LHD Vs RHD classics
Discussion
Over winter I'm thinking of picking up a classic car of some sort (£30k budget) and I am often seeing LHD versions going for substantially less than RHD.
Aside from the obvious issues with driving on the wrong side of the car is there any reason to go fro RHD over LHD, price difference can be nearly £10k for some modes.
Is there much stigma with buying a LHD Vs a Rhd etc?.
Aside from the obvious issues with driving on the wrong side of the car is there any reason to go fro RHD over LHD, price difference can be nearly £10k for some modes.
Is there much stigma with buying a LHD Vs a Rhd etc?.
Keep it stiff said:
I have a LHD classic, Italian, that was only ever sold in the UK as LHD, which I have been seeking to sell it for a while. Personally, I always felt the LHD was part of the quirky charm but I can't but help think that it puts off some potential buyers.
FIAT Dino Coupe by any chance...?As an owner of a LHD classic car, I find there are very few disadvantages. Insurance is no different and some spare parts are easier to find and cheaper as the car (Alfa) was produced as LHD in far greater numbers. Echoing others here, it gives it an ‘Italianess’ that might be diluted a little in its RHD form.
I got used to driving it here quite quickly, seems a little odd at first sitting over the gutter but you adapt. Overtaking is made easier if you have a trustworthy passenger, but otherwise it’s pretty easy and getting out kerb side is helpful on occasions.
I got used to driving it here quite quickly, seems a little odd at first sitting over the gutter but you adapt. Overtaking is made easier if you have a trustworthy passenger, but otherwise it’s pretty easy and getting out kerb side is helpful on occasions.
AMGSee55 said:
As an owner of a LHD classic car, I find there are very few disadvantages. Insurance is no different and some spare parts are easier to find and cheaper as the car (Alfa) was produced as LHD in far greater numbers. Echoing others here, it gives it an ‘Italianess’ that might be diluted a little in its RHD form.
I got used to driving it here quite quickly, seems a little odd at first sitting over the gutter but you adapt. Overtaking is made easier if you have a trustworthy passenger, but otherwise it’s pretty easy and getting out kerb side is helpful on occasions.
As someone who habitually buys left hookers I can't disagree with the aboveI got used to driving it here quite quickly, seems a little odd at first sitting over the gutter but you adapt. Overtaking is made easier if you have a trustworthy passenger, but otherwise it’s pretty easy and getting out kerb side is helpful on occasions.
I had a lhd Alfa GTV for many years. At the time, I had the choice of the lhd or a rhd version. I opted for the lhd as I fell for the Italian labelling on the gauges, and that it was designed primarily as a lhd car. Also, having come from Sicily, I knew the body would be better preserved. I had no problems driving it on the roads in the UK, or getting the hang of it on track days.
My current pseudo classic is a rhd R129sl. When I see the prices that they fetch on the continent compared to the uk, i often wish mine was lhd.
I do however think that the age old advice of buy on condition is far more important than which side the steering wheel is on.
My current pseudo classic is a rhd R129sl. When I see the prices that they fetch on the continent compared to the uk, i often wish mine was lhd.
I do however think that the age old advice of buy on condition is far more important than which side the steering wheel is on.
I've got something of the opposite problem. I live in the US and RHD is often a deal breaker for most, they simply won't do it. I have two RHD cars over here and recently sold two, and it really narrows your market and suppresses the price when selling.
As for prices, I see the opposite, at least for the cars I am interested in. Take factory LHD TVR Griffiths for example (90's version). You can probably add 5-10k GBP on the price of a RHD UK version to a LHD version. Yes, they are a LOT rarer, maybe less than 100 made, and that's being optimistic. I'd also love a LHD Rover P5B coupe. Again, a few hundred made for the European market and never sold in the US (officially). I scour EU car websites and again, good LHD versions seem to command a premium over UK RHD cars. Oh me and my different ways.....
As for prices, I see the opposite, at least for the cars I am interested in. Take factory LHD TVR Griffiths for example (90's version). You can probably add 5-10k GBP on the price of a RHD UK version to a LHD version. Yes, they are a LOT rarer, maybe less than 100 made, and that's being optimistic. I'd also love a LHD Rover P5B coupe. Again, a few hundred made for the European market and never sold in the US (officially). I scour EU car websites and again, good LHD versions seem to command a premium over UK RHD cars. Oh me and my different ways.....
Deefor62 said:
I had a lhd Alfa GTV for many years. At the time, I had the choice of the lhd or a rhd version. I opted for the lhd as I fell for the Italian labelling on the gauges, and that it was designed primarily as a lhd car. Also, having come from Sicily, I knew the body would be better preserved. I had no problems driving it on the roads in the UK, or getting the hang of it on track days.
My current pseudo classic is a rhd R129sl. When I see the prices that they fetch on the continent compared to the uk, i often wish mine was lhd.
I do however think that the age old advice of buy on condition is far more important than which side the steering wheel is on.
As the owner of three lhd Italian cars I would agree with all this.My current pseudo classic is a rhd R129sl. When I see the prices that they fetch on the continent compared to the uk, i often wish mine was lhd.
I do however think that the age old advice of buy on condition is far more important than which side the steering wheel is on.
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