Lancia Motor Club

Did the factory really produce any in RHD?

On eBay, in Cyprus http://bit.ly/bazNJA

Well, as it has wiper arms for a left hand drive, I would suggest it was a conversion.
as far as I know no right hand drives were factory made, of course I could be wrwwwwrrrrrrrrrrroo

I knew I couldn't say it, really did not know I couldn't type it either.

Pretty sure your right Mon Colonel, blow the 1st picture up, one careful owner :o

Brian
8227 8)

Never made them - never ever seen 1 of 48 RHD anywhere

Why would they bother ?

None were produced, with exception of possible 16v for UK importer at the time although never confirmed as factory made.
Paul.

I think that's a pretty definitive :) thanks for that Paul !

 :)

Didn’t Mike and Ed from wheeler dealers do a RHD Lancia Delta Integrale?

(http://i45.tinypic.com/2l2vbo.png)

Paul

This is what the owner replied to my comments.
He seems convinced it is RHD.

Brian
8227 8)

Dear fay66,

hi, thanks for your contact. without any debate intensions at all, this bunch of cars was delivered in the UK Lancia official dealer of the time, please state if possible, as factory certified cars RHD for the UK market. The car came with this relevant certificate from the previous owner's file and i will do my best to trace it down. More likely they retained some 'LHD' characteristics as Italian-wise-temperamental creations but this is not a LHD conversion. again, thanks for your contact, Dino


- wildwidewheels

Paul : Yes, I remember that "wheeler dealers" and whilst Mike Brewer when on about it being a really rare RHD integrale he did also say that it was converted (probably when delivered).

Brian : Don't believe it :) conversion on delivery .....

I'll wait and see if anything turns up on it on evoforum .....

But I'll stand to be corrected ...

Absolutely none were done at Chivasso it has to be done after importation.
Paul.

Pretty sure I remember from the early nineties that the firm that used to convert the Alpha Spiders had a go/would have a go at quattros to order. They used Delta Turbo or Turbo 4x4 components. Again from memory I think the opinion was expressed in VL that these parts were not up to the job and that RHD conversions should be avoided as a conseqence.

Like the rest of you I am totally unaware of the existance of factory RHD quattros.

I think that was Bell & Colvill that converted the Alfa Spiders. Am I right in thinking that it was Mike Spence that did some integrale conversions?

I think Walkers may have done some as well

As you all know, patience is not my strong point.

So, lets summarise this:

1. Lancia did not make any factory RHD Integrales or HF 4WD, despite what someone now who has a RHD car for sale would like us to believe.

2. Yes - some HF 4WD and Integrales are RHD, but they were converted in the UK, using (I believe) Fiat Regatta steering racks, after they had come into the UK.

3. If Lancia had made RHD HF 4WD or Integrales at the factory, SURELY they would have used RHD bulkheads and skuttle panels and not had the wipers wiping the wrong way!!

So, if Paul says no RHD were factory made then NO RHD were factory made.

Deep breaths and now I have calmed down!
Right .... sorry, patience now restorred!

A

Oi, I think I said that several posts ago....
 ;D

Remember looking at a RHD conversion once, although I can't remember by whom, the hole in the bulkhead for the RHD column, looked like it had been done by the new workshop boy, who was given a tin opener to to the job with as his only tool.

Lancia quality engineering it wasn't!
Brian
8227 8).

I either heard or read somewhere that Radford converted 50 new 8 valve Integrale to RHD. Not many are thought to have servived as they were not rustproofed where the hole for the steering column was cut. Maybe this is where the story of the 48 factory units comes from?

Jimb

Just as further confirmation, taking one simple component...The Steering Rack. Lancia did not manufacture a RHD version for any version of the Delta 4WD models. I could list all the other components they did not list in RHD, bulkhead, pedal box etc. It's daft to assume they did produce these parts for a few 'factory models' and then not proceed with manufacturing the model in RHD. While the car is obviously RHD, and could be a very good example, why not just list it as a RHD conversion, instead of claiming it to be what its not.

It must also be said that the 2 special editions that went only to Japan which also drive on the right were not converted from LHD. This would then have made the run that much more economical for production, altough I suppose they did not think they would have done the 2nd run at the begining.

Regards

Simon Davis
8477 

Correct, the main converters were Mike Spence and John Whalley.Regatta diesel racks were used and assorted other HF Turbo parts.
The amount of travel for the hydraulic pipes on the brakes was over double over a standard car for instance.
Paul.

I agree. No factory built right hand drives. I have a feeling John Whalley in Bishops Stortford did some too. I suspect that if the seller has documentation it may be paperwork from Lancia UK saying the warranty is still valid?

As to avoiding conversions, Peter Dicks, the Herts & Beds organiser has a RHD 8 valve and has no issues with it at all. I think there was some variation in the quality of the conversions. Those that use the Regatta steering rack are said to be far too low geared for the performance of the car. However Peter assures me that his has the same number of turns lock-to-lock as any other 8 valve. I think another issue was how securely the rack was mounted on the less good conversions, lack of reinforcement in the bulkhead.

At the end of the day, if it's a good conversion and the price isn't silly it could be a perfectly decent car.