General RH drive

Currently reading:
General RH drive

I posted on this a few years ago. I used a lot of assumptions from the figures on howmanyleft.co.uk.

Interesting stats on how many classic 500's are left on the road in the uk at this website and the impact the new 500 had in 2007 when it was launched to increase the number of classics.

It basically went from a low point in 1996 of 304, which when you think how many were sold in the UK really is quite low and I would imagine the majority of these were RHD. Then rose up to a figure of 455 in 2001 and stayed there until 2007. 2000 is pretty much the time that the bubble in the classic car market burst.

The numbers have risen steadily since 2007 with imports and barn finds I would imagine? To the 2013 figure of 607 registered and 232 on SORN. That's quite an increase since 1996. I am guessing but I would say that probably indicates that there are only about 300 or less original RHD cars in the UK. When you take into account that, that 1996 figure of 304 probably a lot of those aren’t around anymore so the figure could be well less than 300 and more likely to be around 200 or less??????

Unfortunately howmanyleft.co.uk don’t show stats before 2001 anymore.

Unfortunately howmanyleft.co.uk only
 
well I only know early stuff- N's
there were 180,000 cars produced 57-60
Of those currently there are about 220 or so known...

known means we have pictures and chassis numbers etc...
there are probably 50 or so I have seen in photos but have no details...
RHD are few and far between, ones that we have info on are probably 10-12
but I suspect (am quite sure) there are a fair few more mainly in SAfrica, NZ and Oz but we need the numbers Chassis/engine to add them...

I know there have been many suggestions on the forum and it is very hard to implement things, I collect pictures and numbers for a database I have for any N that is known..
but is too much to do that for D, F's or others
 
well I only know early stuff- N's
there were 180,000 cars produced 57-60
Of those currently there are about 220 or so known...

known means we have pictures and chassis numbers etc...
there are probably 50 or so I have seen in photos but have no details...
RHD are few and far between, ones that we have info on are probably 10-12
but I suspect (am quite sure) there are a fair few more mainly in SAfrica, NZ and Oz but we need the numbers Chassis/engine to add them

I picked this plate up from the boot area of a car that was in the Horopito car wreckers yard in New Zealand. I will post it to you if you would like it for your research/collection :)
 

Attachments

  • image.jpeg
    image.jpeg
    1.7 MB · Views: 77
Hi all l have a RHD F. Is there a way to check it's an original RHD?
 
Hi all l have a RHD F. Is there a way to check it's an original RHD?


From inside the front just look where the LHD speed would have been.. the hole has to be welded up... even a good tig welder would struggle to leave no trace of a conversion, as well as the other places the swap would need welding....
unless the dash was swapped then you need to look where it would have been welded in... It could be converted so well it is impossible to tell...
 
From inside the front just look where the LHD speed would have been.. the hole has to be welded up... even a good tig welder would struggle to leave no trace of a conversion, as well as the other places the swap would need welding....
unless the dash was swapped then you need to look where it would have been welded in... It could be converted so well it is impossible to tell...

So no markings or numbers on the vin? I have always believed the chassis number is stamped on the opposite side to the steering wheel on inside the boot chassis area is this correct? Meaning LHD numbers are stamped on the right of the petrol tank chassis bulkhead and visa versa.
 
Last edited:
So no markings or numbers on the vin? I have always believed the chassis number is stamped on the opposite side to the steering wheel on inside the boot chassis area is this correct?


Some very early cars had the numbers in a different place, think there has been a strange car with them in the center....
but I believe "all" (we have encountered) have the chassis number on the LH side looking from the front.... there was a bit of a discussion about this a while back....


The Vin does not seem to indicate much...
 
Some very early cars had the numbers in a different place, think there has been a strange car with them in the center....
but I believe "all" (we have encountered) have the chassis number on the LH side looking from the front.... there was a bit of a discussion about this a while back....


The Vin does not seem to indicate much...

Mine car is stamped and has the vin tag on the right hand side looking from the front of the car and is RHD. I believe it was a Australian delivered car.
 
I think at the time it was noted that Australian cars were somewhat different, but very little info existed... and NZ cars were assembled there using local suppliers too so there were differences...
 
Both my RHD cars are stamped and plated on the right, looking from the front. It looks like @Leo6 is right (again). ;)


I just don't know enough about these modern 500s!!
I think one of you guys is going to have to take up the challenge
 
don't like posting numbers, but don't know what anyone is going to do with it....
as numbers are sequential it would be easy enough to make one up if there was some reason to do so... or even go and view a car to get a number....
 
Back
Top