The Truth About Ford Mustang Right Hand Drive Conversion

By Katina Brady


Picture this. You have a 1965 'Stang that you have finally cherried out to its original condition; now, your employer wants to ship you to a country where people drive on the left-hand side of the road. If you're a purist, you may well want to leave it the way it is and just learn how to deal with it when you get there. Another approach is to opt for a Ford Mustang right hand drive conversion.

Ford Motor Company released the 'Stang on an adoring American public early in 1964. It was the first in a new genre of "pony cars, " sporty coupes with a long front hood and a short rear deck. Other motor companies soon followed suit, and that's how we came to see the Dodge Challenger, Plymouth Barracuda, Chevy Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, and the AMC Javelin. There are even rumors that the pony car inspired the creation of the popular Toyota Celica and the Ford Capri.

Converting your 'Stang for right-hand drive is a monumental decision, one from which you cannot easily claw your way back if you don't like it. It involves the removal of no fewer than five major panels. Then, all of the original spot welds have to be drilled out. These are then swapped for factory-stamped, right-hand drive panels.

Once the panels are out of the way, the instrument bezel, dash pod, and dash trim can be installed. Some people find that installing a rack and pinion, either manual or power, makes the car easier to handle. Countries where driving on the left is the norm include a few in southeast Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (this includes England, Scotland, and Wales).

As to whether it is a good idea to convert your 'Stang, there are pros and cons. On the "pro" side, changing to RHD makes for easier and safer overtaking on single carriageway roads. Also, if you are a guy, you are placed on the correct side of the road when chatting to girls at traffic lights.

Opponents also argue that making the conversion will adversely affect the car's resale value. They say it really isn't that difficult to driving an LHD car on the right-hand side of the road. You may scrape your knuckles on the inside of the door when looking for the gear shift or emergency brake, but you soon outgrow it.

Australians have laws like the federal governments Vehicle Safety Standard Act and the National Code of Practices to protect car owners from shoddy garages. If you intend to have your car converted overseas, it pays to do your homework first and find out what legislation you will have to fall back on should the unthinkable happen and the mechanic makes a mess of your conversion.

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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