...
Any ideas would be appreciated...
On the plus side, the car is finally back in my garage now with the interior 95% reassembled a new stereo too!
The visibility sucks! I was white-knuckles all the way home on the freeway. The rear view mirror must go, and I need a passenger side door mirror for my wife anyway (long story) plus my own comfort - but I would really like the outside mirrors to be bigger than the stock chrome mirror that's on the driver's door now.
Any ideas? I've searched the forum and found a few things, but nothing that jumps out as exactly what I want... I need better side visibility. I've never driven a car like this before where I feel like the only way I can clear to make a left side lane change is to stick my head out the window and look backwards around the C-pillar...
Any ideas would be appreciated...
On the plus side, the car is finally back in my garage now with the interior 95% reassembled a new stereo too!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
What outside mirrors are on the car? I've seen some that have an extended stem that the glass mounts to.
jimo, if you stuff 600 horsepower in there overtaking is not an issue.
I can imagine trying to set on the left and drive on the right- I have enough problems driving on the right and setting on the right when I'm in the UK. takes about 100km to get it figured out again.
jimo, if you stuff 600 horsepower in there overtaking is not an issue.
I can imagine trying to set on the left and drive on the right- I have enough problems driving on the right and setting on the right when I'm in the UK. takes about 100km to get it figured out again.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne Australia
What outside mirrors are on the car? I've seen some that have an extended stem that the glass mounts to.
jimo, if you stuff 600 horsepower in there overtaking is not an issue.
I can imagine trying to set on the left and drive on the right- I have enough problems driving on the right and setting on the right when I'm in the UK. takes about 100km to get it figured out again.
jimo, if you stuff 600 horsepower in there overtaking is not an issue.
I can imagine trying to set on the left and drive on the right- I have enough problems driving on the right and setting on the right when I'm in the UK. takes about 100km to get it figured out again.
but i like the thought of 600 HP!! 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,082
Likes: 3,353
From: Omaha NE
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Oh Man.....Lane changing in my '76 is what I go out do when I want some excitement!!......
I do wish I'd had the dealer add one to the right side back in the day, drilling holes in virgin fiberglass now.......
Anything aftermarket that's alot bigger will look goofy. You can go a little bit bigger with a stock '75-'76 mirror. It's one inch wider than yours. And if your inside mirror is an 8" you can go to a '76 10" It helps more than you would think.........
And jimo..........How you guys do it........You must really love that Vette, Mate.......
Guys like you and BenUk have always impressed me the most. Half a world away with a C3.....
..
I do wish I'd had the dealer add one to the right side back in the day, drilling holes in virgin fiberglass now.......Anything aftermarket that's alot bigger will look goofy. You can go a little bit bigger with a stock '75-'76 mirror. It's one inch wider than yours. And if your inside mirror is an 8" you can go to a '76 10" It helps more than you would think.........
And jimo..........How you guys do it........You must really love that Vette, Mate.......
Guys like you and BenUk have always impressed me the most. Half a world away with a C3.......
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne Australia
And jimo..........How you guys do it........You must really love that Vette, Mate....... Guys like you and BenUk have always impressed me the most. Half a world away with a C3.......[/QUOTE]
Hi SEVNT6, As you said it ... EXCITEMENT!! i really do love the C3, its fun to drive, even though i carnt see where im going!!
Guys like you and BenUk have always impressed me the most. Half a world away with a C3.......[/QUOTE]Hi SEVNT6, As you said it ... EXCITEMENT!! i really do love the C3, its fun to drive, even though i carnt see where im going!!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years
Joe Kucinski
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,108
Likes: 0
From: Sebastian Florida
Reminds me of the scene in Canonball Run , when the Italian driver rips the rearview mirror off because he doesn't care what's behind him, it's what's in front that matters.
I have one of those convex mirrors on the corner of my side mirrors to help with lane changes. But you could get one of the larger rearview mirrors that JC Whitneys sales.
They're ugly but effective.
I have one of those convex mirrors on the corner of my side mirrors to help with lane changes. But you could get one of the larger rearview mirrors that JC Whitneys sales.
They're ugly but effective.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
One time a Corvette club talked about doing a Canonball Run, but only I signed up. Stopped going there- too boring for me.
.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Something just a little bit bigger with blind spot mirrors added was all I was really thinking. I will look at the '76 sized mirrors; they'll fit the existing mounting holes? I have to drill on the passenger side anyway. My wife has a vision restriction on her license that requires the passenger side mirror - and yes I will let her drive it.
For the inside, I'll find a 12"-14" mirror because I know that will help me. The stock mounting point is shaky so I need to do something anyway...
And yes I just need to log some time in the driver's seat...
For the inside, I'll find a 12"-14" mirror because I know that will help me. The stock mounting point is shaky so I need to do something anyway...
And yes I just need to log some time in the driver's seat...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,082
Likes: 3,353
From: Omaha NE
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified