Right hand drive to Left Hand drive switch

[invicta592]

Pardon me for asking folks, I'm sure this has a simple answer, but I can't
find it anywhere.

While reading the Standard Catalog of Buick (where I normally stick with the 50's stuff) I notice that in the very early days of American motoring Buick were building right hand drive cars, and I presume they weren't alone. This seems to go on unto the early teens then suddenly switched to left hand drive.

This confuses me, sitting here in the UK, as I never realised that Right hand drive cars were manufactured in the US.

I'm guessing that it was maybe new legislation that forced this, but I'd love to know the actual reason for this happening, and why, after making Right hand drive cars for a number of years, the manufacturers had to change.

Thanks folks

[imported_jscheib]

I think the decision early on for right hand drive was copying what was done in Europe. Don't forget, your mainland cousins drove on that side too, until about this same time. I think early on, the cars just went down the middle of the road until a car came by. I am sure there is something documenting the "official" changes, but I am not sure where to find it. Some early cars that operated with a tiller rather then a steering wheel, were in the center, much like a horse wagon and shifted toi one side or the other.

It will be interesting to see what others write on this subject.

John

[imported_Thriller]

I seem to recall something about the original imitating carriages regarding the side of the road...brakes on a buggy or something...I'll have to check with my source to get the low down.

[D Binger]

I have heard that also. Even if the folks in the USA did drive on th right side of the road, that way the driver could see the edge of the road, such as they were. Later when there was more traffic and the roads were better the driver was moved to the left so they could judge where the on comming traffic was. Passengers getting in an out in traffic had something to do with it also.

If that is not why, I will say that it sound good.

[invicta592]

Quote:

I think the decision early on for right hand drive was copying what was done in Europe. Don't forget, your mainland cousins drove on that side too, until about this same time. John

My understanding of why the UK drives on the left, and the rest of Europe on the right is that "In the olde days" England had decided to drive on the right, and this was accepted throughout the known world (even today, all ships and quite possibly planes pass to the left). This was all going tremendousy well until a French upstart called Napoleon Bonaparte decided he didn't like the English (I think the beer was too strong ) and decreed that in order to be different to England, France would drive on the right.

Of course, England's religion being primarily The Church of England (odd that isn't it?) was not widely spread across Europe, but Napoleon was a member of the Catholic faith, and had close links with the higher echelons within it, which resulted in the rest of Europe following suit over a period of time, due to the power of the Church. At least.. thats the way I heard it (and no, I wasn't there at the time!) I think it was either Sweden or Switzerland which was the last to change over, and that wasn't until the 1960's

Non of this relates specifically to automobiles of course, but to the days of the horse and carriage. This is why I found it fascinating that the USA started it's automobile manufacturing in one way, then switched to the other.

[DaveCorbin]

Dear Invicta92:
I've been told the answer to that switch is as simple as a little old thing out of Detroit called a Model T. By 1913, Ford was making so many Model T's that it simply "outvoted" every one else. When Buick switched, the game was over!!
Regards, Dave Corbin

[invicta592]

That makes a lot of sense. I can see that "majority rule" would force the issue. Now, I wonder why Ford decided to sail against the tide and put the wheel on the "other" side to everyone else