The route from my office to Tescos involves walking through the car-park of a little garage that seems to do a lot of work on cars that get used in motorsport, so they often have interesting stuff sitting there.

Today was a bit of a surprise - they've got an immaculate, red, F-reg, Lancia Delta HF-Integrale, and it was right-hand drive.

Now, I'm not a big Lancia fan, but I thought that all of these were left-hookers. Was I mistaken, or is it possible to convert them to right-hand drive?

From the factory I think they were all LDH but there are a few place that have done RHD conversions with varying success.

There are lots of them in RHD, Sort of spoils the whole Delta image IMO,

I missed one on ebay about 7 years ago, a mint red 1991 RHD 16v Integrale, I was outbid at a mere £3000, worth double these days!

Special cars though, just not that quick, and rot alot!

Still a bit of a head-turner to petrol head, though. Even I stopped for a few minutes and looked over it.

Not sure I'd be tempted, even in RHD form, but it's a nice looking car.

Parts are an issue now......

Many moons ago we had a Evo 4 in for a clutch replacement when I worked for Cloverleaf cars in Baskingstoke (Lancia aftersales).

The car was with us for the week due to other jobs, anyway the car got broken into...alarm siren ripped out and put in a bucket of water and the car was stripped. All interior inc carpets, seats, dashboard, centre console, wiring...everything.

They also removed front and rear bumpers, tailgate spoiler and motor and front wings. Proper proffessional job.

The final parts bill was over £20,000.00 and the car was with us for 17 months before it was rebuilt.

the customer was happy as Lancia/Fiat gave him a brand new Punto GT for the entire length of time it took to repair...simply down to parts being so hard to obtain.

John Whalley used to do RHD conversions I'm sure and are a Delta specialist. Great cars I'd love one but my wallet wouldn't

None done at the factory - all done once the car was in the UK. I guess they would have been warranted in some shape or form if done pre-delivery. Mike Spence was also another Lancia Dealer who converted these.

A leading UK Lancia specialist (mentioned elsewhere in this thread ) went out of his way years ago when I asked if the RHD was any good, to inform me that the conversion used a Regata diesel steering rack, entailed a new hole having to be cut in the bulkhead, a pedal box from Delta turbo, various pipes having to be substantially increased in length to enable the conversion.... and after all that the wipers were still swept for LHD - and he ended that with shuffle of his cravat and said "What do you think?"

Still remember Mike Brewer giving it the big one on Wheeler Dealers stating that the RHD 8V they were selling was "done at the factory" "using superior parts".

Anything for a sale eh Mike - even if it was yet another one that you were going to keep for yourself if you didn't get your price

Converted to RHD Grale's are the worst ever car in the world to drive. Horrible, hateful feel and feedback from them

Having driven an Austin Ambassador I have to disagree, T

I know there's probably hundreds of cars which feel horrible to drive, but my statement was to express how terrible a converted Integrale is to drive

The Ambassador's receptions are noted in society for their hosts exquisite taste, I'll have you know.

The worst drive of my life was a Nissan Almera Tino. It managed to combine a terrible driving position (steering wheel felt like it was between my ankles) with awful seats and visibility, and have suspension which was both woolly and lolloped round corners, yet still transferred every imperfection in the road surface directly to my body. Possibly amplifying it on the way.

Does that sound anything like a RHD Integrale, T?