"West Coast" mirrors - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

davepl · 12-30-2011, 02:32 PM

Anyone know why they're called "West Coast" mirrors? Maybe "Big Ass Trailer Mirrors" wouldn't fit on the SPID... but I'm sure there's a more interesting reason.

tasian · 12-30-2011, 02:37 PM

cause west coast is the best coast

**special-K** · 12-31-2011, 09:13 AM

I never knew why. But,actual west coast mirrors are what you saw on big trucks for years with a tall rectangular head and mounted using upper and lower arms. The first truck mirrors were just small round heads,or maybe slightly bigger rectangles,on a single arm. For ample rear vision these mirrors extended far off the cab.Not only did the small heads give poor rear vision,they also vibrated really bad,as you can imagine. Years ago,before interstates,trucking was somewhat divided between coasts and what they drove and did on one coast differed from the other in many ways. I figure it was the trucks on the west coast that started running the larger/better mirror design and that's where the name came from. GM offered real west coast mirrors as Sr West Coasts and a mini version on 67/68 10-30s. They also gave the "west coast mirror" name to the tripod style mirrors that came on these trucks,but they really aren't actual west coast mirrors

12-30-2011, 02:32 PM	#1
davepl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 6,332	"West Coast" mirrors Anyone know why they're called "West Coast" mirrors? Maybe "Big Ass Trailer Mirrors" wouldn't fit on the SPID... but I'm sure there's a more interesting reason. __________________ 1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible

12-30-2011, 02:37 PM	#2
tasian Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: hangtown, ca Posts: 244	Re: "West Coast" mirrors cause west coast is the best coast __________________ Betsy's build 70 c20 4 speed 406sb

12-31-2011, 09:13 AM	#3
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: "West Coast" mirrors I never knew why. But,actual west coast mirrors are what you saw on big trucks for years with a tall rectangular head and mounted using upper and lower arms. The first truck mirrors were just small round heads,or maybe slightly bigger rectangles,on a single arm. For ample rear vision these mirrors extended far off the cab.Not only did the small heads give poor rear vision,they also vibrated really bad,as you can imagine. Years ago,before interstates,trucking was somewhat divided between coasts and what they drove and did on one coast differed from the other in many ways. I figure it was the trucks on the west coast that started running the larger/better mirror design and that's where the name came from. GM offered real west coast mirrors as Sr West Coasts and a mini version on 67/68 10-30s. They also gave the "west coast mirror" name to the tripod style mirrors that came on these trucks,but they really aren't actual west coast mirrors __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.