Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22784 Location: UK

Morning all,

Can anyone name examples of changes made to cars from the past, in order to make them eligible to be sold overseas?

My suggestion: the headlamp position on Moggy Minors, raised c1949 from the lowlight's low-down lamp position, to suit the US market.

RJ
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Dipster · Posted: Mon May 02, 2016 11:03 am Post subject:

LHD of course! I suspect laminated screens for many markets before they became commonplace everywhere.

Those awful rubber bumpers that got fitted to MGs and the larger bumpers fitted to Austin Marinas for the US market. Volvos too, of course for the same market.

Not classic cars but trucks had to be no wider than 2m30 (2m50 elsewhere in Europe) for the Swiss market. Perhaps they still do.

I will try and think of more.

roverdriver · Posted: Mon May 02, 2016 11:23 am Post subject:

A few manufacturers fitted larger radiators or at least bigger header tanks to their radiators for Australian conditions. My Flying Standard had quite an overhanging top tank that the escaping fan blade punctured quite successfully.
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Peter_L · Posted: Mon May 02, 2016 12:15 pm Post subject:

In Jersey, Guernsey vehicle width is restricted to 2.3 and 2.31 Metres. (7.5 ft)

Length and weights are also lower than allowed in the UK.
There are similar restriction on the Isle of Man.

From the 1930's buses have had to be specially built, and later when trucks (lorries) became larger, special versions of garbage/rubbish trucks, fire and recovery vehicles have to be made. Changes are also made to allow for a smaller turning circle and folding external mirrors. With a speed limit of 40mph, some vehicles also have changes made to the gear ratios.

Standard shipping containers are allowed to be moved across the islands, but require travel permits, police escorts and spotters. Containers are not allowed on all routes.

Local legend suggests that vehicle horns had to be quieter, but I haven't looked at the regs.

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7215 Location: Edinburgh

Oil bath air cleaners. Double dipping headlights.
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BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

The double decker buses that went under the arch at Beverley had prominently domed roofs to get through

https://www.eyms.co.uk/images/enthusiastfleet/extralarge/[6]cgd122.jpg

Darn, I forgot the overseas bit!
As a penance, Ford Escort exports getting type 49 strengthened shells.

norustplease · Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Posts: 825 Location: Lancashire

Dipster · Posted: Mon May 02, 2016 7:18 pm Post subject:

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2707 Location: South Cheshire

I recall an article in the local paper that Rolls-Royce had to change the headlamps on the newly-launched Silver Spirit and Silver Spur models to twin rectangular lamps, in order to sell them in the US. And the same for the XJ-S, which received twin round lamps (which in my opinion looked far better than the standard ellipsoid lamps). I could never figure out why Porsche didn't have to do similar on the 911, nor Ferrari, or countless other manufacturers. Volvo and Audi also fitted them (if the US films of the time are anything to go by), I could see that Ferrari get an exemption for low volume but then Rolls-Royce aren't exactly mass market.

MVPeters · Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 822 Location: Northern MA, USA

'Tropical' roofs on Land Rovers - sort of double-skinned to keep airflow over the main roof.
BMC Marinas had different batteries & starter motors for the US export market - only the 1.8 engine was available, none of the smaller ones.
While Rover 2000's were imported to the US, you couldn't order many of the european accessories, such as the boot-mounted tyre continental touring kit. However, US servicemen could take delivery of a LHD euro-spec car, tax-free, equipped any way they wanted. I understand that US-spec emissions bits were in the trunk.
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Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4859 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Keith D · Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 12:58 am Post subject:

Austin Seven rolling chassis sent to Australia (and probably other 'hot' countries) had four bladed cast aluminium fans as standard.

All Austin A40's were fitted with circular oil bath air filters.

Keith

goneps · Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 1:15 am Post subject:

Morris Eights exported to the colonies were equipped with 5.25 x 16" wheels and tyres instead of 4.50 x 17", springs with an additional leaf and 'rebound' configuration (two shorter leaves above the main leaf), and twin-filament headlamps after home market versions were changed to dip-and-switch. Left-hand drive versions were made for Europe, presumably with speedometers in km/h.

Export Series E Eights were equipped with an oil bath air filter in place of the home market air silencer.

For a long time Mercedes had to retro-fit standard round headlamps for the US market, and pretty awful they looked.

Richard

Mog · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 663 Location: Sydney

I remember, Eric, the mines warden in Coober Pedy, South Australia, had a government Landrover with a Tropical roof. When he retired, they had to employ 3 mines wardens to do his job !

Vintage Crank · Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 7:42 am Post subject:

The last year or so of Landrover Series 2a production saw the headlights moved from the radiator grille to the wings, to suit Australian lighting regs, pre-empting the same requirement that came soon after in the UK.
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