Why does the Z only have 1 side view mirror on the drivers side?

I couldn't find any answers to this. It might be silly but what the heck? hahaha :stupid::cross-eye

Not to pick on you for being young, Andy, but if you were old enough to remember the late '60s and early '70s you'd remember that right side mirrors were not common on any cars back then. Shoot, even high-end companies like Porsche charged extra for the right side mirror through the late '70s. (And Porsche charged a lot for them! Not cheap.) So there really isn't a story about why, the answer is that not many other cars had them either.

Arne's exactly right, it's just how things were.

But there were reasons for it. On smaller cars like the Z, the right side mirror wasn't really necessary because you could see pretty well out of it with a simple head check. I plan on returning to the single stock chrome mirror (I've got some hideous turbo ones now) as soon as funding allows me to.

Cars have 2 mirrors today because it's legally required.

Arne's exactly right, it's just how things were.

But there were reasons for it. On smaller cars like the Z, the right side mirror wasn't really necessary because you could see pretty well out of it with a simple head check. I plan on returning to the single stock chrome mirror (I've got some hideous turbo ones now) as soon as funding allows me to.

Cars have 2 mirrors today because it's legally required.

Not to pick on you for being young, Andy, but if you were old enough to remember the late '60s and early '70s you'd remember that right side mirrors were not common on any cars back then. Shoot, even high-end companies like Porsche charged extra for the right side mirror through the late '70s. (And Porsche charged a lot for them! Not cheap.) So there really isn't a story about why, the answer is that not many other cars had them either.

Thanks ! that was very informative! Learn something new everyday! haha

hahah. Now that is what I'm talking about old school!! Looking behind outside the car..

:devious:

My 78 has both mirrors. though only 1 of them (the passanger side) is still on. It's that black style mirror. I'm gonna take it off and put it on the driver side (from the looks of it they're the same, it doesn't have that weird lens to make it wider)

It was just cost cutting. Some S30z's had mirrors on both sides (JDM fender mirrors for example), just not in the US. No untill the later style mirrors that were on the 280Z.

My 78 has both mirrors. though only 1 of them (the passanger side) is still on. It's that black style mirror. I'm gonna take it off and put it on the driver side (from the looks of it they're the same, it doesn't have that weird lens to make it wider)

They were either dealer installed or aftermarket. 78s came from the factory with one mirror in the US. I believe that 8/78, the beginning of the 79 model year was the date that passenger side mirrors became manditory in the US.

It was just cost cutting. Some S30z's had mirrors on both sides (JDM fender mirrors for example), just not in the US. No untill the later style mirrors that were on the 280Z.

I believe Japan required two mirrors on the front fenders. They did not go to the door mounted type for a long time, and they still produce cars with the fender mirrors.

They were either dealer installed or aftermarket. 78s came from the factory with one mirror in the US. I believe that 8/78, the beginning of the 79 model year was the date that passenger side mirrors became manditory in the US.

I'll probably know if it was dealer or not when i pull it off to swap it to the other side. I never do use a passenger side mirror. I drove a bug before i got my Z, it only had a drivers side. My bronco II had both, but it was a farily small truck, and those BIG side windows made it easy to look around.

I trust my own eyes more than mirrors.

doubt this makes it any different, but my Z is a 5/78, and was first registered 11/78 (basically meaning it was never bought till november)

my Z is a 5/78, and was first registered 11/78 (basically meaning it was never bought till november)

Well it doesn't mean that it sat on the lot 6 months. A 4-5 month turn around from the time a car is produced until it hits the lot is common. Especially if the car has to be shipped from Japan.

.........doubt this makes it any different, but my Z is a 5/78, and was first registered 11/78 (basically meaning it was never bought till november)

When I say 8/78 I mean build date. Registration date means nothing in this case. The point is that your passenger mirror is not factory installed. No such thing on a 78 or earlier in the US.

When I say 8/78 I mean build date. Registration date means nothing in this case. The point is that your passenger mirror is not factory installed. No such thing on a 78 or earlier in the US.

oh, i didn't mean it as it could be factory installed. half me thinking it was dealer installed, and half me rambling