Anybody ever done this? Not to a Classic Mini, but any other British car, say an Austin Healey Bugeye or a Morris Minor Traveller? If so, is it a real pain in the butt, expensive? Any ideas on where I could call to ask some of these questions?

Anybody ever imported a Classic car into the US from Canada or the UK? How did you go about doing it? Just putting some feelers out......

Thanks...:smile:

Donna

 

It really depends on the make and model of the vehicle. Some cars with separate chassis made in the UK for export are very straight forward in converting between RHD and LHD (MGTD, MGTF, MGA and Austin-Healey 100-4, 100-6 and 3000 spring to mind). In general, the newer the vehicle the harder it will be. Anything made prior to 1968 is generally easier too, as EPA and DOT involvement in car design was minimal. Lastly, Ya gotta really, really love the car to do this kind of surgery or have a greatprofit potential. I know that in the 1980's when MGAs were selling in the US for pennies, yet for big pounds in the UK many of our vintage wrecks were repatriated and converted to RHD because it was economically feasible to do so. Probably much less so today because as the US supply dried up, our prices rose, likewise the UK demand was satiated.

As to importing, I brought my MGC back from London. It was a piece of cake, as the vehicle was older than 25 years (EPA waiver) and manufactured prior to 1975 (DOT exemption).

 

Thanks MGCMAN - appreciate your input and thoughts...

Donna

 

i think my mailman's jeep is right hand drive...

 

So Donna whatcha looking to import?

 

Most are fairly simple to convert, but I like the personality of an original right-hand-drive car. They make the whole driving experience that much more fun!

 

My daughter and I have identical classic Minis with one exception, steering wheel placement. She looooves her right hand drive car and wouldn't have it any other way. It is her daily driver. I, on the other shift hand , would want to make a swap from right to left. :smile:

 

I've driven a right hand drive before - can't say I liked it much only because - well - we were brought up with left hand drive...

The more research I've done - I am finding that converting most classics is not too difficult - it also depends on the type of vehicle and the year. Seems as if the Bugeye and Morris Minor are pretty straight forward...:smile: At least from what I've found out so far...

Donna