V8S RHD to LHD?

[Matt450]

Morning,

Just before Covid I sent my V8S away for chassis restoration etc. It has turned into a total rebuild. The chassis is now complete and ready for build up, there is a rebuilt V8D engine ready to go in, Griff 500 clutch ready, Protech shocks, etc, etc. After 5 years though, it needs a complete respray, and interior/ hood, etc. The guy who has it is now solo, and really struggling with his workload. He’s a good guy, and we have a perfectly good relationship, but I’m not getting any younger, so thoughts are inevitably turning to someone else doing the work. He has four other chassis in the queue, so I’m not sure he would be heartbroken!

Plans for the future have changed since Covid, and my wife and I are seriously considering buying a house abroad (France is the likely option given proximity to the kids). So, given the car is a keeper, and given the stage we are at, could we go LHD if it was at all feasible? The dash is rubbish, so a good joiner could make a LHD one? Steering column? I’m not sure what approvals we would need, but presumably if we end up with an MOT, we should be able to register in France?

Does anyone know of any specialists who might have done this to an 'S'? I would be interested to hear if anyone has any experience of this.

Cheers,

Matt

[phillpot]

Think the dash is a bit more than a new plank of wood!

I think swapping the car to LHD would be a very major (and expensive) operation!

Having taken my S to mainland Europe several times (and driven a lot of LHD cars in England) I would suggest you live with it as RHD

[GreenV8S]

Matt450 said:

presumably if we end up with an MOT, we should be able to register in France?

That seems like a huge leap of faith.

I've seen various LHD cars at continental meetings, including V8Ss. I suggest you reach out through the TVRCC to the continental 'region' to see what was involved. Ideally you'd buy a vehicle that was already legal and running in your chosen country.

[Panamax]

phillpot said:

I think swapping the car to LHD would be a very major (and expensive) operation! Having taken my S to mainland Europe several times (and driven a lot of LHD cars in England) I would suggest you live with it as RHD

Yup, the cost/benefit equation will never stack up. But if it's something you "really want" by all means go for it.

[mk1fan]

Not an S, but a very nice and well looked after [lhd] Wedge popped up on Facialache a few days back. Although, lhd versions on the continent come at a premium.

[Matt450]

Ok, thanks guys. Food for thought...

[fullpull]

Didn’t Eggimann in Sissach, CH, do TVR LHD conversions?
They could likely do all the other remaining jobs for you as well.
I’ve never dealt with them personally plus my information could be outdated but perhaps it’s worth investing a call.

[Chimaera 5.0]

Converting RHD V8S to LHD doesn’t make sense. Sourcing the LHD steering rack would be more or less impossible. Altogether it will become very expensive. It would be an expensive emotional decision converting and keeping your V8S.

Much better solution is selling your RHD V8S and buy an original factory built LHD V8S.

LHD V8S are reasonably priced and all of them have catalyst fitted at the factory.

Edited by Chimaera 5.0 on Sunday 28th April 09:04

[v8s4me]

It must make more sense to sell the UK car and buy a properly documented LHD car when you get to France.

I can't imagine the French make the bureaucracy easy when importing a car from the UK and converting it to non-OEM spec and having to make it comply with French construction and emissions regs.

Nightmare