Right Hand Drive

**Michael W.** · March 3, 2003, 12:28 PM

Re: Right Hand Drive

The majority of the British Empire still drives on the left hand side of the road, and will continue to do so for the forseeable future. Despite the Empire long being recognized as the center of the universe, GM failed to have the common decency to produce Corvettes with steering wheels on the correct (right) side of the car. All conversions are therefore done in the field.

As measure of protest against this international snub, no Canadian cars have been converted.

**Tom Freeman** · March 3, 2003, 01:06 PM

conversion shop *NM*

**Robert C.** · March 3, 2003, 01:47 PM

Re: It's the law!

To be imported into Australia, all Corvettes must be converted. There is a time limit to do this before a car can be driven. The conversions are done there at a very expensive price. I have heard $20K.

**Martin K.** · March 3, 2003, 02:30 PM

Re: Right Hand Drive

Not all corvettes (or any other cars for that matter) have to be converted to right hand drive. Vehicles 30 years and older (25 in some states) can be fully registered and driven without restriction. This obviously is the preference for the more collectible type vehicles. The 30 year law is a fairly recent change brought about by those interested in avoiding the painful and costly exercise of butchering and hacking expensive cars (I am an unabashed left hand drive fan) lobbying their respective state governments. For those who prefer their steering wheel on the wrong/right? side or who have no option (less than 25 years), conversions start around $6K (aus) for early mustangs and go up from there, expect to pay around $20K (aus) for a C5 vette.

**John H.** · March 3, 2003, 03:17 PM

Re: Right Hand Drive

One of my Viper customers in Sydney owns a shop that does RHD conversions on GM pickups, Corvettes, Vipers, and Prowlers; VERY costly process ($20K-$40K) on new cars. Another of my customers in Sydney (Ray Lintott, CEO of a major industrial empire) bought a new '96 Viper coupe in order to race it, paid over $120,000 to the government for a RHD waiver, and had us put the car on a 747 jet freighter ($13,500 one-way) so he could have it in time for the start of the race season. Nothing stands in the way of a "car guy"

**Howard Butler** · March 4, 2003, 10:00 AM

Re: Right Hand Drive

Thanks everyone for some great feedback. I would have thought that GM would have tooled up and made a run of cars for right hand drive for export to other countries. I guess with a limited production run and the quantity of units produced it would have cost too much.

Thanks,

Howard
#38700