French cars with steering wheel on right?

[jiminwatford]

Hi,

I've just signed up as i thought you could help me

I was watching the film 'Coco avant Chanel' (all about Coco Chanel's origins) and most, if not all, the cars were right hand drive

I've looked it up on IMCDB http://www.imcdb.org/movie.php?id=1035736" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and they mostly seem to be French cars

They seem to drive on the right but the steering wheels are also on the right?

The film is set in pre 1st World War France, is this how it used to be?

[Napoleon]

I blame Napoleon.

[nick]

Good question! I know some manufacturers used to build all of their cars RHD as a matter of course in the early days, despite coming from countries where they drive on the right. Early US Fords were always RHD for example.

We tend to take it for granted now that LHD cars are for driving on the right, and RHD cars are for driving on the left, but that wasn't always the case. Different manufacturers had different ideas on which side of the car the steering wheel should be on.

[citronut]

Good question! I know some manufacturers used to build all of their cars RHD as a matter of course in the early days, despite coming from countries where they drive on the right. Early US Fords were always RHD for example.

We tend to take it for granted now that LHD cars are for driving on the right, and RHD cars are for driving on the left, but that wasn't always the case. Different manufacturers had different ideas on which side of the car the steering wheel should be on.

i doubt it is to do with the manufactures preference's

although it might have been in the early days,

i would think its the different countries legislation and common sense when driving on the wrong side of the road,

regards malcolm

[Napoleon]

Bet there were a few that were in the middle!

[nick]

i doubt it is to do with the manufactures preference's

although it might have been in the early days,

I don't know about France but it certainly was in the US pre WW1, and in Italy right up to the 50s.

[reblack68]

Maybe it was so that the driver's seat was conveniently accessible from the pavement.

In America the post is delivered in rhd vehicles so that the postie doesn't have to get out. Some of the vehicles are purpose built but a lot of them have some alarming conversions. http://www.postalthings.com/Right-hand- ... -kits.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[red_dwarfers]

That is a little scary looking especially with the airbags, they must have to disable them...insurance must be interesting!