PatB Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 IMHO the best car I ever owned was an F reg Nissan Prairie 1.8 GL extreamly comfortable, reliable and very capacious. Regretably it was written off after being rear ended by a truck. It would be difficult to find another today as according to the DVLA there is only seven left and only three on the road. You might have to consider importing from Australia. There are still a few around, RHD too. Mind you, although cars don't rust (as much) here, they tend to become thoroughly knackered in other ways. The sun eats all the plastics and sometimes the paint, mechanics-both amateur and "professional"-butcher them, drivers with no sense of where the extremities are crease all the corners. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 You might have to consider importing from Australia. There are still a few around, RHD too. .... Australia is the only place where RHD Citroën SMs exist... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr2 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Australia is the only place where RHD Citroën SMs exist... Going a bit OT, are Citroen changing their name? Was watching Sky arts Landscape artist of the year programme & it's sponsored by 'DS5 from DS automobiles'. Had a look at their website & they are flogging DS3's, 4's & 5's with no mention of Citroen? Or are they some kind of marketing offshoot...? Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted October 13, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 13, 2016 It's a new brand, similar to Toyota's Lexus range, a bit more sporty than the standard cars. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted October 13, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 13, 2016 You might have to consider importing from Australia. There are still a few around, RHD too. Mind you, although cars don't rust (as much) here, they tend to become thoroughly knackered in other ways. The sun eats all the plastics and sometimes the paint, mechanics-both amateur and "professional"-butcher them, drivers with no sense of where the extremities are crease all the corners. Might be possible to import one from Japan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 (edited) Australia is the only place where RHD Citroën SMs exist... I read in one of the classic carmags a while back that a few of those converted SMs have been imported here in Blighty, I'm sure there was a RHD one on display at the NEC a few years ago too. I had a brief 'go' in a workmate's LHD '70s Camaro last year, it scared the crap out of me! I asked him how he copes with overtaking when the view from the nearside is more restricted than in a RHD car, he said he just has to hang back a little further to get a better view and plan the overtake accordingly. I suppose it takes practice but I've never quite got on with LHD cars.... odd considering all the locos I drive are left hookers! Edited October 13, 2016 by Rugd1022 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Might be possible to import one from Japan. Maybe, but the grey import industries of Australia and New Zealand have, to a large extent, stripped all the good stuff out of Japan. Even 10 years ago, when I was involved in the regulation of the industry here, all that seemed to be left was the dregs. OTOH, something fairly mundane (I mean no offence) may not have seen the kind of insane demand that some of the more desirable machinery did so you might strike lucky. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 I read in one of the classic carmags a while back that a few of those converted SMs have been imported here in Blighty, I'm sure there was a RHD one on display at the NEC a few years ago too. I had a brief 'go' in a workmate's LHD '70s Camaro last year, it scared the crap out of me! I asked him how he copes with overtaking when the view from the nearside is more restricted than in a RHD car, he said he just has to hang back a little further to get a better view and plan the overtake accordingly. I suppose it takes practice but I've never quite got on with LHD cars.... odd considering all the locos I drive are left hookers! A mate, long ago, told me that the trick is to always have a passenger. You pull out a bit while watching the passenger's face. If they go white, you pull back in again. Simple . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 I read in one of the classic carmags a while back that a few of those converted SMs have been imported here in Blighty, I'm sure there was a RHD one on display at the NEC a few years ago too.... Originally only three were converted in the UK by Middleton Motors (Potters Bar, I think) - all of them went to Australia. A further 20 were converted by these guys - don't know if they are taking on any new work, but their page still offers the conversion service. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Originally only three were converted in the UK by Middleton Motors (Potters Bar, I think) - all of them went to Australia. A further 20 were converted by these guys - don't know if they are taking on any new work, but their page still offers the conversion service. I'm curious as to why, on their website, a photograph labelled RHD Conversion Interior quite clearly shows a LHD car. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 I'm curious as to why, on their website, a photograph labelled RHD Conversion Interior quite clearly shows a LHD car. Possibly because, in order to end up with one SM in RHD, you need to start with a LHD car.... Given what I've been told in the past about Australian labour costs, I'd suppose the cost of the conversion is at least as much as the cost of buying a Cit SM in the first place......and then you have to add on the cost of shipping it to the UK. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastairq Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Driving a LHD military Land Rover on the motorway is huge fun.....just watching the peoples' faces as they draw level when overtaking? Nightmare when dealing with roundabouts, as one has to steer in entirely the wrong direction compared to everyone else, just to see if it's clear to go? Confuses them to hell, it does! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastairq Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 From the site below? http://www.retroclassiccar.com/1967-ford-mustang-coupe-p85 The above has to be, for me, somewhat of a bargain [compared to similar displayed on ebay?] I have to admit, I have been seriously tempted by this car.....especially so as it's the 6-pot.....which is eminently tuneable should one wish to do so? { I wouldn't want a V8...not for a 'daily driver' as this would have had to be.] But I have to be sensible in my retirement, and maybe get something much older to run about in? 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
28XX Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 If it's what you want, buy it. My dad had been hankering over a sports car since he retired in '89. Only when he had to give up driving completely in 2013 due to failing eyesight did he express regret at not buying one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
royaloak Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 I have to admit, I have been seriously tempted by this car.....especially so as it's the 6-pot.....which is eminently tuneable should one wish to do so? { I wouldn't want a V8...not for a 'daily driver' as this would have had to be.] But I have to be sensible in my retirement, and maybe get something much older to run about in? With apologies to our 2 wheeled colleagues and yes I realise you are retired but- Do you drive to work, or work to drive? Do it even if you only keep it 6 months, life is far too short to regret what we didnt do! If you do sell it after 6 months (or however long) you should get your money back because the only way the value of that car is going is upwards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 ...I have to be sensible in my retirement, and maybe get something much older to run about in? In that case, how about a Lamborghini Miura? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kickstart Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 (edited) A mate, long ago, told me that the trick is to always have a passenger. You pull out a bit while watching the passenger's face. If they go white, you pull back in again. Simple . Trouble is they might have fallen asleep..... My better half tends to fall asleep very easily when a passenger in a car. When she wakes up in the passenger seat of a LHD car she suffers momentary panic about falling asleep while driving. One day I will hide a spare steering wheel in the car and pass it over to wake her up! All the best Katy Edited October 14, 2016 by Kickstart Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 (edited) ....One day I hide a spare steering wheel in the car and pass it over to wake her up!She might start doing the same as the passenger in this Romanian-registered Lada: http://youtu.be/mIMKzESttlQ The irony is that a lot of RHD ex-British cars here are now on Romanian plates, and some are looking decidedly ropey. Edited October 14, 2016 by Horsetan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kickstart Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 She might start doing the same as the passenger in this Romanian-registered Lada: The irony is that a lot of RHD ex-British cars here are now on Romanian plates, and some are looking decidedly ropey. She would need to stay awake to do that. It did get a lot of odd looks once when she gave a friend a lift to A&E when they got brake fluid in their eyes. Someone in the right hand seat with their head down splashing water into their eyes while the car is driving down the road was a touch unusual. All the best Katy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted October 14, 2016 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 14, 2016 (edited) An ex-colleague had a UK registered LHD car and was returning home from the pub somewhat worse for drink. He was the passenger, his wife was driving. They got pulled over by the boys in blue. Stepping up to the offside window, the officer proceeded to ask the usual questions, getting slurred answers. Asking my mate to get out, he suddenly spied the other officer in fits of laughter. It was then then penny dropped as to who the driver was... Edited October 14, 2016 by Stubby47 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prometheus Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 Exactly the same thing happened to my father decades ago in Cardiff. He was very much the worse for wear as a passenger sitting in the front of his beautiful LHD 220s fintail [finished with full 300 chrome]. The penny dropped when the officer asked where his steering wheel was. Tony 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kickstart Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 Hi I had a similar thing when I first brought the lhd car into the country. There was a random drink drive road block. I stopped and the copper walk round to the off side of the car, looked down and suddenly had a major 'oh ****' expression on his face All the best Katy 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanuts Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 talking of micro cars the yanks taking it to the extreme as usual 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Fans of the recent genre of "slow" telly, might like this attempt to start a long-inactive Series 2 CX GTi Turbo: The running commentary is beautifully understated 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Silver Sidelines Posted October 15, 2016 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 15, 2016 (edited) Not a fantastic vintage car - just an old radiator. But why the rather obvious 'join'? I am rather hoping that some of you more knowledgable will have an answer. It looks far older than 1972 which is when the car was registered. Here's hoping Ray Edited October 15, 2016 by Silver Sidelines Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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