Old RHD cars

[Crazy Dazz]

Questions on crank-starters etc got me thinking about an old car we had when I was a kid... Thought I would ask the (grey-haired) Brains Trust.

I'd say it was from the 1950's, and it always reminded me of an FC (or possibly FE) Holden. And who knows, that's possibly what it was.

But the thing I remember most, was that it seemed to be outfitted for easy conversion between LHD and RHD.
The dash was made so that the Glove-Box and the Instrument-Binnacle & Steering Column, were interchangeable.
All the holes in the firewall, for steering column and pedals, were present for LHD and fitted with blanking-plates.
It had chrome knobs for the Starter and Choke mounted centrally in the dash.

[GT1533]

I remember that on our 1950-something Chevy.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/photiste/14220022942

[ford71V8]

Yeah sounds like a 50s Chev (55/56/57)

[Dr Terry]

Crazy Dazz mentioned that the choke knob & the starter was mounted centrally, that sounds very Pommy.

My guess is a Hillman Minx or something similar.

Dr Terry

[prktkljokr]

A lot of cars from that era were like that, I can remember my grandfathers 1950 Desoto when I was a kid, he traded it on a XW wagon in 1975 at Enright Ford in Fremantle, I used to lay on the parcel shelf when I was 5

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

Crazy Dazz mentioned that the choke knob & the starter was mounted centrally, that sounds very Pommy.

My guess is a Hillman Minx or something similar.

Could have been a Vauxhall from the era. Their styling was very similar to the Chevs and Holdens, and some like the Vector were widely exported including LHD markets.

I feel that is was bigger than a Hillman.

Originally Posted by ford71V8

Yeah sounds like a 50s Chev (55/56/57)

I did think of a 50's Chev. I just don't think it was that big.

What started all this was my vague recollection that it the remains of a provision for a hand crank???

Another slightly weird feature I recall, was that the brake and clutch pedal, were mounted to holes on the floor/lower-firewall. With the pedals mounted direct to the pistons.

[Citroënbender]

Forward or rear hinged bonnet?

[XR Martin]

I remember my dad having a 50s Rover which had a hole for the hand crank.
Doubt there's much yank stuff from that era which had it.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Forward or rear hinged bonnet?

Conventional, rear-hinged, with springs on the hinges.

NB: It was a rear-wheel drive sedan. It was manual, but I think a column shift. I imagine it was a 6, as I think I would have remembered a V8.

It also had a two-piece hood-ornament, like a flattened bird. But no guarantee that was original.