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[hdefer]

TR2,3 side view mirrors have more ornamental than functional value (but of course every TR2 or 3 should have them). Is there something more functional for the driver's side on the market that does not interfere with the curtains and vise versa? Any recommendations, comments? I think I saw some at the Cars & Coffee but paid little attention when I didn't know yet how useless they are.

Hans de Ferrante

[TomMull]

The TR3 was certainly not designed for 6-lane merging freeway traffic, mirror wise and otherwise. At one point, speeding blissfully a long time ago, I heard a horn behind my TR3 and I had to turn around in the seat to see the blue gumball machine flashing twenty feet behind my bumper. The standard mirror had vibrated loose, as it had a habit of doing, and gave me a good view of the driveshaft tunnel. I tightened it up and bought a left fender mirror (I could only afford one after paying the fine). That helped a lot but was not ideal so I got a bigger interior mirror and clamped it onto the grab rail, downright ugly but somewhat more effective. Still not as good as turning around in your seat.
Tom Mulligan

[charley fitch]

My TR3B  came to me with two fender mirrors mounted at the top of the fender above the front wheels.  I felt good about what I could see out of them when the interior mirror was blocked.  The really big problem is keeping people from hitting them and knocking them  out of position.  And then it takes two people to get them back in position.
Charley Fitch 

[perryi]

People have devised mounts attaching to the driver's side stanchion.  I wouldn't do that myself.   I've spent too long training myself to reset the fender mirrors (after removing the car cover) and pretending that I'm aware of all the blind-spots to want it to be any different.

Commonly using a flat fender mirror on the driver's side and a convex one of the passenger's fender is considered useful.  So is turning your head around to look when driving in reverse.

[Gils TR]

My 60 TR3A came with fender mirrors....which were both broken off.
When I looked at the mounting spot on the fender I noticed that
when they got broken off...that each fender was dented.  Thus...
when I built the car = no fender mirrors.  I have purchased the
rear view mirror that can be quickly be mounted to the windshield
frame...and when on a long trip...do mount it...the rest of the time
just use the regular rear view mirror...such as it is.  Gil

[TomMull]

Just happened upon this. This guy had the same idea as I did but did a much neater job of it.

It’s from

[TomMull]

I clicked before I listed the source for the mirror picture. Here it is: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/1960_Triumph_TR3_Roadster_Vintage_Race_Car_Front_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://bringatrailer.com/2007/09/25/nicely-prepared-triumph-tr3-vintage-racer/&usg=__R1UTsPw2N-IXWfcVULlEUV85YJ0=&h=360&w=480&sz=147&hl=en&start=11&tbnid=ntj7OpCfkRNlbM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=129&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtriumph%2Btr3%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG.
Tom Mulligan

[TR3driver]

Well, I'll throw in a vote for the wing mirrors being reasonably functional, IF you use convex mirrors and keep them properly aimed.

Keeping them aimed is a bit of a chore, of course, but it helps if you rotate them upwards so they don't stick out so far to the sides.

[tracepac]

At the Triumphest / VTR this year I took some pictures of a car that has an added third brake light and a set of soft mount side view mirrors.  I will try to post a picture this coming weekend. 
My big thing is that any modification you make takes the car away from original and effects you concours status.  The appeal of what I saw on this vehicle was that they were easily removed for show purposes.  So I hope that with any modification you make you keep in mind the ease of returning the car to stock.

Oh and despite what My Dad - Charley says those front mirrors are just ornamental in my book too and we are talking about the same car.   

[hdefer]

I am still very interesting to see that side-view mirror you mentioned. Perhaps you could post it online on something like Snapfish or Picasa. I plan to drive my TR3 and not show it in concours as long as don't have to make any permanent modifications it's O.K. I am getting really tired of having to constantly keep re-adjusting them. It has been raining lately here in California so I had to drive with the top up!
Oh, it so happens that my TR3's name is also Tracey. Hope you don't mind.

Thanks,

Hans

[herald948]

My big thing is that any modification you make takes the car away from original and effects you concours status....

True to a point, but I don't see how any Concours judge could deduct for any exterior mirror or lack of same, since they would have been a dealer- or owner-installed accessory for a sidescreen TR in the US.

[TR3driver]

True, provided the mirror is reasonably "period correct".  I think you might have trouble with, for example, a "bullet racing" mirror on a pre-1960 car; or integral LED turn signal on any Triumph.

[noskcire001]

Hi;

All the TR3's I've ever seen had "fender" mirrors. as for the problem of people hitting them was taken care of when I moved the mounting place to the bonnet(hood). I installed them as close the the edge as possable, and that took care of two problems; (one) other people hitting them, and (two) hitting them when you were working in the engine compartment. There was  little loss of field-of-vission, but that was taken care of when I replaced the flat mirror with convex mirrors on both sides. Hope this will help.

Mark A. Erickson
noskcire001

[tr3bGeorge]

One quick comment.  If you are INSTALLING fender mirrors, be careful with the right-side mirror.  The PO installed mine DIRECTLY IN LINE WITH MY INSIDE MIRROR.  I have to lean over to see the outside mirror, not a comfortable situation in traffic.  My 1958 TR3A only had the outside mirror on the left side.