Order a dashboard end cap for a classic car and you'll often find two listings for what looks like the same part. That's not a duplicate — it's the difference between a left-hand-drive (LHD) and right-hand-drive (RHD) car, and it catches out even experienced restorers.
Mirrored cars, mirrored parts
Manufacturers selling into both the UK/Japan/Australia (RHD) and continental Europe/North America (LHD) effectively built two mirrored interiors of the same car. Anything positioned relative to the driver tends to exist in two versions:
- Dashboard end caps, lower panels and fuse box covers
- Door cards, armrests, and window switch surrounds
- Centre console parts that angle towards the driver
- Pedal-area trim, steering column shrouds and ignition surrounds
- Wiper arms and linkages, which often park to opposite sides
Because the parts are genuinely different mouldings, the manufacturers issued them separate catalogue references. The numbers are frequently one digit apart — easy to misread, impossible to interchange.
Left or right — from whose point of view?
The classic trap. In most manufacturer catalogues, left and right are defined from the driver's seat, facing forward — not from standing in front of the car. A "left door handle" is on your left as you sit in the car. When a listing says Left or Right, check it against that convention, and if a photo is provided, compare it against the side you're replacing before ordering.
Why this matters more for classics
Plenty of classics have crossed markets over the years: Japanese imports into the UK, UK cars exported to enthusiasts in Europe, American-market cars repatriated. The car's current country tells you nothing — what matters is which market it was built for. The VIN and the original parts catalogue settle it definitively.
How we handle it at CarPartClassicX
Where a part differs by side, our listings either carry a Side: Left / Right option or state both OEM references in the title — for example a seat belt outlet cover listed with both the left and right part numbers. Because every part is made to order by our EU workshop, both sides are equally available; there's no "rare side" premium.
Before you order
- Find the part number on your original component — our OEM number guide shows where to look.
- Confirm which side you need using the driver's-seat convention above.
- Match the number to the listing, or choose the correct Side option.
- Unsure? Send us your VIN, the part number and a photo — we'll confirm the correct reference before you commit.
Browse all parts by manufacturer on our Shop by Make directory — every make and chassis we cover, from Mercedes-Benz to Land Rover.