Lots of enthusiasts and car collectors opt to import a car which was made in the United States. Although there no laws which compel an owner to perform right hand drive conversions, there are benefits for those living in countries where LHD is the norm. If the owner does decide to proceed they will find it is not as straight forward as changing the location of the drive pedals and steering wheel.
Two basic options present themselves to the new owner. Firstly a specialist company can be retained to perform all the works. Alternately an enthusiast with some knowledge of mechanics, and perhaps the help of a local car club, can purchase a kit and do the work themselves. The kits are widely available online and through automotive stores and cost a few thousand dollars. The prices depend on make, model and type of conversion required.
Handing your car over to the professionals is usually the way to go. The work will be covered by warranties and all paperwork to show the modifications pass the safety standards will be provided. Having this work done by a specialist will often be costly but the peace of mind that the work has been done properly and the expert attention is worth the expense.
For the home mechanic who opts to purchase a kit and do the conversion themselves or in some cases as part of a club there are a few things to bear in mind. Many of the kits are very basic and when the job is completed, although fully functional can be quite crude and not pleasing to the eye with levers, chains and various other components visible. However the satisfaction of knowing you did the work yourself can be very rewarding.
While your kit will contain all the parts you need, it might not have specialist tools to complete the job. Taking on a job like this in your garage at home is not a simple task. When you have completed the mechanical changes, there are still the inspections required for your country to be done. This will ensure your car meets all safety standards.
Whether you decide to do the work yourself or employ the services of a specialist there are a few things to take into consideration. The work can often be complicated and may take many weeks or months as many hidden components will have to be moved. If you are a member of a motoring club and intend to enter into competition it is worth checking before commencing as a lot of shows will not accept a non standard model.
Another factor to bear in mind is the cost of insurance premiums. They are often significantly higher for a car which has been modified. Warranties given by the company who performed the work may require you to have it maintained or regularly serviced by them. The price you can achieve at resale might also be less, so be sure to research these things before starting on the works.
If you are thinking of buying a pre-converted car get it checked by a professional. When you first go to see the car, take someone who knows that model well and can inspect it for you. There are clubs and associations that can help with this for a small fee.
Two basic options present themselves to the new owner. Firstly a specialist company can be retained to perform all the works. Alternately an enthusiast with some knowledge of mechanics, and perhaps the help of a local car club, can purchase a kit and do the work themselves. The kits are widely available online and through automotive stores and cost a few thousand dollars. The prices depend on make, model and type of conversion required.
Handing your car over to the professionals is usually the way to go. The work will be covered by warranties and all paperwork to show the modifications pass the safety standards will be provided. Having this work done by a specialist will often be costly but the peace of mind that the work has been done properly and the expert attention is worth the expense.
For the home mechanic who opts to purchase a kit and do the conversion themselves or in some cases as part of a club there are a few things to bear in mind. Many of the kits are very basic and when the job is completed, although fully functional can be quite crude and not pleasing to the eye with levers, chains and various other components visible. However the satisfaction of knowing you did the work yourself can be very rewarding.
While your kit will contain all the parts you need, it might not have specialist tools to complete the job. Taking on a job like this in your garage at home is not a simple task. When you have completed the mechanical changes, there are still the inspections required for your country to be done. This will ensure your car meets all safety standards.
Whether you decide to do the work yourself or employ the services of a specialist there are a few things to take into consideration. The work can often be complicated and may take many weeks or months as many hidden components will have to be moved. If you are a member of a motoring club and intend to enter into competition it is worth checking before commencing as a lot of shows will not accept a non standard model.
Another factor to bear in mind is the cost of insurance premiums. They are often significantly higher for a car which has been modified. Warranties given by the company who performed the work may require you to have it maintained or regularly serviced by them. The price you can achieve at resale might also be less, so be sure to research these things before starting on the works.
If you are thinking of buying a pre-converted car get it checked by a professional. When you first go to see the car, take someone who knows that model well and can inspect it for you. There are clubs and associations that can help with this for a small fee.
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