...that goes for almost any vehicle/equipment/etc that is land operator driven.. L/R orientation is always taken "From Operator Position"..

Aircraft and marine vessels are Port/Starboard = L/R , taken from normal direction of travel.
..and nothing is taken from looking at the engine from the front of the car...but it happens all the time..

Another oddity that people use is drivers side/passenger side..again, incorrect b/c we have both LHD/RHD cars and an International Forum...