Tis funny cos it is an import to the uk, From what i have been told it was imported in 1974. I think it'* a canadian model mainly because of the 283 being a "turbo fire" Which consists of a unit run off the crank via a belt With a unit which seems to divert gasses from both manifolds (v and redirect them into the carb inlet and out all the way to the rear of the car via a pipe that runs all the way along the chassis to the rear end!

Over the years I have helped people in Europe locate GM NOS parts, even some used parts. It'* not as simple as you may think. Especially if it was a Canadian model exported, then converted to Right hand drive upon arrival in England or Australia.


I know that some countries have had US car model GM Dealerships going back to the 1950s. Not counting Opel/Holden/Vuxhall vehicles.

This is a left hand drive as stated earlier,

I helped a guy years ago with a 1977 Trans Am in England that was converted to right hand drive.

who does the conversions? is it a gm factory over there or an aftermarket company?

around here they had companies that did mods to cars like chassis companies and such. the cars went from gm to those companies directly and then to dealers. like when they were thinking about making thirdgen fbody convertibles they sent them to be made. to some thats a dealer option to me its just an aftermarket mod at that point.

I don't know about England, I know US cars imported to Australia a few small companies do conversions on older cars. Meaning parts used are often on a car by car basis, no two may be the same, or 25 might use one switch they could get in bulk.

The F car convertibles: While GM wasn't offering a Order package, a few GM contract conversion and up-fitters companies did. One of the later GM contracted F car convertible up-fitters did Early 1982-1985 Convertibles sold by some GM Dealers. From the 1950'* up till now some Dealers and Up-fitters have made special package cars, even without GM'* backing.

Case and point: Earnhardt Chevrolet. A buddy of mine had a 1991 Chevrolet C-1500 Dale Earnhardt Edition pick up. You will NOT find any catalog of the special parts it had from the Dealership & Upfitter. Othen odd balls like Mitcham/DKM Macho Trans Am'* of the 1970'* & 1980'*.

No COPO'* for ordering like Yenko'* had (1969 Yenko'* have 2 COPO order numbers that gave them Z28 spoilers, 140 MPH speedometer and standard issue rally wheels, ZL2 hood as well as Z/28 front and rear spoilers)

Export models can be just as bad. Especially if a small batch and not a separate model with catalog listings. COPO cars which could be anything from an Export model getting a different lamp to a I-6 Impala convertible for Hertz to a Daytona Yellow 1970 Chevelle Super Sports (not a regular 1970 Chevelle paint color). COPO'* are the hardest GMs to repair and restore, let alone research.

This keep me awake last night: Front $ rear screen rubbers. Under the trim around the front windscreen (windshield) and rear wind screen (rear window/windshield) the windows should be in with a soft adhesive tar seal. Not with "rubber" seals like a chevy pickup of the same year would have. The problem is to properly reseal them you must cut the glass free of the seals, then clean the body shell, repair rusted out metal, then 100% clean the glass. After that a new seal must be applied and the glass laid in place with all new spacers. Then the seal has to cure then the trim is re-installed.

It is a pain in the backside to do, and ofen glass can break. Best to remove the interior trim and the exterior trim and find the spot that is leaking. If you can find a leak and seal it under the trim, you can save your self a lot of work and expense. Not a forever fix, yet unless you want to do a full restoration it can keep your car dry for a few years.

RPH Thanks for the input! It is scary taking the screens out (back and front) to cure the leaks, kind of afraid of what I will find! But it has to be done and so will be! I guess its people like you who help "people like me" out and the info you have supplied has been of great use thumbup2

Thats a big Thanks to RPH and GM Fofum!