Description
VADEN PLAS PRINCESS 4-LITRE-R-V6 ROLLS ROYCE ENGINE-ORIGINAL & LOVELY CONDITION !
SIMPLY A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE LUXURY VANDEN PLAS 4R !
“THE VANDEN PLAS 4 LITRE R WITH ROLLS ROYCE 6 CYLINDER ALL ALLOY FB60 OVERHEAD INLET SIDEVALVE OUTLET ENGINE AND LUXURY INTERIOR FOR IT'S ERA, WAS THE CHOSEN CHAUFFEUR DRIVEN VEHICLE OF BMC CHAIRMAN, SIR LEONARD LORD.”
IN THE EARLY 1960S, BMC WAS IN A VERY EXPANSIONARY MOOD AND SPENT SOME TIME TALKING WITH ROLLS-ROYCE IN GENERAL TERMS ABOUT MERGING SOME INTERESTS. ALTHOUGH THESE TALKS WERE EVENTUALLY ABANDONED, THE SINGLE CONCRETE RESULT WAS THAT THE PRESTIGIOUS ROLLS-ROYCE COMPANY DEVELOPED A SPECIAL VERSION OF THEIR SIX-CYLINDER ENGINE, WHICH THEY CALLED THE FB60 TYPE, AND THIS WAS THEN OFFERED BY BMC IN A MUCH REVISED PRINCESS SALOON. BECAUSE IT WAS A 3, 909CC UNIT, THE NEW CAR'S TITLE WAS 4-LITRE PRINCESS R, AND RUMOURS PERSISTED THAT THE R WAS MEANT TO STAND FOR ROYAL.
THE BASIC DESIGN, STYLE AND STRUCTURE OF THE PRINCESS R WAS STILL THAT OF THE PRINCESS 3-LITRE, HOWEVER THE DESIGN HAD BEEN REWORKED FROM STEM TO STERN TO JUSTIFY A GRANDER AND MORE EXCLUSIVE VEHICLE WORTHY OF A ROLLS-ROYCE ENGINE.
THE ENGINE ITSELF WAS AN ALLOY-BLOCK, SHORT-STROKE VERSION OF THE FAMILIAR SIX-CYLINDER ROLLS-ROYCE UNIT, WHICH WAS USED NOT ONLY IN ROLLS-ROYCE AND BENTLEY PASSENGER CARS, BUT IN MANY MILITARY VEHICLES. WITH A QUOTED PEAK OF 175BHP, MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN THE SUPERSEDED 3-LITRE BMC C-SERIES ENGINE.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS STANDARD, THE SUSPENSION WAS VIRTUALLY THE SAME AS BEFORE EXCEPT FOR A MASSIVE NEW FRONT CROSS-MEMBER, AND THERE WAS EVEN MORE ATTENTION TO SOUND-DEADENING.
THE BODYSHELL WAS CHANGED, IN DETAIL, IN MANY WAYS. COMPARED WITH THE A110, THERE WAS A NEW ROOF PANEL (OFFERING MORE HEADROOM), NO PEAKS OVER THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOWS, A MORE UPRIGHT REAR WINDOW. THE REAR END WAS SMOOTHED OUT BY ELIMINATING THE FINS AND PROVIDING HORIZONTAL TAIL-LAMP CLUSTERS.
THE CAR OFFERED IS A TRULY LOVELY 1966 EXAMPLE OF THE VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS 4 LITRE R IN SOUND CONDITION AND OPERATING VERY SWEETLY. THIS VERY FINE CLASSIC PRINCESS R IS A TRUE SURVIVOR IN LOVELY CONDITION ALL ROUND AND UNDERNEATH.
THE INSIDE IS INDEED A VERY NICE PERIOD PLACE TO BE. IT CONTINUES THE OVERALL LUXURY THEME WITH IT'S WOOD VENEER DASHBOARD, LEATHER SEATS AND DOOR CARDS.
CHASSIS NO. VRS36795, IS A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF A CAR WHICH IS TRULY HISTORIC, REGISTERED AS SUCH, AND WHICH IS SEEKING A DESERVING AND CARING NEW PROUD OWNER.
THE EXQUISITELY STYLED AND LUXURY VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS 4 LITRE R OFFERED HERE REMAINS VERY IMPRESSIVE IN ALL RESPECTS TODAY. THE GLEAMING PEAT OVER STONE PAINTWORK IS AKIN TO POLISHED GLASS. THERE ARE NO DENTS, SCRATCHES, SCUFFS OR BLEMISHES TO BE FOUND AND NO EVIDENCE OF RUST/ ROT ANYWHERE. THE CHROME WORK IS VERY GOOD AS ARE THE ORIGINAL WHEELS SITTING ON MATCHING NEW WHITEWALL TYRES. DURING JUNE 2020 THE 4 LITRE R UNDERWENT EXTENSIVE MECHANICAL OVERHAULING AT A COST OF £6414, 00, EVIDENCED BY INVOICES. THE PRINCESS IS AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME NOW, PART OF A COLLECTION OF CLASSICS KEPT AND MAINTAINED IN A HEATED & FULLY ENCLOSED WATER TIGHT ENVIRONMENT. IN RECENT YEARS IT HAS BEEN USED VERY SPARINGLY AND ONLY, WITH ONE NOTABLE EXCEPTION, IN DRY WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THE CAR WAS USED ON THE OCCASION OF MY NIECE'S WEDDING, IT POURED DOWN WITH RAIN ON HER BIG DAY. HOWEVER, THE CAR WAS ENTIRELY UNFAZED AND COMPLETED IT'S TASK WITH APLOMB.
AS STATED, THIS STUNNING VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS 4 LITRE R IS IN SUPER ALL ROUND ORIGINAL CONDITION. THE CAR DRIVES AND STOPS GREAT, AND SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE WITHIN WHETHER IN THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER SEATS, TURNING HEADS WHEREVER IT TRAVELS AND NO WONDER GIVEN THE VERY FEW EXAMPLES OUT THERE AND WITH THE PRINCESS HAVING RETAINED ITS ORIGINAL BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCE & CONDITION.
THE INTERIOR IS ALSO OF EXTREMELY GOOD ORDER, ORIGINAL, CLEAN AND UNCLUTTERED. THERE ARE NO TEARS, UNSIGHTLY SCUFFS OR MARKS, SIGNS OF WEAR OR DISCOLORATION. ALL IS IN TACT, FUNCTIONING AS INTENDED, COMFORTABLE AND VERY PLEASANT TO THE EYE.
THE CHASSIS AND UNDERCARRIAGE IS CLEAN AND SOLID IN ALL AREAS, AS ARE THE FLOOR PANS ETC. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ROT/ RUST ANYWHERE.
THE BOOT - A GENEROUSLY LARGE BOOT, AGAIN VERY CLEAN, SOLID AND UN-CLUTTERED.
ENGINE BAY - AS PER THE BOOT.
ENGINE - THE ENGINE IS RELIABLE AND RESPONSIVE, STARTS FIRST TIME OF ASKING EVERY TIME. IT SOUNDS GREAT-SUPER QUIET ON IDLE AND THROUGH THE GEARBOX AND EXHAUST SYSTEM.
TRANSMISSION - THE COLUMN CHANGE AUTOMATIC GEAR BOX IS LIKE THE ENGINE, AGILE, RESPONSIVE AND SMOOTH TO THE CHANGE.
BRAKES - SPOT ON !
FULL SERVICE AND OIL CHANGE UNDERTAKEN LATE MAY 2024 WITH VERY FEW MILES TRAVELED SINCE. ALL IN ALL, THIS IS A UNIQUE AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE NOW VERY RARE 4 LITRE R VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS WHICH IS MUCH ADMIRED AND SUCH A PLEASURE TO DRIVE. ALWAYS BRINGS AN INSTANT AND ENDURING SMILE OF PRIDE AND SATISFACTION. IT ALSO REPRESENTS A PIECE OF GENUINE BRITISH MOTORING HISTORY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP.
THE PRINCESS BEING A 60 YEAR OLD HISTORIC CLASSIC VEHICLE IS THEREFORE MOT, ULEZ, CONGESTION AND TAX EXEMPT.
THIS HISTORIC GEM WAS REGISTERED IN THE UK ON 1 DECEMBER 1966 AND AS STATED, IS AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME NOW, PART OF A PRIVATE COLLECTION OF CLASSIC CARS, ONLY USED SPARINGLY IN DRY/ WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE PRINCESS AS IT PRESENTS TODAY, IS A CREDIT TO IT'S PRIOR KEEPERS AND THE VANDEN PLAS MARQUE. IT ALSO A CLEAR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY ALIGNED TO IN-EXPENSIVE CLASSIC CAR OWNERSHIP, ENJOYMENT WITH NATURAL PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP AND A PIECE OF BRITISH MOTORING HISTORY.
CURRENT TOTAL MILEAGE IS 80783 MILES EQUATES TO A QUITE RIDICULOUS 1346 MILES FOR EACH OF THE CAR'S YEARS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION SIMPLY CALL ME ON – the details below. TELEPHONY IS MY PREFERRED MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. IT'S NICE TO TALK ! I AM A WELCOMING, COURTEOUS AND POLITE INDIVIDUAL. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE LEARNED FROM EXPERIENCE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO SEND EMAILS AND TEXTS ARE MERELY FILLING THEIR TIME AT THE COST OF MINE.
I HAVE MORE EXTENSIVE VIDEOS WHICH I AM HAPPY TO SEND UPON REQUEST FROM GENUINELY INTERESTED PARTIES WITH "WHATTSAPP."
DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND AREAS CAN BE ARRANGED SUBJECT TO AGREEMENT ON COST AND FULL ADVANCE PAYMENT.
