> > It is known for sure that much of the development and > conversion > work was done in other parts of the UK, mostly at Woller-Hodeck in > Andover, but Lotus > and Girling were also involved. As this work was done FOR the > De > Lorean factory. It is legitimate to say these cars are FACTORY > ORIGINAL > cars. > > I would seem that the conversion work started and various and > different stages in the building of these cars, some were undoubtedly > complete LHD cars that > were "ripped apart", whilst some were taken off the production > line at an earlier stage, some had the hand brake already fitted on > the > "wrong" side, some did > not. etc. etc. > > Most (but not all) of these cars were given batches of > consecutive VIN and or registration numbers, one batch of 3 cars, > (registed by the factory) as AXI > 1697, AXI 1698, AXI 1699 (in Northern Ireland) were thought to > have had most of the conversion work performed in the Dunmurry > factory, > certainly they > differ from the other 10 by all having roof aerials ( radio > ante), no rear side markers ( or holes in the panels), small round > front > side markers, non-locking petrol > caps, one key to do everything,etc. etc. > > One other batch of Euro LHD/ RHD cars were mostly registered ( > > by the factory) with SIJ..... registration numbers, the vin numbers in > > the area of 012170 - 80 , > another batch still, has reg. numbers SJI..... What is certain, > > is that hardly any 2 RHD's are identical, they all show "evolutionary" > > differences, indeed some of > the last ones, sold by the receiver, (DUSTY for example) seem > to > have "any old" bits stuck on, just to get them "out of the door". > > As we all know the only parts actually made in the De Lorean > factory, were the plastic under bodies, the rest of the car was > sourced > from other manufactures > and suppliers and "assembled" in the factory. In my opinion > this > makes all of the "left the factory as RHD's" just as legitimate, if > not > considerably rarer, than > the more normal left hand drives. > > There are further cars, that have been converted " post > factory". > as long as this has been done well, I cant see anything wrong with > this, > if it encourages the > "safe" use and enjoyment of driving, what in my opinion, is > one > of the best and most distinctive cars in the world! > > I am currently researching all of the right hand drive cars by > sending out questionnaires, talking to former factory employees, > searching documents etc. and > will, hopefully, next year publish a book detailing the > differences between all the RHD cars, wether "Factory originals" of > post > factory conversions. Any > owners who contact me with useful info will eventually receive > a > "complementary" signed copy of the book. > > All contributions gratefully received, > > Chris Parnham chrisparnham@xxxx > > P.S. My black interior "AUTO" RHD (one of only 2 RHD automatics > > made) with just 1,600 kilometres on the clock, is for sale, thanks to > the "unexpected " > arrival of "DUSTY"! ....Price £23,000...so if any of you rich > > chaps out there want a unique car, get in touch.