Vehicles Without Factory-Installed Passenger-Side Mirrors

Explore cars like the Chevrolet Corvette and Dodge Monaco 500 that lacked right-side mirrors in base models, based on historical data and legal standards.

Side mirrors are one of those car components that most drivers take for granted. Today, it's hard to imagine a vehicle rolling off the assembly line without mirrors on both sides. Yet, automotive history tells a different story—one where the passenger-side mirror was not always standard, or even included at all.

In the United States, until well into the 1970s, it wasn’t unusual for cars to come from the factory with just a driver-side mirror. Federal regulations required only the left exterior mirror and an interior rearview mirror. The passenger-side mirror? That was optional.

Take the Chevrolet Corvette, for example. Up until 1977, even this iconic sports car didn’t include a right-side mirror as standard. Owners often had to install it through dealers—or drive without it entirely. A similar pattern appeared in the 1968 Dodge Monaco 500, where documentation confirms the absence of a passenger mirror in base trims. And in the case of the 1973 Chevrolet El Camino, several firsthand accounts from enthusiasts confirm they received their vehicles from the factory with only one side mirror.

Why did automakers skip the right-side mirror? The answers were mostly practical: cost-saving measures, aerodynamic considerations, and the lack of legal obligation. Including just one mirror was cheaper. And in a time before crowded multi-lane highways and ubiquitous blind-spot awareness, drivers—and regulators—were more forgiving.

But the legal picture has changed. While federal law in the U.S. still does not universally mandate a passenger-side mirror, many state laws have tightened. In California, for example, any vehicle must have at least two mirrors, one of which must be on the left exterior. Pennsylvania goes even further: if a vehicle was originally manufactured with only one mirror, it doesn't need to be retrofitted, but newer vehicles are expected to meet stricter standards.

Now, as the industry pivots toward new technologies, we're seeing the side mirror itself come under scrutiny. The Nuro R2—a compact, autonomous delivery vehicle—received an exemption from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to operate without side mirrors. Similarly, the Mercedes-Benz Actros truck replaced traditional mirrors with MirrorCam, a streamlined camera system. Honda's urban electric vehicle, the Honda e, also features camera-based side views instead of conventional mirrors.

These innovations signal a shift—not just from glass to camera—but from hardware to software. In the coming years, we may see mirrors disappear altogether, replaced by screens and sensors. What was once an optional add-on may eventually become a digital system integrated by design.

From cost-cutting in the ‘70s to high-tech camera systems today, the passenger-side mirror has had a winding journey. Whether bolted on or beamed through a display, its role in ensuring road safety remains firmly in focus.