Vanden Plas was one of the old coachbuilding companies in the UK, used by
Rolls Royce, Daimler, Jaguar, Austin and others, at a time when the
craftsman hand built bodywork of cars was often made by a diferent company
than the chassis/engine manufacturers. They gained a real "quality image"
in the 20's and 30's. The company was eventually bought out by succesively
by Austin, BL, BLMH etc and the name used to denote the "top of the range"
models of their basic saloons (badge marketing), often together with the
name "Princess"
Guy
UK
-----Original Message-----
From: Profili <pprofili@hercii.mar.lmco.com>
To: Peter <nosimport@mailbag.com>
Cc: Frank Clarici <spritenut@Exit109.com>; Mike Ellsworth
<mikeells@shianet.org>; Swift Justice <samesq@pacbell.net>; Spridget mail
list <spridgets@Autox.Team.Net>
Date: 04 November 1998 17:58
Subject: Re: LBC list prices when new
>Unfortunately, BL revived the Princess name for it's 'luxury' Austin
>model in the 70s. Was that a horrible car or what (British list members
>will know what I'm talking about).
>
>And, yes, Vanden Plas is merely a trim package on the Jags. These were
>(maybe still are - I don't know) Daimlers in the UK but, as Mercedes
>Benz owns the Daimler name in the US, BL used their ownership of the
>Vanden Plas name to differentiate the 'basic' Jags from the 'deluxe'
>versions. On the (Series 3) XJ6, all it boiled down to was some fancier
>(more burl) wood veneer, different rear seat and different door trims.
>Oh and, I almost forgot, some really awful deep pile floor mats. The
>Vanden Plas cars also had a Limited Slip Diff as standard, and some
>different colour options.
>
>Phil
>
>
>Peter wrote:
>>
>> Frank,
>> There were several Princesses. Yours being.....um.... commonest
in the
>> MG1100/1300 America "family" as Austin Princess. There was a Vanden Plas
>> Princess in the 40's-50's-60's with various much larger engines.... 3
litre
>> and 4 litre. I have a picture of a '48 Austin Princess 120hp 6-cyl 119"
>> long ("a long wheel base is available"!!) In '48 it sold for $6325.00.
This
>> is the only one that I have a picture of. I've sold parts for the 4 litre
>> variety, which I suspect is the $30,000 model you mentioned. The Vanden
>> Plas name also comes up in the Jaguar line, even currently. I'm not sure
if
>> it is any more than a deluxe trim package, however. I'd like to know
more.
>> Peter C
>> ------------------------------------
>> At 11:04 PM 11/3/98 -0500, Frank Clarici wrote:
>> >Does anyone know what
>> >> a Princess is?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >Yes I know what a Princess is.
>> >It is (was) basically an MG1100 with wool carpets, leather seats, fold
>> >down picnick tables, fancier grille work, driving lamps, and so on.
>> >I happened to buy a 63 MG Princess Vanden Plas off the back of a junk
>> >car hauler for $75 a few years back. I put a battery in it and cleaned
>> >up the points on the fuel pump and drove it around for a month before I
>> >sold it. I entered it in 2 local car shows, it was in very good shape
>> >but did need a clutch (slipage)
>> >After I sold it I found out that the MKI Princess Vanden Plas was worth
>> >near 30,000 dollars (US) and I sold it for the same $75 which was what I
>> >paid!!! I did keep the new battery.
>> >The buyer started restoration but got divorced and I think the car was
>> >scrapped. I still have the original engine and drivetrain (Mini set up)
>> >With the chrome Princess valve cover (which fits a Sprite)
>> >The car was a 4 door MG1100 with a Mini engine (front wheel drive).
>> >I wish I had restored that insted of the Mini which I really hated.
>> >
>> >sorry for rambling, I hope everyone now knows what a princess was.
>> >
>> >Frank
>>
>> Peter Caldwell
>> 1 very rough Innocenti
>> (the Sprite with an accent)
>> among other LBCs and 4WDBCs
>
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