I though I'd introduce the Forum to the world of Exclusive RHD cars..
a brief description, as I appreciate as many may have seen photos but are unaware the the detailed specification...
Vehicle Direction Control:
Firstly you will observe the Control wheel often referred to as the "steering wheel" located on the right hand side, hence RHD as that is the side you sit inside the vehicle, behind the Instrument panel when controlling it's forward propulsion...
Vehicle Entry/Exit
Next carefully observe the door opening device towards the front of the vehicle door (the door handle), this type of opening is often referred to as a "Suicide door", this design is rumored to have come from the original Horse drawn carriages as it made it easier to get into the carriage as they were higher up with the door in this position... Later with the advent of Horseless carriages this was carried over and gained the name for several possible reasons, if the lock was not closed correctly sharp turns could result in a door opening and a passenger or possibly drive falling out due to the lack of a "Restraint Harness" or now known as a "seat belt" the associated injuries possible caused by the following vehicle rendering the person "dead", another possible reason for the term is... if the vehicle had come to a halt and the passenger/drivers alighted from the motor vehicle... any traffic performing an "over taking maneuver" could actually hit the opening door and unlike modern vehicle fitted with "Super Safety" doors this action could actually close the door on the exiting occupant and potentially cause life threatening injuries....
Vehicle Ventilation
In order to minimize the cost to prospective purchaser, the designer dispensed with the ability to raise or lower the side windows, this not only saved the costly fitment of such a mechanism, but also removed a production operation from the Interior door trim panel, as no hole had to be cut/punch for the operation handle, thus saving at least 5 Lira. The forward 1/2 windows still were functioning and allowed a slight breeze in the Continental temperatures to flow through the vehicle whilst being driven, however the greatest saving was the incorporation of a full opening roof mounted Air Ventilation device, often referred to as a sun roof. The Device was revolutionary as it rolled completely back allowing the front occupants and the Bambinos sitting on the rear luggage shelf to experience the full Baking heat of the Continental afternoons. However its major advantage was, the Vinyl fabric was much cheaper than the metal pressing to produce and with the opening and closing and heat would require future replacement at a greater cost than the shorter Air Ventilation device would be required
Fancy Embellishments
Further savings were made by the removal of such unnecessary embellishments as side aluminum trims and even the rear badge, it seems the front storage cover (Bonnet) retained this trim to give the car an air of luxury and class... however it was hoped that the removal of these items and the replacement of the heavy metal roof would also produce some reduction in the consumption by the propulsion device of the miracle essence known as Petrol, this would hopeful produce some gain as the essence retaining system (petrol tank would only hold 4 litres of this miracle fluid.
Other features, to save production costs and retooling, allowing components normally fitted to the Left Hand Steerer to be used, you will notice the Driver protection screen, in place to protect all occupants from insects flying to wards the vehicle, and to deflect the air that would be traveling at a considerable velocity towards the occupants, other wise know as a Wind Screen has a system to remove the aforementioned insects, the sweep of which is the same as the Left Hand Steerer vehicles, unlike later versions where the Fly Removal sweeps from left to right (all observations from a seated position within the vehicle).
Also to provide degree of safety and strength, the forward viewing driver protection device is smaller than later variants (those produced post 1965) to allow for the strength lost by having the luxury of a fully opening roof ventilation device.
Finally the rotational drive and direction actuators : "Wheels", are void of any trim either aluminum or later cheaper steel with a Chromium finish, and are simply painted, the added bonus if of course weight saving.
So before you is presented a rare RHD Fiat 500 N Ecconomica, such a classic in one of it's purist forms devoid all all superfluous garnishings, it's 479cc engine of 13bhp able to push it's slippery design to an imaginary 52 mph, what more could you ask for...
