Funny how this topic always gets a lot of play. Like car color, dia of wheels, engine size it's all personal. It's not about safety or charm or what you can learn to do. I was born in a country that drives on the right seated on the left. My first car and my first mini were LHD and I'm good with that. Yes, there are more RHD cars in my shop than LHD. I test drive them and run around in them no problem. My driver and my Moke are LHD, will I change my 1071 S over depends on weather I plan to keep it or sell it on. Steve (CTR) 

Our RHD Mini Tartan is just fine to drive from the curb side of the road. If you want to see around traffic in front, take a peek around the right side. When it was imported & registered in BC it had to be inspected and the process involved switching the headlights to ones that are correctly angled for driving on the right side of the road, instead of the left. They installed the quadroptic lights and they give all kinds of usable light. 

I love the RHD setup...for the charm factor and the originality. I previously had a RHD Rolls that i owed & drove for 15 years without any problems....plus I grew up in New Zealand and spent my first driving years in RHD cars that were being driven on the left side of the road. Just remember what Michael Cane said about RHD.."Just remember this - in this country they drive on the wrong side of the road."

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks Nick.  Otherwise I may just make my own.

I agree, it's a non issue.

I've never once felt in danger in any of my RHD Minis. Even in Texas which has a lot more undivided country roads, I just have to take an extra second to look before I pass.

I agree, if it came RHD then leave it, it kinda bums me out when the switch is made. IMO. 

For the Vtec cars I just make a LHD gas pedal that corrects the ratio, so the throttle is not so on/off.  I will look and see if I have any LHD stock pedals that I have taken out, but I think they are all mk1/2. 

I never understood why the need to convert either.  Don't tail gate and lean over the foot and a half to peak from the left side of the car if you really need to.  Currently doing a conversion for a customer and need to source a LHD gas pedal if anyone has one sitting around. 

three of my six Minis were RHD, and I have to chime in and say don't change it (except for the headlamps.) You're only, what, two feet from the other side of the car? It's not like it's a RHD Buick. I wish my current car was RHD.

I dunno. I've driven LHD and RHD. If you're actually aware of your surroundings, it's no issue sitting on one side or the other. Especially in a tiny little car like a mini.

Now that's not nice to say. I feel you should drive on the correct side for the road. Unless you are a mail man. Steve (CTR)

I switch them over right away. I think there is far more to the charm of a mini than potentially sitting on the wrong side of the car where you can't see anything.  

I would NEVER change my car from RHD to LHD.  It's part of the charm.

You're nuts !

That's the difference here Spitz no inspections whatsoever.

Change your headlights !

I drove from Calgary to PA at night with a Jap spec car.  On Dim, absolutely nothing was illuminated on the ditch side.....was very dangerous IMO.
When a car is "safetied" it is mandatory they check lights.
Mine were embossed with "Left Hand Traffic only"

Yes they dip the opposite way but from what i have seen not many of the imported Mini's have been changed over. Don't worry about going out in the dark the stock sealed beams can be on high beam and would have trouble blinding anyone coming the other way, if you do an upgrade use relays.

Is the headlight "dip" different on RHD cars compared to LHD cars as well? Mine came with Lucas sealed beams so I never ventured out after dark with them in...

 

Just something I always wondered about...

Ian's answer to the Mk III wiper parking set up is correct.

English built Mk I/II cars parked in front of the driver regardless of whether RHD or LHD. (The arms were different for RHD and LHD.) The sweep was not as good in front of the driver because of the centered wheelboxes; however, by starting in front of the driver the driver's vision was cleared earliest.

Door locks won't be a problem on a 1970 car (if English built) unless it is a very late MK II S.

Allow time and money to have the front toe out reset after the rack swap, unless you can do it yourself.

I did the change over on a 1970 MK2 Cooper S awhile back. If I recall correctly the parts and labor ran about $1000. Mine was a Hydro car and I had to be careful when lowering the sub frame. The rack coming out was MK2 so no change in steering arms when the new rack went in. I'd suggest a new rack as they are cheap compared to trouble to replace. I have had several cars fail safety inspection due to bad racks. The off end always seems the weak spot. Early racks the ends can be adjusted later ones not so. There were some little details you don't notice till in service. I think only the drivers door has a inside lock. I can't recall if gauge and switch location changes as well. The heater may need to be moved over a bit as well. We did the change over because the owners wife did not like riding facing traffic. Once done we found out she did not like riding on the other side either. Anyone want to but a 1970 Cooper S LHD? Steve (CTR)

Ian,
Early Oz cars up to 1968 were same as UK Mk1, they were not symmetrical, they were all RH park. Whether built for LHD or RHD.
I ignored the 1968 onwards LH park Oz cars in my post above as they are different position spindles to UK (even the later UK LH park wiper arms won't fit ours without rebending).

Do not later Oz cars have the wiper holes moved over?? (Zetland didn't have to worry about LHD).  Early cars had symetrical wiper patterns so the same setup worked as well ( or not well for drivers world wide. 

When they moved to optimise the pattern, different sets of holes were needed for the geometry to work in different markets..  The next question is; "Did they use different wiper boxes for each variant or just use "sided" wiper motor cases."  ???  

Cheers, Ian