Steering Wheel on Left or Right?

[Pete Kraus <Pete_Kraus@Emory.Org>]

While it is true that during the first two decades of this century
American car manufacturers sometimes placed the steering wheel on
the right side of their products, this decision had nothing to do with
which side of the road cars would use.  Insofar as I know the practice of
driving on the right dates back to horse-and-carriage times.  The debate
was whether it was more advantageous for early auto drivers to be
positioned nearer the curb or oncoming traffic.  (I like the British terms
nearside and offside for this distinction but never know quite how to
apply them in an American context.)  

In Italy, where they drive on the right, some cars and particularly trucks
maintained right-hand steering into the '50s the better to cope with
narrow mountain roads with their unforgiving drop-offs.  Can someone
confirm that in Sweden, where they used to drive on the left but
switched over to right circa 1967, steering wheels were already on the
left side of most Volvos, Saabs and imported vehicles sold in the
country?

Some may decry that the subject has little Audi content, but it certainly
impacts the way our cars are spec'd and marketed throughout the
world.  And as Phil Payne occasionally reminds us, it also affects ease
of maintenance and repair of certain critical parts.

Pete
Pete_Kraus@emory.org
'85 4KSQ
'89 F250 4x4 diesel
'95 Z28