If you scrape all the crap off it, it's kinda cute.

 

Nice Drift Tax .... There are a good number of LHD cars for similar or less money with known history, new motors from reputable owners/builders, and even single turbo.

 

Will it move the needle? Or are rhd going to be collector rather than enthusiast cars?

 

A mix, as you see.

 

If you bought a substantially stock USDM LHD, with, say, faded paint and highly degraded interior. what would the cost be to get it to look like that RHD? Assuming a motor rebuilt to bring the remaining life in line. In Canada I'd say maybe $22,000. (Engine rebuild, new turbo, new harnesses, intake upgrades, porting, paint, kit and interior refresh). Roller prices are C$3000~6000. So you are facing a completed cost of C$25~28,000. Mind you, you may then have a 350 hp car with 100,000 km remaining life.

 

I would say that a RHD car will always be worth less than an equal LHD car just due to the convenience/ease of being on the correct side when you are driving it around (toll booths, drive-thru, parking garages, etc...).

 

I completely agree. In fact I'd say an equal LHD is worth twice as much. Personally I wouldn't even drive a RHD unless a LHD wasn't available.

I'd love a to find a really low mileage 2002 FD and use it for parts though

 

What are the USA rules for bringing in wrecks? There is roughly one totally wrecked Series 8 up for auction in Japan each week. Although prices are rising for those too.


The Aussies seem to be wrecking theirs at a steady rate.

 

You mean actually having put the steering wheel on the right side? I will admit that I am way out of touch because I see zero desireability of owning a RHD car on LHD world.


For instance, I've been itching for something like this...

1970 Nissan Skyline Hakosuka for sale - $49,999 CAD



However, converting it to a LHD would be a must for me. But I'm not sure it can be done unless the US version 510's have swappable components (i.e. dash, ect..).

 

I think in years past you had to cut them in half or you can only legally bring in 1/2 a car not a whole car

I might be wrong on this though especially if the car is wrecked/totaled.

 

Fixed...


What I find cool about all the different RHD vehicles imported to Canada is the wide demographic of people and business's that use them. There are old people and young driving Turbo diesel Mitsu Delica's, Turbo diesel Toyota hiluxs (four runners) Nissan Figaros, crane trucks, sports cars, those little 600cc vans etc. It seems that if you can get over driving on the other side and shifting with your LH, there are practical reasons for owning them.

My RHD FD isnt a daily driver. I don't eat in it therefore I don't have the drive-thru issue.

It was mentioned earlier in this thread that RHD's are worth less than LHD's (Spirit-R and possibly the Bathurst-R models excluded). It is true, based solely on production numbers and Auction prices.

Enjoy your weekend

Cheers!

 

I wonder, though, what the balance of surviving RHD and LHD is? According to Brian's figures, above, there is a very healthy 5,897 FD RX7 still registered in the US and Canada ( I suppose that includes some Canadian imported RHD). Given Japan's tough inspection rules, I wonder how many original RX7 were crushed before the Canadian 15+ year import age requirement kicked in? I believe for probably a decade, RX7 were going for very low auction prices, and maybe many dealers didn't bother to try to sell. Perhaps used RX7 where going sooner to other countries, such as Russia; but my sense is the Russians where probably bringing in boatloads of reliable daily drivers bought for peanuts (literally) instead. Regarding the early RHD cars coming to Canada, I would bet a large number are no longer in existence. So for 91~98 RHD, I wonder how many have really survived globally? There is not that many making it to auction in Japan these days, in any event, which makes me wonder if early RHD are indeed the most rare survivors.

 

This one asking for 28k.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/112315887901

 

Go out in the driveway and hug your car.

 

Redbul
Hugs all round
Go out in the garage and hug your car.

Fixed it.

I mean, do you love your FD or not?

 

that price makes sense for what it is. if that were a lhd car im sure it would be 30k+

 

In case you were wondering where the other red one went: 1992 Mazda RX-7 | Montu Motors

 

I assume the wife's car is in the garage. Don't want to go there as to who/which is more loved.

 

It is, but so is the FD, the daily park outside

 

Another one for 17k

http://www.japan-partner.com/Auto/27131/Mazda/RX-7/car-for-sale.html

 

Looks like its had an outside only respray, but otherwise just a quick interior detailing. Is Florida the new centre for RHD in the US?

 

The eastern seaboard, south of the mason-dixon line, tends to have relaxed vehicle standards that make registering cars easier.

 

What's the cheapest way to get a car from Vancouver to Miami?


Just curious.

 

Uncovered car transport for somewhere around $2,000 US.

 

In the end there may be not be so many 25 year old RHD FD's in the world, so many of them were tossed aside here in Japan for the 99 models. It costs me $1000 a year just in taxes and fees to keep my FD on the road, that is before gas, maintenance or anything else, and most places in tightly packed Japan parking spaces range from $50-$300 a month. So people looked to junking them, with the "new" recycle system that has been in place for about a decade now you get money to junk your car, and if you pull the motor you have to pay to junk your car. So a motor regardless of condition costs me $600 to have it pulled when I junk an FD, so the days of JDM motors are OVER. buy up any stock you can from those ebayers because their supply is not getting replenished.

It wasn't until the Japanese completely lost their precious POS Skylines that they woke up and started paying to compete in the auctions for sports cars. Combine that with the international competition and the prices at least for the foreseeable future will exceed that of the LHD models.