Technical Peep Mirrors - Decent Visibility ?

Hi guys, I am thinking of going with peep mirrors on my 1951 Ford truck restomod. We have a very narrow driveway, so big advantage to the peep mirrors. However, I don't want to smack into someone when I am doing a lane change ! Properly adjusted, will peep mirrors give me good visibility that will approximate what I would get with mirrors that stick out 6-8 inches or so ? I will never be towing with this vehicle. Thanks !

 

No they don’t. You’d be fooling yourself if you thought they worked as well as a big pair of mirrors. But, do you really want a big ol ugly pair of mirrors hanging from your doors?

 

Clamp on West Coast

 

Stick a convex on the right side. Distance is tough but you can tell something is there.

 

Works OK on left side, not at all on the right side.

 

Maybe convex on both sides?

 

Yes...
God hates a coward!
It's a small price to pay for the look!
Just make sure your glasses are current

 

a normal mirror back in the old days did not stick out beyond the fenders. In fact I'm considering old school mirrors on my OT pickup truck and cars. and convex lens on the right side one. I don't like the mirrors sticking away out. If I towed a tall wide trailer it would be a different story I suppose.

 

Most of my old beaters either had just 1 or none.

I survived

 

Mine work ok

 

Decent, yes.. Excellent nope... Hot Rods & Customs require an element of compromise. Peep mirrors are a good example. They'll work, but not as good as big ol elephant ears. For your purposes, Id wager they'll be fine. Ive got a long curved driveway & a couple cars w no side mirrors at all. Just a rear view. You'll learn to work with what you've got.

 

I have a large peep mirror but as far as visibility it's marginal at best. HRP

 

Get a set for a 58 chevy truck from the factory.They are very high quality and a little bigger than the peep mirrors from after market places. There are a couple of pictures of them on my 55 plymouth

 

I've looked at some motorcycle rear view mirrors from the point of view they can be had a little bigger than peep mirrors. They come in many different styles and I found a pair that could be mounted just like Brians above.

One day soon I hope to get to the point my car is finished and Im actually ready to need some...

...

 

The tough one is on passenger side, being able to see anything. 4" convex is a plus, pair with one that has longer arm for passenger side. swan neck is good.

 

I had peep mirrors on my 37 chevy coupe and couldn't see shit. lost one on my way to Cumberland Rod Round-up and bought a 4" clamp on at the swap meet there. came home and found another 4" for the other side. don't waste money on small peep mirrors.

 

My '32 Sedan doesn't have exterior mirrors. But if you turn your head you can actually see pretty well. In the little driving I've done so far, I have discovered I can use the back of the driver headlight as a sorta mirror. HA!

I've been thinking about a set of mirrors but not sure what I will do. I've looked at the hinge mount mirrors and some peep mirrors. I don't like the clamp on peeps.

 

"adjusted properly" is the operative statement in your question...
I have mine adjusted so that it looks into the lane next to you in the 'blind spot', not behind you....that is what the one centered above your windshield is for....
...and I don't trust myself and look and look again twisting my head around... thinking it just takes seconds to destroy what took years of effort to obtain, modify and build
Happy motoring

 

My 51 Tudor has a factory peep mirror and it’s sorta okay and my woody doesn’t have one at all and it’s a pain to back out of the garage and still makes me nervous about driving around not being able to look around the car instantly. I like the larger 4” round mirrors like the 58 Chevy shown and I have a factory mirror for my woody that looks really close to that one that I will be putting on the woody as soon as I can get the nerve to drill holes in my door

Funny thing about rear view mirrors…when I was younger I didn’t want them because of the aesthetics, now that I’m older (59) I find that I use them quite regularly. I guess the old neck doesn’t want to play hootie owl anymore

 

IMO when mirrors are used that are a different design and /or in a different position than what the car or truck came with from the factory, the mirror stands out like a sore thumb. To my eyes, peep mirrors fall into this category.

 

Started driving in 1958. No peep mirrors. Built quite a few rods over the years. Never used peep mirrors. A few years ago I built a 33 Dodge coupe. Added peep mirrors. I ajust them constantly. THEY SUCK. I am finally going to take them off. We get spoiled by the modern rear view gadjets on our family cars but did I say Peep Mirrors Suck. And, I can still turn my head, which I find advantages at my age.

 

I haven't used them, but the Hagan fatties mirrors are marketed exactly towards this. Better view with the same peep style. I believe they're a convex mirror.

https://www.haganauto.com/category_s/207.htm

 

Better than none , but just barely !!!

 

Try Hagen Street Rods' Fatties Superview Mirror Heads

 

Check out a series of mirrors from Hagan Street Rods called "Fatties". They come in several different sizes and brackets and you will not get better visibility with any other mirror. I have them on both my '32 and my Woodie and they are great. www.haganauto.com, 888-464-2426.

 

Been thinkin about trying one of these. I think they're the old Ronco brand.....had one of their "Pocket Fisherman" years ago and it worked like a charm.....

 

broken spoke, great minds think alike!

 

I've got some on my merc. They work ok.

 

On my Merc, I run one peep mirror on the drivers side so I can see my blind spot....... My '39 sedan are attached to my door hinges and they work good. They are not comparable at all to my late model driver (Tahoe) mirrors. I would hate to rely on them to back up using my peep mirrors. But in my defense I'm an old man.....

 

Not really, but they look cool.