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Old 02-28-2011, 02:44 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Adelaide, SA
Cobra Make, Engine: AP 289FIA 'English' spec.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffy View Post
Glen-

Do you plan to make your car right-hand drive (requires custom-made footboxes, according to the ERA site)? If so, there is more room to the right side of the center, dropped portion:

The story behind this curious arrangement is that, being British, the AC cars were nearly all built right-hand drive (other than the relatively few that were exported), so the dash was cut to provide more leg room on the driver side. When AC built cars that were left-hand drive, AC did not trouble to flip the dash template, so the dropped portion of the dash wound up encroaching on the driver's right knee! Jim Holden pointed this out to me.

Jeff
Thanks Jeff. Yes mine must be RHD. Your observation is quite a revelation, as the only picture I have in my folder of a RHD car with a dropped dash is that of a Mk IV, and the dropped section is in the centre of the dash (ie not offset). As well as that the instruments are in the centre as well, which is definitely not consistent with original 289s.
I'll have to go back to my books for a closer look!
So....RHD, dropped section offset to the left, handbrake placed nice and conveniently next to left knee - sounds made for it.
Makes me wonder why Shel didn't ask AC to change it after the first LHD cars were delivered...
Love this forum!
Glen
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