RHD Conversions
Discussion
As far as I can ascertain, converting new Corvettes to rhd was a legal requirement in Australia (and NZ?) in order to have them registered.
There seem to be a fair few in existence and one or two companies that specialised in the conversions, which had to be independently inspected on completion before the car could be registered.
There seem to be a fair few in existence and one or two companies that specialised in the conversions, which had to be independently inspected on completion before the car could be registered.
It reminds me of this:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077372/
An average film at best but much was made of the Corvette, "having the steering wheel on the wrong side".
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077372/
An average film at best but much was made of the Corvette, "having the steering wheel on the wrong side".
GoodOlBoy said:
As far as I can ascertain, converting new Corvettes to rhd was a legal requirement in Australia (and NZ?) in order to have them registered.
There seem to be a fair few in existence and one or two companies that specialised in the conversions, which had to be independently inspected on completion before the car could be registered.
Yes you’re correct for Australia. An expensive process and quality firms doing the conversion, not the bloke in his shed. There seem to be a fair few in existence and one or two companies that specialised in the conversions, which had to be independently inspected on completion before the car could be registered.
NZ have a LHD exemption so not necessary here, although some RHD cars do exist.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/chevrol...
If you want RHD, a conversion is your only option. If you’re happy with that, buy it
Years ago they used to chop the steering column in half at the bulkhead and weld a cog to it. Move the chopped off bit with steering wheel bit to the right side, drill a hole in bulkhead to pass it through and weld another cog to the cut end. Join the 2 cogs with a bicycle chain or similar.
Is it a yellow one, by any chance?
I thought about buying one in Cambs back in about 2006. It was an Australian conversion, battery had been moved to the opposite side to make room for the brake servo etc.
Then i rang around lots of insurance companies before parting wtih my cash - that's where it ended for me. It's modified from the original specification and most companies won't touch it. That degree of modification (this one was REALLY nicely done) is too much for a lot of your normal insurance companies.
Now I'm glad I didn't go for it. I could just imagine driving along one night and the dash lighting up like a Christmas tree! There's a lot of wiring back there behind the dash that's been altered.
I thought about buying one in Cambs back in about 2006. It was an Australian conversion, battery had been moved to the opposite side to make room for the brake servo etc.
Then i rang around lots of insurance companies before parting wtih my cash - that's where it ended for me. It's modified from the original specification and most companies won't touch it. That degree of modification (this one was REALLY nicely done) is too much for a lot of your normal insurance companies.
Now I'm glad I didn't go for it. I could just imagine driving along one night and the dash lighting up like a Christmas tree! There's a lot of wiring back there behind the dash that's been altered.
'Er indoors had a '77 RHD Mustang 302 Ghia auto. The conversion was done quite well. Gas and brake pedal were connected over to right hand side of footwell with two bars supported by pivot bracket at key points - probably much like dual control systems for learner vehicles. Steering column was effectively 'sawn-off' and a sprocket attached to the remaining part. The removed part also had a sprocket attached. The respective sprockets were on bearing affixed to the ends of an extruded ally channel section that ran under the dashboard. The 'cycle' chain ran inside that connecting both ends. I have to say it worked very well with no slop or play in the steering. Other than the conversion parts, wiring and specific dashboard mouldings all other steering and brake components were standard parts.
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