Who Invented the Rear View Mirror?

The person credited with inventing the rear view mirror is a man named Ray Harroun, an engineer with Marmon, then a car maker. Harroun inserted a mirror in his car, a Marmon Wasp.

Ray’s invention took place in the spring of 1911, on May 30, right before going to race the very first Indianapolis 500. He won first place, winning $14,250. (Another driver contested the result, but Harroun’s victory remained complete.)

Before rear view mirrors, car racers would have another person (a riding mechanic) to tell them where other drivers in the race were and also provide other help. Harroun couldn’t find a riding mechanic so, going without one, he installed the mirror instead.