Martin, Excellent information on the RHDs. I'm very interested in this topic as I've found a 'very rough' RHD and am considering having it rebuilt. If you, Lance & Chris communicate off-list on this topic please cc. info to me as I find it very helpful. Cheers, IAN ************************ ----- Original Message ----- From: Martin Gutkowski <webmaster@xxxx> To: <dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: Chris Parnham <chrisparnham@xxxx> Sent: Saturday, November 27, 1999 3:52 AM Subject: [DML] Re: RIGHT HAND DRIVE > Hi Lance - I'm guessing you're related to Rick who I've been in contact with > before about your car. I have inserted replies below. > > Lance Haslewood wrote: > > > In response to a question from an Australian on right-hand drive > > conversions and factory right hand drive DeLoreans in the 'Letters To The > > Editor' section of the latest edition of DeLorean Word (Fall 1999), the > > editor David Knudson, responded by stating that DMC did not produce any > > right-hand drive vehicles. > > There are conflicting reports of this, but THERE ARE NO CARS ORIGINALLY > PRODUCED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE RIGHT. All are conversions, but it's > here that stories start to differ. Story 1) There are 12 right-hand drive cars > converted on behalf of DMC by Wooler Hodec (sp?) in Andover. They did the > relocation of the steering wheel and the pedal box.(the brakes are tricky), > and the rebuilding of the dash. The Wipers and light clusters were done at the > factory after this, IIRC. Story 2) THREE cars (one an auto) were converted AT > THE FACTORY, the rest at Wooler Hodec. Interestingly, these are supposedly > identified by the side indicators, and lack of running lights. As I say on my > website, the stainless panels DO NOT have holes cut for the running lights and > therefore they are NOT conversions, but original, which adds weight to this > argument. However, Mike Loasby disputes this second story. > > > I find this statement to be somewhat > > contradictory to general opinion, and confusing, because as far as I am > > aware, DMC manufactured 12 right-hand drive models; two with auto > > transmission and 10 with manual. > > These are indeed the correct statistics - all Black Manuals with two > exceptions in each case - a grey manual which was converted for John Taylor, > and a grey auto - the one supposedly done at the factory. BOTH auto's and two > original RHD manual's are owned by Chris Parnham. > > > Furthermore, I own a right hand drive > > DeLorean, which the paperwork tells me, is original. The vehicle is also > > Eurofit configured. > > In my conversations with Rick, he told me the wipers aren't converted, and > your rear running lights are red - check also the front indicators and the > rear light cluster. These are all telltale signs of the prototypes. See my > website for more details. > > > I have thoroughly checked my car for any tell-tale > > hints that it may be a converted model, but there are none. A well-done > > conversion perhaps? > > Definitely. Te reiterate from above: ALL RHD CARS ARE CONVERSIONS. The > body-tub was never designed to take a RHD version. Check for the hole from the > steering column on the left, for eg. > > > > > > > Mr Knudson goes on to say that he had seen several DeLoreans that had been > > converted, and were extremely well done, but most had been rather poor > > jobs. > > Hmmmm. the factory conversions were done VERY well, however, the cars > themselves were used at the factory for testing and the Hooper's car has body > damage due to experimentation with stainless repair. > > > I'm somewhat confused by this statement. Agreed that there are > > probably a few sharks out there who have the attitude that 'near enough is > > good enough' when carrying out vehicle conversions, however, I have seen > > some converted DeLoreans in Australia which were all very professionally > > done. > > If I had to convert one, I'd want it done in Oz - there are numerous companies > who specialise in this because of your laws on LHD cars. Here in the UK it's > not mandators, but the one car I've seen that's a post conversion cost > 5000pounds excluding tax and ISN'T as well done as the factory ones, though > it's pretty close! > > Any more questions, please contact me, > > Best Wishes, > > Martin > DeLorean Owners Club UK > http://www.delorean.co.uk > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Before posting messages or replies, see the posting policy rules at: > www.dmcnews.com/Admin/rules.html > > To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: > moderator@xxxx > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > eGroups.com Home: http://www.egroups.com/group/dmcnews/ > http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications > > >