When did remote mirrors come out and how many different designs were there?

[TJ Hopland]

When did remote adjust mirrors come out?   And were they the 70's style cable operated or was there another design before the electric ones?  And when did the electric ones start? 

[Ralph Messina CLC 4937]

From '57 through '66 the driver's mirror had a shaft through the door that moved in a guide allowing up and down motion and could be rotated for side to side adjustment.
The shaft was replaced by a cable / joy stick mechanism in '67 or '68.
The first electrics may have been in '77.....Not certain.

[J. Skelly]

The first passenger-side remote mirror was on the '71 models.  It was cable operated.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

First year for power mirrors is 1979.

First year for heated mirrors was 1980 which was included with the rear window defroster option.


Thus in 1980 and 1981, there were 7 possible driver side rearview mirrors:

Standard mirror.

Thermometer mirror.

Mirror with heating element.

Thermometer mirror with heating element.

Mirror with power control.

Thermometer mirror with power control.

Thermometer mirror with heating element & power control.

Beginning in 1982, outside temperature display on dash eliminated the need for thermometer mirror. Power control and heated mirrors remained optional.

[TJ Hopland]

So that 57 design I am picturing as a mini version of the cop spotlight? 

Did anyone else have something sooner?  Or a different mechanism?   

[Roger Zimmermann]

So that 57 design I am picturing as a mini version of the cop spotlight? 

1956 was the first year with that style remote mirror for the LH side.