vendredi 13 février 2015

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What Everyone Is Saying About Ford Mustang Right Hand Drive Conversion

  • vendredi 13 février 2015
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  • By Katina Brady


    Apart from cherrying out a Ford Mustang, it is difficult for the purist to imagine anybody tampering with the iconic little pony. But that is just what some people do when they have a Ford Mustang right hand drive conversion. When a car owner gets a job or marries someone in a country where they drive on the left-hand side of the road, it can be a choice between having the car converted or leaving it behind.

    The 'Stang was the first in a new genre of "pony cars, " sporty coupes that have a long front end and a short rear deck. The 'Stang, introduced to the American market in early 1964 (making it a 1964-1/2 model), was followed by the Pontiac Firebird, Chevrolet Camaro, Plymouth Barracuda, AMC Javelin and the Dodge Challenger. There are rumors that it also inspired the Toyota Celica and the Ford Capri. Later, came a more family-friendly model, the Maverick, or "Son of Mustang, " and then the Pinto, the baby of the family.

    The conversion of a pony car from left-hand drive (or normal) to a right-hand drive (basically, British and colonial) is far more complicated than, say, a simple gender reassignment. Five major panels on the car need to be removed. All of the original spot welds are drilled out and replaced with RHD factory-stamped panels.

    Before the job is finished, the dash pod, dash trim, and right-hand drive instrument bezel are installed. For a few thousand dollars more, you can install a new steering column to improve the way the car handles. People who have moved to RHD countries, like Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the United Kingdom, or southeast Africa say that it does make it easier to maneuver.

    Opinion among Mustang owners is divided as to whether or not converting to RHD is a good idea. There are those who think it makes it safer and easier to pass other vehicles on the highway. Others, mostly male, like the idea that they are on the right side of the car for talking to girls at stop lights.

    The down side of converting, according to some, is that it will not enhance the resale value of the car and may, in fact, reduce it. Advocates of keeping the car in its native state say that it doesn't take very long to get used to driving an LHD car on the left-hand side of the road. There is a brief period of reaching for the door handle when looking for the hand brake, but you soon get over it.

    In Australia, such conversions are covered by the National Code of Practices and the federal government's Vehicle Safety Standard Act. If you are planning on having the work carried out in the LHD country where you plan to drive the car, it is a good idea to look for similar protective legislation.

    Converting your car to right-hand drive is a huge decision. Changing it back is a risky proposition if you decide you don't like it and it may affect its desirability to new buyers should you decide to sell the car at a later date.




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