Posted: May-11-2008 08:07PM

I wouldn't call myself an expert in this area, just very experienced. I have a '66 Riley Elf thet is RHD. Absolutely no plans to change it. My wife wanted a cute little car like mine, but insisted the the steering be on the "correct side". I understand that is is just a familiarity issue. I was just happy she would actually want a Mini to drive. I imported one from New Zealand. The parts I had to buy were a new steering rack and two new hydraulic lines for the brakes and clutch. It was a weekend job, and no big deal if you are moderately mechanically inclined. It is a 72 Mini 850, and I don't think I ruined it in any way. It is now seen regularly around town, and my wife loves her cute little car. It also gets great gas mileage.

It is kind of a "whatever floats your boat" kind of thing. The Riley is an odd little car to most everyone that sees it. RHD just adds to its charm. To the general public the "Cooper" (getting tired of explaining that it is a Mini, but not a Cooper), it seems expected that it is LHD and people are surprised when I tell them it was formerly RHD.

Do whatever you like, just get out there and drive!! It is a car, not a museum exhibit.

Bruce 

Happiness is driving a british car, ANY british car!

Posted: May-11-2008 12:32PM

"Come to the Edge"he said,"I'm afraid"I said,"come to the Edge"he said, I did...and he pushed me off,...and I FLEW.

Posted: May-05-2008 03:48PM

right that this has been discussed before. My comment then, and now, is in agreement with Bill. My wife had never driven RHD and she had no adjustment problems at all. In fact, it's a good thing because you're forced to think about driving - an odd concept here in Calif. The only problem we BOTH have is remembering the turn signal is on the right! And the funny part is when I'm in my LHD car and reach for the gear lever with my left hand.

Try it for a while before you sink money and time into the switch, especially in a car the size of a Mini.

Posted: May-05-2008 01:50PM

In my view - in the U.S. - unless the car is a "special" model or subedition that has value or provenance (such as a genuine Cooper, Sir Alec's personal car, etc.) - I don' think the value will be harmed at all. In the U.S., it will probably be increased.

 It is probably less radical than going from hydro to rubber, or putting a 1275 in place of an 850. It can be reversed, and no precious parts are sacrificed or destroyed in the process. Since hundreds of thousands of Minis were built LHD, and it was engineered for LHD from the beginning, I see nothing "impure" in the conversion.

Keep it RHD for the fun of it, but if that's not your cup of tea, change it freely.

DLY

Posted: May-05-2008 01:42PM

A FATHER CARRIES PICTURES WHERE HIS MONEY USED TO BE 

1130cc, 12g295, SW5 cam, LCB, HIF38, CA spec.

Posted: May-05-2008 01:29PM

Do a search on this topic. It has been covered many times.

Never convert a Mini to LHD!!! If it wasn't done at the factory, then it wasn't meant to be! You are just wasting money and ruining the car's value. There is no reason to convert to LHD. A Mini is a British car (a.k.a RHD).

Posted: May-05-2008 12:54PM

I own a LHD Land Rover S-II and a RHD Mini.....I would never be able to drive the Rover if it was RHD here in NA....but a Mini....heck, it's only a wee bit more than 4' wide......moving the works all over to the other side of the miniature car is in my not-quite-so-humble-opinion, silly  at best !

 It's VERY easy to drive a RHD car here......try it, you'll like it !

(not to mention the weird looks, smiles and conversation start it is....I'll never change ot over to LHD)

       ~ 30 minutes in a Mini is more therapeutic than 3 sessions @ the shrink. ~

For Sale or Trade: 1961 Land Rover Series II 88" -$5k or a Mini

     Mike  NB, Canada   

Posted: May-05-2008 11:31AM

Your best bet would be to check with the seattle mini owners club or chuck heleker who is cheleker on the board (who might even do the work for a fee). The only real material cost is some brake lines and a new steering rack. The rest of the swap is moving the master cylinders to the other side, dropping the subframe a couple inches to slide out the old rack and slide in the new rack, move the pedal box over, bend the throttle pedal (if you feel the need or simply source a lhd one), move the steering coolumn over, and plumb everything up bleeding the brakes and clutch.  Can be done in an afternoon if it is a center binnacle car. If side binnacle or fuel injected or brake booster, it'll be more involved.

--Spank 

Posted: May-05-2008 11:20AM

Hi Bill -- thanks for your response.  That's what I always thought, that converting an early Mini was very straightforward.  Part of their simple international appeal, if you will.   This particular mechanic probably doesn't want to be bothered.

Thanks again -- I'll post my progress if anything comes of this (I haven't even bought the car yet). 

Money doesn't buy happiness, but it can get you a more pleasant form of misery.

Spike Mulligan

Posted: May-05-2008 11:12AM

It's much simpler than most conversions and should not cost that much, even done profesisonally. Stay away from whomever told you it couldn't be done at all... the NZ cars in particular were set up to be assembled either way... couldn't be easier.

 But give it a try "as is" irst. Something the size of a Landie is a bit of a PITA in RHD... I think you'll find the Mini no issue at all. Basically just stretch your neck a tad and you have the same sight line you would from the left. My wife, having never really driven a RHD before, was comfortably taking my Mini into downtown Chicago traffic (by choice!) after very little seat time. But she still won't drive larger RHD vehicles.

Bill

Posted: May-05-2008 11:03AM

Hi -- new to the Board, so I apologize if this topic has been dealt with already.

I'm thinking of buying a 73 Mini originally from New Zealand, and was wondering how difficult and/or expensive it would be to convert it from RHD to LHD (I'm in the USA -- Seattle, Washington).  One mechanic I've spoken to says it's possible but expensive (a couple of thousand), while another says it really can't be done.  I've  owned a RHD vehicle in the states before (a 73 Land Rover SIII), and while it's manageable I prefer the "regular" set-up. Anyone with experience out there?  Thanks! 

Money doesn't buy happiness, but it can get you a more pleasant form of misery.

Spike Mulligan