Lhd & rhd

[Cliff]

Is this accurate?

[911MRP]

Seems correct in as far as it goes.Porsche use RL and LL as well as a little icon in its parts books to denote the configuration — an abbreviation of the German terms.

My understanding is the logic of driving on the left dates back to ancient and medieval times when travel was on horseback by folks who carried swords and daggers. Custom was sensible that when passing a stranger on the bridleway or the narrow basic tracks and roads of that era (in opposite direction) keeping to left allowed the predominantly right-handed population to better defend themselves if necessary with their strongest sword-hand. It is rumoured Napoleon changed that rule of the road for areas of the map he temporarily conquered. I’ve never understood the logic of the French priority a droit where the main carriageway gives way to those entering from that side. Napoleon was defeated by army of Great Britain and its allies in 1815 when there were carriages but not motorcars.

Quite a lot of the RHD countries have links to the former British Empire and still through The Commonwealth, although not always the case for example Canada despite being a constitutional monarchy where King Charles III is King of Canada and Canada's Head of State. Some countries changed RHD to LHD for example Sweden which one day in 60s switched RHD to LHD!

Other British territories like Gibraltar
which might be expected to be RHD adopted LHD.

While RHD is less prevalent it is not that small. Wiki says: Countries that use left-hand traffic account for about a third of world population, about a sixth of the world's land area and a quarter of its roads. Beyond the illustrative list in the schematic shown in the OP other notable examples of RHD are NZ and Ireland — countries which have a number of active members here. There are certainly fewer RHD Porsche cars and this forum is run from USA so those of us from the RHD markets just get used to references to drivers-side and passenger-side on posts here typically presuming we all have LHD.

Famously the only place in England where we drive on right side of the road is the access cul-de-sac to the Savoy Hotel in London, a place where overseas visitors are lulled into a sense of false security for a few dozen yards before they get mowed down by the RHD cars when looking wrong direction then stepping into the busy left hand traffic of The Strand : )

Steve

[blue72s]

^^ Well said. Furthermore, the 917 race car was RHD (all of them)

Cliff, I think that image of headlighting is accurate yes.

[Cliff]

Then, is this set - up of a driver in the UK using USA Lhd lens or is he using RHD lens in Lhd country. Famous driver, hope he doesn’t mind me using his one of many Carreras ( owned thru the years ) pictured here. cliff

[911MRP]

Wouldn’t USA have had the sugar scoops in 73? I would doubt this is a USA lens at all as H4s not legal in that market, I’m told.

Pretty sure I watched the car in post #4 go over auction block a week or two ago in London? Think it is a recent post in Carrera RS for sale thread. Isn't it RS 388 a French market car originally with LHD H4 —clear in photo — not the yellow lens colour used in France?
If so below is what it had fitted on the day of sale at RM Sotheby’s


The wedge shape in photo of post #4 tell us wether KHD or RHD even frim a distance — the triangular area faces different side on LHD vs RHD. Mike (210BHP) can probably explain the lens science and terminology but that section blacked out is important to the shape of the light on road particularly when dipped. That presumably explains lens areas blacked out as car was in use in England. Tape there a common temporary tweak to allow cars to drive on other side of carriageway without dazzling if popping over the English Channel. Halfords and similar car parts retailer used to sell a kit ( and AA maybe) with lines to cutout to suit common cars but simple tape worked. When I was younger in addition to masking this segment of lens we used to use a transparent yellow paint specially sold to apply over a RHD white clear lens to stain it yellow for France. Think it was technically a legal requirement for yellow uniquelynin France until earlyish 1990s? Instead of black tape there was little self adhesive plastic ridged wedges that came out later presumably ridged like mini prism to bend the light? . The yellow paint wore off over time or could be removed with solvent after trip. I used to commute london to Brussels Monday through Friday via Hovercraft before the channel tunnel
so was quite on top of such details at that time but a bit hazy now. Hovercraft quite a civilised way to travel particularly with a small detour pit stop to have breakfast on Monday in the lovely Bruges

Lights are relatively easy to swap in 911 of that era. Some regular cross channel travellers used to keep two different pair. Actually I have a two pair H1 — LHD and RHD both belonged to a ling deceased racer who used to swap them on his 911 for longer continental trips although one pair of those old lenses still has remnants of the black masking that must’ve been on from last use remaining there for decades whilst in storage.

Steve

[blue72s]

Taping over the trapezoid area of the lenses is a legal requirement if you're using LHD headlights in the UK and vice-versa RHD headlights in Europe.

H4's were not legal in USA. Only sealed lights.