RHD 356b wanted, any condition

[woolie]

hello,

i have a mate looking for a 356b must be rhd..... i know, like hens teeth, but he has cash and thats what he wants. expecting to spend £30k for complete project car.

is there anything around?

cheers

[cobber356]

Have a LHD 356B on eBay
Easy convert it to RHD for you if your interested

[woolie]

thanks buddy, buyer is fussy and must be original rhd.......

[Kneeslider]

Have a LHD 356B on eBay
Easy convert it to RHD for you if your interested

Just out of interest, how much would we be talking about to convert a 356 from LHD to RHD?

I know that mine, being a C would require more work than a T5 B, with a new tank, and work to the boot floor area.

[Bootsy]

how much would we be talking about to convert a 356 from LHD to RHD?

About a decrease in at least a 1/3 of it's value

[jonno1]

I know someone that was selling a RHD AFN supplied 2 owner T5B super (I think it was matching numbers). Silver car (originally red). He wanted about £45k for it which I thought a bit steep (although the price may have gone up since). Very nice chap selling it but the car was fairly rough. Every panel had a ding or a scratch, interior was tatty. It was a candidate for a full restoration but in theory you could drive it as is for a while. It looked amazing in the photos (shows you, you cant trust photos). I dont believe he has advertised it as yet.

I also know of another one down Brighton way - another 356B, RHD. Silver, decent nick. Not sure if still for sale but I can find out for you.

Let me know if of any interest.

[Kneeslider]

how much would we be talking about to convert a 356 from LHD to RHD?

About a decrease in at least a 1/3 of it's value

Ha! I'm aware of the alleged price differences between RHD and LHD but in practice, when trying to buy a car, 1/3 cheaper for a RHD car doesn't apply!

Aren't sports cars all about tactile feel anyway? Using a LHD car in the UK will always compromise some of that driver involvement. The number of potential buyers for a RHD car in the UK will always be larger.

[jonno1]

When I sold my RHD Fulvia Fanalone recently it went for about 10k less than if I had the equivalent car in LHD and sold it in Europe. Guess it depends on the car and the market for it.

[Bootsy]

Buying an original RHD in this country will cost you more but converting a LHD to a RHD will not increase the value of the car - IMO it will decrease it.

Given the extended market for LHD cars I'd argue you'd also be limiting the number of potential buyers converting to a RHD car - with the demand for these cars in the current market restricting yourself to a UK sale (and a few others (Aus for example) limits potential value - IMO

EDIT: jonno's example was posted as I was typing this!

[hot66]

Ha! I'm aware of the alleged price differences between RHD and LHD but in practice, when trying to buy a car, 1/3 cheaper for a RHD car doesn't apply!

Aren't sports cars all about tactile feel anyway? Using a LHD car in the UK will always compromise some of that driver involvement. The number of potential buyers for a RHD car in the UK will always be larger.

its the fact you've hacked up a LHD car and converted to RHD .. generally always a stigma attached

The argumaent over factory LHD vs RHD is a different matter.

911's , without question I prefer a LHD aircooled 911 ( I've had RHD porsches in the past) . Given the option I would always choose LHD as i prefer the driving position , the way the gear change falls etc. I've been thrashing around the UK in my LHD 911 for 11years + and never found an issue .. in fact in a lot of situations you can get a better view of the road by looking up the inside .

[neilbardsley]

how much would we be talking about to convert a 356 from LHD to RHD?

About a decrease in at least a 1/3 of it's value :wink

Ha! I'm aware of the alleged price differences between RHD and LHD but in practice, when trying to buy a car, 1/3 cheaper for a RHD car doesn't apply!

Aren't sports cars all about tactile feel anyway? Using a LHD car in the UK will always compromise some of that driver involvement. The number of potential buyers for a RHD car in the UK will always be larger.[/quote]

Surely Thomas was talking about a 1/3 descrease in price if you convert from LHD to RHD? I think that here original RHDs command a small premium but aren't as attractive to the main buyers US/Europe? Both my old cars are LHD and I've never felt the need to convert or been compromised. Well maybe maybe one day if I get very lucky (here's to you Mrs Robinson)!!

[carreracat]

there seems to be a very big and rich market out here in the far east for RHD drive cars. lots of cash rich buyers to whom 100-200k is literally pocket change. trouble is the cas have to be original RHD, conversions aren't allowed except in some very particular cases (or when the authorities miss it - ie the two RHD 914s here in singapore).

i certainly wouldn't convert a car, if it was LHD i would leave it that way, same for a RHD car.

[Kneeslider]

I suppose what got me thinking about all this was putting a few miles on my mate's Alfa Romeo Spyder series 2, which is a RHD car, converted when it was new by Bell and Colville. I believe that the factory never made any in RHD. That design has a fair few compromises as a result of the convrsion, mainly because of the floor mounted pedals, and the master cylinders working from bell cranks under the floor.

PRS had a T5B for sale a while back which was ex USA and converted to RHD.

If done properly, then a 356 conversion would be rather more 'factory' in appearance than the Alfa conversion I have been driving around in, which doesn't show any sign of temperament for all the work it has had performed on it in having an aftermarket conversion.

The sort of roads that our cars are good on, rural B roads tend to be infested with slow moving agricultual things at this time of the year, overtaking them is tiresome enough with a RHD car...

Just having some thoughts.

[Mike Smith]

Woolie,

Paul tells me that he will have T5B in at PRS next week
UK supplied (Ex AFN) Lots of history, with Buff Log Book
In its original colours of Slate Grey / Red
Matching Numbers
Excellent condition (but nothing is perfect)
£45,000-00 firm

Best email for Paul is prs356@btinternet.com

[67vert]

RHD 356C any good to you ?