A breakaway rear vision mirror has a mounting base and a pivoted assembly. A control lever is pivoted to the base and coupled to a mirror backing plate which carries a mirror, which is adjusted for position by the lever.The hinge between the mounting base and pivoted assembly is releasable, but held together by a spring which co-acts between the pivoted assembly and the lever, thereby applying a pressure which urges the lever into firm frictional contact with the mounting base and tends to retain the mirror in its set position.