It's my view that the westy has rear vision issues much more important than
the silly laws about no dash mounted mirrors.  So  looking backard at the
problem you will notice that you can either cut a huge hole in the
airconditioner/upper storage or mount an additional mirror somewhere or
simply crumple and decorate the rear glass with appropriate or inappropriate
stickers and fergiddabout seeing that steel post into which you are about to
back.

The local FLAPS usually have glue on mirrors that you can just stick on the
windshield in a suitable place to lower the reflection origin to the point
where it suits your particular viewing position.  I used a genuine AUDI
Quattro mirror salvaged from Dads Audi Parts and glued onto the front
windshield so I can see out the back.  I have lowered the drivers seat by
removing the swivel mechanism to allow proper viewing of the custom
instruments through the 88 Scirocco steering wheel which exacerbates the
rear viewing.  Gone is the stock mirror replaced with much more useful hat
holder.

I use a Fresnel lens device that widens the view out the rear window
(appropriately and tastefully decorated in the upper left corner with a
Vanagon Farfegnugen) so you can see 'em sneaking up on you when you're
stealthily camping out at Camp MallWart with all the other rubber tramps.

Didj'all hear about Chico Chris selling his non westy syncro for 35K$US?
Those at SDM 06 remember his military green well outfitted van, dog, lovely
wife and capricious daughters.

From Virginia we hear:

Date:    Tue, 13 Feb 2007 21:01:22 -0500
From:    Joy Hecht <hecht.joy@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: rear wipers

Even for us folks of appropriate height (5'3"), you can't see much of
anything out the back.  Doesn't block my forward view, though.

Joy