Coachbuilders Vanden Plas had been creating high-end vehicle bodies for a number of manufacturers, including Rolls-Royce, since 1913 and later became a badge-engineered brand in in their own right after becoming a subsidiary of Austin in 1946.
The lavishly appointed Vanden Plas Princess is based on the BMC Pininfarina-bodied Austin Westminster and offers great performance from BMC’s smooth and powerful 3-litre six-cylinder C-Series engine (as shared with the Austin-Healy 3000).
This well cared for MKII offers a longer wheel-base, revised rear suspension and twin exhausts, and has clearly been owned by a few BMC car-loving owners, club members and classic car show enthusiasts over the years and is ready to continue enjoying high-days out.
The History and Paperwork
Owned by enthusiasts
Original registration number
MOT until May 2023
Built in February 1963 at the Morris factory, Cowley, this Princess was then trimmed by Vanden Plas at Kingsbury, London and dispatched to dealers Evans & Kitchen Ltd in Birmingham. It was registered on the 22nd May 1963 by Warwickshire County Council.
It is believed that 147 GNX once belonged to a secretary of the Vanden Plas Club, and judging by the array of mounted show plagues, it looks like several owners have enjoyed their Sunday runs to summer shows around the country.
This wonderful saloon has also featured in several publications including the Cambridge-Oxford Owners Club magazine and a 1993 edition of Practical Classics.
Having recently purchased it from a local friend, the current owner informs us that the car is nicely up together and mechanically sorted with a recent service.
Vanden Plas Operational Handbook
V5 (in previous owners name)
Owner history
MOT (with no advisories) until 17th May 2023
No MOT advisories from 2006-2018
Exempt tax runs until the 1st October 2022
Classic car show plaques
Club and magazine features
The Interior
Sumptuous Vanden Plas luxury
Fantastic patina
Working electrical equipment
Vanden Plas certainly knew a thing or two about quality coach-building, and this luxurious example is no exception.
The seat mounted ‘Vanden Plas’ plates welcome you into an extremely well equipped and opulent interior. From the walnut dashboard and door capping’s to the armchair comfort of the Champagne Beige leather upholstery, there is now an agreeable level of patina throughout.
The original and stylish steering wheel is in good condition along with the comprehensive range of working Smiths instrumentation and switchgear.
The dash top is good, and although it doesn’t really detract, the wood varnish has cracked and the glove box door looks like a more recent addition. The leather seats have aged well with minimal signs of wear (see photos).
Features include central arm rests, folding rear picnic trays and original ‘optional extra’ seat belts. All four door trims are really nice as is the roof lining and carpets which cover oodles of sound-deadening to aid relaxing long journeys.
With a low-level loading sill, the huge carpeted luggage compartment is easily accessible and contains the jack and wheel brace. The spare wheel neatly resides in a tray underneath the car.
The exterior
Really nice body
Classic Peat over Stone paintwork
Strong chassis
This distinctive grand saloon is extremely presentable. The body is true and straight without any obvious dings and the classic two-tone Peat over Stone paintwork is even and shiny.
Any visible imperfections are minimal and include some micro-blistering on the bonnet, bubbling down the leading edge of the front passenger door, along the middle seam, the rear of the door edges and some flaking paint on the bottom of the front and rear valances.
Despite this, the bulkhead, inner wings, wheel arches and sills all look sound and crucially the chassis, outriggers, floor and rear spring mounting points look really structurally solid and well painted.
The brightwork, windows, mirrors, rubber trim and badges are all very acceptable and the original 14” steel wheels are fine with the original ‘VP’ hubcaps and are fitted with two Doublestar 185R14C tyres and two Cooper Sportmaster ones. All have a good level of tread depth.
The mechanics
Great engine compartment
Healthy 3-litre engine
Recent service
Lift the bonnet and you will discover a beautifully clean and period-correct engine compartment. The original BMC 2,912cc 6-cylinder C-Series engine looks and indeed sounds as sweet as a nut, and if properly maintained, is more than capable of going on for miles and miles.
The MKII block has an increased output of around 120bhp with plenty of low-down torque and should happily cruise at 70mph all day. With power-assisted steering, a smooth Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic gearbox and servo-assisted front disc/drum brakes, cruising should also be an effortless pleasure.
Reassuringly, this Princess was recently treated to a mechanical check-over and service by KC Classics, West Sussex, in May 2022 just 116 miles ago. This included new spark plugs, a tune, gearbox oil change and overhaul of the brakes (see photo of invoice).
The owner assures us that this Vanden Plas “drives really, really nice”.
Summary
If you like British classics, then this pinnacle of automotive excellence (for Austin at least), could be the one for you.
Having only travelled just over 70,000 miles in 59 years, this highly original and well preserved Vanden Plas has all the comfort, space and performance one could ever need.
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