Someone want's a RHD build.
 

Ok so I have someone who is thinking about having a Right Hand Drive vehicle built. All I am allow to say is it is a 67-72 Chevy of the Truck, Blazer or Burb style but per contract I can not go into detail until the project is done if I decide to do it for this person. Right now I am in the research stage until certain criteria are met. My question is does any one know of any legality's that will keep this from being a street legal vehicle for the US? It is currently a Ca registered vehicle but may get moved out of state at some point. Do we have any law enforcement out their that can help shed some light on this?

Thanks for any help.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

RHD vehicles are perfectly legal as long as all the proper safety specifications are met, and that only happens if a vehicle of brought from out of the country, there are quite a few things that are needed for a car to be made legal for the US, but if it was originally a US vehicle, changing to RHD shouldnt be an issue with any state for that matter, its just a vehicle modification and each state will have its own laws..

like california has strict smog laws, but hawaii has no smog, but does have safety checks and reconstruction checks, in which if this vehicle came to hawaii it would have to go through a recon check to become street legal.

check per state if its a US vehicle, if not, then check with the main DOT about what needs to be done to make this vehicle US legal

Ian

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

I actually saw an old school Mini Cooper (been a long time since I've seen one, they're way smaller than the new ones) just yesterday and it was right hand drive.

Oddly enough I saw a right hand drive 55 chevy early this year and started this thread about it.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ght=hand+drive

Also, if US Government Mail Trucks can be RHD, why can't a personal vehicle? :D

...but you are in California, so it's probably illegal :lol:

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

I had a friend build a truck at my house and he was going to do that but ran outa steam. It would be different, Not my cup of tea, But different.

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

I have actually laid my hands on a factory RHD truck. It was pretty rusty and not worth what it was priced at. It was many years ago but the best I can recall I called Early Classic and they referred me to some guy and I think it was called the Truck Shop. Anyway he told me he had owned several and ended up parting them because he couldn't sell them. So if a person looked hard or got lucky it might not even require much fab work.

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

Thanks for the link. Yes the vehicle is currently a Ca registered Chevy ...... so that part is easy. The more I thought about it what is the difference in doing this verses say a 32 Ford coupe that you rip out all the stock front end and do an IFS, power rack and what not, so his measurements might be 32" or more off:Lil: Is that against the law;)

I will do a bit more looking into this with some Cop friends of mine and see what I can dig up. Keep the info and story's coming. Brad2 any pic's? I think your Blazer/Nomad could benefit from this;)

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

I would imagine that the PO has RHD vehicles in every state. I know my family has had a few in Washington (mom used to deliver mail).

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

Over the weekend, while driving to a few junk yards around DFW, we passed a RHD porsche. it had current inspection and tags for texas, so i know they aren't illegal. kinda weird to see the guy in the passenger seat though.

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

A friend of mine brought a RHD 280Z back from Japan when his tour was up. No problems at all when he registered it.

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

I called a few of the larger Ins. company's today and none of them had a problem with it. They just said it is a custom so they would have to do a value policy on it but coverage cost would not change for RHD over LHD.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

I also built air cooled VW's and right hand drive cars seem to be more or a thing to do and far as car people wanting to do it. There are lots of VWs in CA that are RHD that are factory and have been converted and registered.

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

i havde pics of a friend of mines that he has made right hand drive. i will post some pics of it from my personal laptop tonight when i get back to the hotel.

jeff

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

A guy I grew up with built a 51 VW split window 3 fold rag years ago that was made RHD but never finished it. It is still sitting in his barn.

That would be great!

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

for sale?

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

I don't even know if he remembers he still has it:lol: But if it comes up for sale it will be in my barn;)
It has the correct W deck lid, Semi-fours (SP?) and is sitting on an IRS pan. He sent off a bunch of parts to the chrome shop and it burned to the ground with everything in side. The big loss were the RHD pedal assembly and it just kind of sat after that. This was back around 1988 or so.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

Kevin

I know when I imported from Japan, there is no federal restrictions for RHD vehicles, but I do know that some states do have restrictions and do not permit right hand drive to be licensed for regular street use (federal special use applications void this..ie Postal Jeep/vehicles). I think Rhode Island is one that has that restriction, and if I remember there were 3 others that did not permit it. There were also a couple that would let RHD be licensed, but only for limited use (like antiques/show type vehicles). Like everything thing else pertain to vehicle licensing, it varies by state.

If I remember right, all those that did not allow it, were in the northeast, or mid-east US. The first time I tried was 20 years ago, the last time was about 3-4 years ago. I have not looked deeply into it, but yoyu can not put out a blank statement that everyone permits it.

BTW, I believe the wording at the federal level states the RHD has to be a vehicle sold in the US as a LHD, and it has to be at least 25 years old to flow into the country freely. Newer ones might come in, but it could be a lot more tariffs and other hassles. The you have to deal with the states rules.

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

Kevin,

I called the CHP and spoke to an Officer that specializes in vin varification and all that other special stuff regarding vehicle, hot rod, motorcycles. As far has he knew there was no regs or law prohibiting you from converting a vehicle to right hand drive.

I spoke to a few San Francisco Officers who said the same thing.

I also sent an email to CRUSIN NEWs and recieved a this reply, I have not call Bruce Brown yet, but can give him a call tomorrow.

I hope this helps.

Julius,


I am not sure about the laws you might contact DMV Bruce Brown 916-657-6560 he's a good friend and might be able to answer your questions ...
tell him I told you to call


send me pics and a short story on the truck .. would make a nice article ...




Sincerely,
John Sweeney
Publisher
Cruisin' News
P.O. Box 1096
Folsom CA 95763-1096

PH: 916-933-0949
Fax 916-933-4791

email CruisinNews@mac .com


http://www.cruisinnews.com/

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

here are a few camera pics

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

This one was on the Evil a While Back, Was from Florida....................

Rick

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

Yeah it was for sale on ebay for like 6,500 buy it now.....

UGLY p.o.s. thou

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

Looks good but they forgot to swap out the Cig lighter and Ing.

Boy I hope I can do better than that:lol:

And thanks to the rest of you for your info.

jugernot I will call him in the morning and I will see you Saturday.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

You Sure are Right about that, I think it was on there a Couple Times with no luck in selling.............

Rick

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

yah look at that hideous brake booster bracket that sticks out like 5 feet from the firewall

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...e/DVC00477.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...e/DVC00479.jpg
I got pulled over a few times in this, and they never once asked about RHD. the switch for a Midget or Sprite is pretty much flip the rack, an move the pedal box. done a few in CA with no issues ever. Sadly, Sprite awaits repairs after some tool in an SUV crushed it into another car while parked on the street..

Re: Someone want's a RHD build.
 

Might as well put gauges and steering wheels on both sides and really mess with the mind.