LHD to RHD?

[rjs993]

A question and an oipninion please (from a long-term 911 owner contemplating 356 ownership).

Question: Is it possible to convert a left hand drive 356 to right hand drive .... and if so how major and expensive an engineering job is this?

Opinion: Is this an advisable change to make? Clearly it should make the car more driveable in the UK but is this frowned on by the 356 community? Also will it enhance or damage the value of the vehicle?

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Rotorhead]

Some years ago my wife and I were in a rather exclusive antique dealers admiring a Robert Adam sideboard.

Three experts were there discussing the detailing. My wife then said that she liked it but it was rather a tall item and... "would it be possible to saw about 6" off the legs ?" []

There was a long period of silence.

 

[Alan Woods]

I'm not sure how easy it is, try DDK forum if you don't get a response, but I can say my LHD early 911 has never been a problem on UK roads and the gearstick being on the right is actually an advantage, plus LHD a wider appeal to mainland Europe market if you come to sell.

 

[rjs993]

Hmmm .... that will be disapproval then Oliver

 

[Rotorhead]

ORIGINAL: rjs993

Hmmm .... that will be disapproval then Oliver

[]

There was a Gulf Orange 2.7RS that was converted from lhd to rhd. Spent years struggling to sell, despite a well below market price, going from one vendor to another.

Believe it was eventually converted back to lhd. Originality is always preferred.

 

[Robin]

Is it possible to convert a left hand drive 356 to right hand drive .... and if so how major and expensive an engineering job is this?

It is generally frowned upon to convert these cars to RHD but, if it is your car you can do what you like to it!
what you do, only becomes a possible problem when you come to sell the car, usually a financial one.
The provenance of the particular car is quite important and should have a bearing upon anything that you do to it.
You should speak to Roger Bray Restorations as they have successfully converted some in the past.

 

[jrampton]

It's actually fairly straight forward, to move the pedals and the steering its the dash that would be more tricky, it would be easier if you could source a right hand 356 dash

 

[jdpef356]

Yes it is possible and the people to talk to in the UK are Roger Bray at http://www.rogerbrayrestoration.com/

I know Roger has done conversion and he will give you good advice.

Take no notice of what the OLD GUARD say!

When in Australia I visited Websters see http://www.porscheclassics.com.au/PorscheClassicsmenu.htm and these have done hundreds of cars that were imported from USA. Apparently a lot easier to-do than converting a 911 from LHD to RHD. And I defy you to tell the difference[8|]

Get it done properly and in my opinion it would be worth more providing it has been done properly.

If and when you get your car done don't forget to call the Register Secretary (When I purchased mine I gave him a ring to register my car -
He inquired was it LHD? No I said - In that case I will Register it he said) Perhaps he will be gracious enough to start a Register list for conversions! []

 

[Melv]

So how will it make it more driveable?

Apart from the very occasional car park ticket machine I have no trouble with LHD in UK.........

 

[jrampton]

Good point Melv, I never had much issue driving LHD in the UK apart from overtaking large vehicles, pulling out to take a look was an issue, parking ticket machines and barrier swipes at work etc also an issue but yeah not that bigger a deal but some people just prefer it i guess.

I would think that it would damage the value of a 356, i have nothing at all to base this on apart from personal opinion, i'd think that a LHD car would be more appealing than one that had been cut and welded to convert it too RHD, it starts you off wondering about the quality of workmanship involved in the conversion.

 

[chrishak]

If I was looking to buy a 356 (which unfortunately I'm not) and I had the choice of an original LHD car or a RHD conversion, all other things being equal I'd go for LHD without hesitation. In fact, I probably wouldn't bother viewing the conversion in the first place - unless it was stupidly cheap. My issues would be originality and quality of the conversion - there was a thread on another forum some time back featuring a 993 conversion which was shockingly dangerous.

 

[chas3.2]

Don't worry to much about overtaking things.

 

[Melv]

ORIGINAL: Charles Marsland



Don't worry to much about overtaking things.....

Hahhaha!!! LOL Charles []

Keep up the good work![]

 

[356A356]

Just buy a RHD.We have a 1959 356A coupe,356B coupe T5,356B coupe T6 all RHD and all for sale.also some LHD 356s a pre A coupe,356A coupe,2x356 Speedsters. Our Web Site will be up & running soon If we get a spare moment promise.
Border Reivers Ltd.

 

[jdpef356]

ORIGINAL: 356A356

Just buy a RHD.We have a 1959 356A coupe,356B coupe T5,356B coupe T6 all RHD and all for sale.also some LHD 356s a pre A coupe,356A coupe,2x356 Speedsters. Our Web Site will be up & running soon If we get a spare moment promise.
Border Reivers Ltd.

Must be the best reply to date on this Fred[]

 

[912UK]

I couldn't care if it's LHD or RHD as an owner. I have seen many 356's converted to RHD in Oz. I have even looked at my Pre A to change it over. It's very simple for early cars but alot more work for later cars. I have seen a C converted and it was quite a mess in my view afterwards. This then put another owner off the idea of the converstion, leaving the car as it left the factory a LHD.

This sort of covertion has been carried out alot in Oz but not so much here in Europe I only know of one car that Roger Bray did and that is a car on this forum Pauls car. Value wise it will attract more buyers looking for a RHD, having had the work carried out at RB then this will make it more of a case of buying it with out worry. Would it costs as much as a Factory made RHD no. But certainly a price could be raised and a take it or leave it view for any new buyers.

Every thing I own is LHD apart from the Cab being a UK supplied car. As for barrier at work I just simply don't work in a posh enough place to warant the need for one. I find LHD better for parking on the street. Being LHD your selling market is much bigger than just the UK and Japan Oz and NZ etc etc. YOur soon get used to driving LHD and this will all be a distant memory.