Crayford rhd 914, Genuine car? Options

[pep1]

Hi - JD Classics in the UK have for sale a rhd 914 that they say is a genuine Crayford conversion. Registration number is NRX 538K. The car started life in the US and then was exported to Australia (doesn't say when) where the conversion was done. JD say that it is one of only 9 cars that were converted by Crayford. From the research I have managed to do it sounds like this cannot be true. I have asked for some proof of their claim but they have gone quiet. Could this car however have been converted under licence using genuine Crayford parts or is it more likely to be a conversion just done by some garage in Australia as I understand quite a few cars were converted there in this way.

[wonkipop]

@pep1

short answer = no.


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info.

all crayfords cars converted to RHD were delivered to the UK new.
via this arrangement.



absolutely zero via the USA.

no crayfords conversions were done in australia.
though crayfords did send interior bulkhead moulds and dashboard moulds to an agent they intended to set up in Perth Western Australia in anticipation of a viable market.
didn't happen. the moulds ended up in melbourne in the early 80s.

in 1979 there were known to be 8 914s in australia.
2 914/6s imported by the australian distributor.
2 crayfords converted 914s (both 1973 MY 2.0L cars) privately imported from the UK.
2 914/4s, owned by 2 german mechanics and privately imported from germany and converted in australia.
1 914/4 that came in via the german consulate in melbourne australia.
1 crayfords 1975 MY car privately imported into australia after 1974 Australian Design Rules Legislation. it was never put on the road, the ADRs prevented its road registration. information says it was sold to a singapore buyer in the early 80s.
(i think a former member of this website had it and after he passed away i believe it has made it back to the UK, but its not the car you are inquiring after.).

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the car you are looking at is a car that would have been privately imported into australia from west coast USA in the very late 80s after prohibitive and protective customs duty/sales taxes were relaxed. a reasonable number of 914s came into australia right through the 90s.
i estimate at least 100. possibly as high as 200. but no more than that.
these cars were all converted to rhd here. the conversions vary in quality.
i recognise the dashboard moulding in the one you are inquiring about, its the same (or very similar) moulding as in my car, though the ash tray fit looks not so good. the conversion was likely done in melbourne. there were two guys operating at that time both doing very high quality conversions.
this conversion industry no longer really exists. regulations regarding historic cars have been relaxed and its possible to road register a left hand drive car on historic plates (25 years and older). as a result the cottage industry doing conversions has shrivelled.
though it is still here but much more specialised. eg dodge RAM trucks. these are all being sold new here by dodge dealers but the trucks come in left hand drive from the USA and are converted to right hand drive here to full factory standard. you would not be able to distinguish them from left hand drive factory. they are sold new and with full warranties.

contrary to some views, these 90s era conversions were to a large extent executed to a very high standard, though there were a few backyard hack jobs done by private owners that were not so good. its pretty easy to screw up a 914. its probably one of the most difficult cars around to convert to right hand drive and get it absolutely right.

i understand a number of those cars converted in the 1990s have now made their way to the UK though private buyers seeking right hand drive 914s. the currency exchange was favorable to UK buyers in the first decade of the 21st C. this car will be one of those.
it could be pretty good. or it could be pretty bad. my guess is its probably OK. i have a feeling this particular car did come from melbourne australia and at one time a fair while back it was for sale at Lorbek's prestige cars. (i designed his car yard in the 90s). i remember him calling me about a 914 he had and did i want to take a look at it, since he knew i owned one. i didn't see it but i can remember him telling me it was "egg plant".
so it could be that car.

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you would be lucky to find a crayfords car still surviving.
i estimate 3 survive in the UK.
a UK member here has listed that his car is up for sale to the right buyer.
its the #1 car converted by crayfords as the demonstrator.
in my view a valuable car with great historical value.
a green 4 surfaced about 3-4 years back as a barn find.
it was terminally rusted in the photos listed.
finally the 75 that came to aus first, went to singapore and is now back in the UK.
that car has backdated bumpers, a 6 engine fitted and is yellow.

2 cars survive in australia.
both are 1973 2.0L. i have the VINS for both.

thats it.
i doubt any others are left. long gone.

no 6s were converted by crayfords. they are all 4 cylinder cars.