Leyland Princess Limousine tested in The Netherlands! Woodall Nicholson Kirklees
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- You don't often see a Wedge Princess Limousine but I managed to find one in The Netherlands! It's a Woodall Nicholson Kirklees, full of brown vinyl making it a more affordable limo to follow someone's final journey. This stretched British Leyland icon is certainly quite the machine, with a transverse six-cylinder engine and automatic transmission - and that smooth Hydragas suspension.
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#70s #classiccar #british
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I immediately think Terry And June 😂😂
Haha! But I am sure I was at an event somewhere and saw somebody drive a jet powered hearse. The way to go if I'm correct!
And James May.
Almost John Shuttleworth ...
@@JohnMintyTech "Good evening everyone, I'm John Shuttleworth, versatile singer/songwriter from Sheffield, South Yourkshire."
"JOOOON!!"
We had one of these for my Grandpa's funeral, we had a good chat with the driver about it, in honour of my Grandpa's love of all things car related.
And I will meet him one day here on earth in paradise conditions.
Another unusual car - I remember an episode of Keeping Up Appearances where Mrs. Bucket's sister Rose was dating a funeral director who came to the house in the hearse version of this car.
Richard!!!!!!!!
In the late 80's, a mate of mine worked at a garage. Sometimes he'd come home in the garage's "pool car", in other words, if anyone needed to borrow a car, that was the one. It was an immaculate 2.2HLS. It floated along and had brown velour seats and it was a superbly comfortable car. Fast? Not really, no but that wasn't the point. These were very good "loping" cars, you could undertake a long journey in one and arrive at your destination fresh as a daisy instead of feeling beaten up and flustered. I loved it but I don't know what happened to it.
I was extremely miffed when I saw my grandad's hearse was a Princess based vehicle. That was in 1986. Clearly I've not got over it.
I've always wondered how there are converted Daimler Limousines or even Rolls Royces used as hearses in the UK...
Mind you, on my last trip to Italy I saw a Maserati based hearse (parked, so I can't say if they kept the exhaust note...).
There was one of those in an episode of Father Ted! It ended up in flames.
In 1984 my grandma died and her coffin was carried in a Princess hearse. What disappointed me the most about this awkward vehicle was that when the car was converted they re-used the tail lights but they turned them on their end. As we followed the hearse in a nineteen sixties Princess that's all I could look at, the stupidly wrong lights. It certainly ruined my day!
@@Mr.Clingclong
Sounds like otherwise, you really would have enjoyed the funeral...
@@notroll1279 Doesn't everyone love a good funeral?🤣🤣
"No triangle of doom" - so this car can not be bad at all!
@@bernhardkuhn5676 Some might say the whole car is a triangle of doom 😆
I have always liked the Princess. The proportions look even better as a limousine.
Wow that is spectacularly slow. Perfect Hubnut territory.
My father, a funeral director, had one of those. Kept pristine for the customers family!
I once saw a hearse and a couple of limos on their way to a funeral, coffin in the hearse. I don't know if they were late but they weren't being vary sedate, they were hammering it!!
I missed buying a 2200HLS Limo back in the 90's. It was the ex-Mayor of Romsey's Limo so it did not have the extra row of seats as far as I'm aware. So assume the driver had more room to move the seat back. I phoned the seller and he sold it 30 minutes before I called him.
I passed my test the 1800 manual version, when I got home, I removed the rear L plate & took a big square of paint off the boot!
Good old British Leyland quality 🤣🤣
My Father-in-law had an early Wolsely version of the wedge in black which was far more luxurious than the limo. The boot was very large, but you had to virtually climb in to reach the furthest items.
My dad purchased a 2200 HL in white with a brown vinyl roof.used it for towing our caravan.many a fond memories of travelling through south of France with 5 people and a caravan on tow .
He later swapped it for a Red Ambassador HL . more luxurious but didn't have the power of the 2200 .
Absolutely wonderful video.
This must be the Vauxhall Signum, of it's day.
Look at all the lovely space around that engine! 🙂
The only time I saw something similar was on Father Ted and it was on fire.
When they allowed Dougal to conduct a funeral.
Bingo!
Careful now...
Oh, this is fantastic for a Yank yearning for more British automotive history knowledge, ranks right up there with the P 76
Would love to see you in the landcrab, Hillman Arrow, Chrysler UK products, etc. Talbot
I do not believe that I've ever seen one of these cars. I remember as a kid the launch of the then 18-22 series as it was call as an umbrella term for the badge engineering used at the time. I loved the wedge style. It took over another decade before I travelled in one and that was a decidedly tired example equipped with its own poltergeist in the electrical system. They were huge inside though and super comfortable. Later models had the smaller 'O' series engine with capacity dropping the engines to 1.7L or 2L if I recall correctly. Many thanks for sharing Ian, it brings back some memories of a car that these days is rarely seen on the road.
Brings back memories a local coach and taxi company had one in the 80s
That's a rare beater to say the least?! You do find em, I must say , Hubs!
Oh my! I remember riding in one when I was an altar boy aged 8, on the way to graveside services...I used to love those, and usually got a two bob bit from Father as a tip...bought a lot of sweets back then, and doubled my pocket money for the week. I still enjoy funerals btw
As a child I did not 'get' them at all, did not care for them ... but now ... I would love to own one, so beautiful!
Ugly things. I feel the same way about the maxi as you do these princesses I love the maxi ans wouldn't mind one
@@chucky2316 Funny you say that - when I was a kid my school janitor had a brown, yes brown, Maxi, and I thought it was amazing.
A really smooth engine, had one in a landcrab, loved it.
Now this brings back memories. My dad had a 1979 metallic lime green 2200hls manual back in the mid eighties - it was the first car i drove after passing my test in 1987. It was very comfy but understeered everywhere. I distinctly remember both headlamp lenses detatching themselves at speed - not whilst i was driving i might add. Dad chopped it in for a 1985 2.0 montego estate with 7 seats that dissolved when it rained. Good times
My great grandmother took her last journey in a Montego hearse...
That's a really deep, rich black.
My father had a princess in green , it was 1979 and I still remember it clearly .
That is my ideal driving position, seat back at 90 deg to the seat and elbows at 90 deg. Good for my damaged back. Whomever thought that reclining whilst driving is a good idea should be HD&Q'd.
Great to see this preserved. Thanks for mentioning the Aussie heritage of this engine. Many don’t acknowledge that, or genuinely don’t know, but you know it only too well Mr. Hubnut. I have always thought it a sweet sounding and running engine. Maybe a rubber mount might quieten that fuel pump a bit.
This is the greatest Thing England ever made
now you really CAN be "caught dead" in an austin princess
Very interesting and great sounding car.
Wasn't there one in Father Ted, the episode where Dougal held a funeral service which ended up looking like Armageddon?
Yes, the hearse version.
YOU LET DOUGAL DO A FUNERAL?!!
In 1980/81 I regularly used a Granada taxi and at the same time my dad had a Princess. As a passenger the wedge just was in the premier league. Space and comfort were far better. As a “drivers” car? Er… I doubt it . But a relaxed car as long as it worked. It even had a “comfort” tyre pressure recommendation as well as the usual ones
No radio? How are you supposed to listen to The Jam's Going Underground when on the way to the cemetery?
@@andyt2510 Johnny cash mun …ring of fire
😂 why not I mean why should a funeral be so mundane
Or Adele's hello from the other side 😂
AC/DC Highway to Hell.
Not listening to 5000 Volts 1975 song 'I'm on fire' on the way to the crematorium?
Great video, love that little 6 cylinder engine. My grandad had a Princess and then an Ambassador in the early 90’s, followed by a Granada and then his final car a white Cavalier. Always had a soft spot for any of these vehicles, especially the Ambassador!
Very interesting indeed - amazed it didn`t have the plush interior of the 2200HLS, guessing the mechanical pump failed and they couldn`t get a replacement hence the Clicky-clacky universal pump fitted .
It’s actually a stunning looking car, sort of futuristic.
I had a white 1978 Princess with exact same Brown Trim as this one. Took me straight back seeing all that Brown Vinyl 🙂and dash. Mine was only the 1800 4 cylinder though.
That was hilarious "let's listen to the lovely smooth engine (sounds like someone throwing a bag of assorted spanners into a blender) that's just the fuel pump, it'll settle down in a moment" sooooooo Leyland!
My Father has a 2200 HLS version and purchased the 2 year warranty, and boy did it need it! The interesting thing is the dashboard and switch illumination was done by Fiber optics leading back to a box with a single bulb. It was a comfortable car for the 3 off us kids in the back, It had an issue with water ingress in the boot, and my job was to get in the boot with a torch while my dad hosed the outside so I could identify where the water was coming in….
So many great British car designers that haven't been recognised, outside of car enthusiasts, to the degree they should be and Harris Mann is among them.
The Princess was such a modern and interesting shape at launch and it still looks good today.
Thanks for the video. 👍🏼
The britsh Citroen SM
I want one.
These would be great sellers in America today as an alternative to those pesky crossovers. I mean imagine this as a hatchback with two rows of seats that fold down. Plus that smootj six. Yes i still want one. Besides this one was for a funeral. Rates up there with my hearse I want. I can hear the Addams family theme song playing in my head. 😂😅😊❤.
My Dad had the 6 Cylinder Princess. It ate Driveshafts.
Marvellous loved this video, I recall many years ago I used to see one regularly in Brum being used as part of a Hearse fleet.
Absolutely brilliant video Ian ❤👍what a beautiful car absolutely amazing brilliant
My primary school headmaster, Mr Roden, replaced his Rover P5 (none B) with a brand new Princess circa 1978. Ah, memories 😊
Vinyl magnificence 😎 AND concealed wiper spindles! 🤩
That's a rare old beast, i used to own an Ambassador and recommissioned it after being off the road and loved the ride, but I've always felt that BL went backwards with the Ambassador compared to the Princess even though it became a hatchback 😊
Especially the bonnet and no-longer-hidden wipers looked retrograde.
There aren't many cars that you review which hold zero appeal whatsoever for me, but this is definitely one of them 😄. Enjoyed the video anyway though!
Yes, even my old Allegro seemed more luxurious!
What an amazing car. Here in Germany the Princess was not a big succes. But I can remember very well that there was a Greek family living close to our home who had a blue colour Princess 2200 with black vinyl roof. Every day on my way to school I saw that car parking on the road. For me it looked always nice and interesting but my classmates said it was ugly and strange. When I saw it driving away I was very impressed of the smooth engine sound. No other car company offered a transverse 6-cylinder engine those days. For that time the Princess was a very advanced car. By this video I got a nice impression how it drives. Nice that ypu mentioned the Austin Kimberley refer to the engine. Long time ago I was watching your video you had made from the Kimberley. Also a very amazing car which could have been very succesfull on the European market too.
There was a white Princess limo like this being used as a taxi in Coventry (late 80s/early 90s). I am fairly sure it had brown velour seats. Amazingly comfy ride with these!
‘You wonder what might have happened, had they have made it a hatchback’ - well that would be the Ambassador - of which my dad owned 2 - and the rears of both were utterly cavernous. With the Hydragas suspension they were brilliant (if slow) load luggers.
Utterly gorgeous Princess
There was a Hearse Version on Father Ted. As a kid I loved it.
Our wedding car.
Glasgow 6th of may 1983.
Wouldn't be surprised if it's actually the same car!
Because they didn't made so many Limo's.
Quirky British cars is how I found your channel in the first place
My dad had 2 princesses, Bothused as taxis! Brown 1700 hl had a very similar interior. He used to rest his radio handset on the ashtray by the stearring column
Love a straight 6, as for the rest of it, another example of why the UK motor industry fell apart, what a bag of spanners, not to take away from the excellent review and channel
Corr I remember the princess. When I was at college one of my mates dad had one. I think he was a Bank manager so it was very of the time. Haven't seen one for years. Thanks for sharing a video on such an interesting version :-)
Had a N reg 1975 18-22 series 1.8 Morris and V reg Princess 2200 hls loved driving both definitely should have been a hatchback. The seats were great especially in the 2200 power steering was excellent and needed. Happy days 😂😂😂😂
I've always liked funeral cars and hearses. That goes back to my schooldays in the 1960s when my somewhat eccentric Geography teacher had a magnificent pre-war 8 cylinder Daimler hearse (I think some of his family were undertakers and they couldn't bear to scrap the old girl when they replaced it with something a tad more modern, so he took it on). It was so quiet that it was hard to tell if it was actually running. He said it did something like 8 miles to the gallon - just as well he lived just a mile from the school!
A friend of mine used to own a huge black Daimler Majestic Major limo. Now that's an overtaker for undertakers!
Great video. I remember a Princess hearse at a Scarborough funeral directors in the 1980’s. My dads 1978 Princess 1800 had bonnet gas struts
Great content again. Look forward to seeing more
That's an aftermarket electric fuel pump - the original is a mechanical pump which used to fail regularly on the 2200.
Nor so thecAC Delco US Made Version you can stil find for 30 pounds....beware of Chinese Relicas Sold as Moprod
LVery good video thanks. One of these Princess limo's appeared in a episode of keeping up appearances. It was P reg 1975/76/ model. I remember the one featured in keeping up appearances had a short number plate.
The Velour upholstery is so much nicer than Leather, cloth or hot sticky Vinyl.
I love it
Brown is the best interior colour.
This is so HubNut… What an odd coach! Thanks for the great pictures of the Princess and the Dutch landscape. See you soon »»» Martin 😊
Was relieved to see the wiper test and triangle of doom check at the end, was getting very worried you had missed that.
Love your splendid Leyland Princess Limousine, my late father worked for firm that imported the lesser kin into New Zealand. Known locally as "Domtrac", shortened name of Dominion Motors.
I try to think, if the British Beatles came to prominence twenty years later 😂 perhaps John Lennon may have bought one and kitted it out accordingly ❤ Thanks for the appraisal 😮😊
Looks like great fun Ian, thank you.
What a Find! Not quite sure if the wedge-design translates well into a limo, but somehow they managed. Must be really confusing, driving a right-hand car on the right hand 🙃
I LOVE THIS CAR!!! I have a 1976 left hand drive manual gearbox Princess 2200 HLS (bronce metallic paintwork with brown velours seats like in the old 1976 cataloge) in Germany (German Import) currently restoring the suspension and regassing the spheres. Prince Charles or Lady Diana used to drive such a VandenPlas Princess 2200 HLS-L. P.S. the car you tested needs an original Delco fuel pump and new Champion N9YC copper spark plugs there is a miss in idling.
It turns out the coil was dying. It actually cut out on me so it was replaced.
@@HubNut Oh I see! I replaced my coil with a brandnew Lucas sportscoil DLB102 with 1.5 ohms pre resistor plus new wider gapped N9YC copper plugs and new unsinkable P6FLOAT7 Rover floats, engine now runs like new! (Even on crappy modern fuel) The E Series runs best with mechanical Delco OEM 463.294 fuel pump...that clacking china pump is horrible ;-)))
It’s so deliciously British, brown and unique, I would have one 😁
We had an oh so brown Ambassador. Beige paint, brown vinyl roof, twin brown go faster stripes, brown velour, near orange carpet, brown dash, but of course black door handles and steering wheel...
Wow!! Coolest Limo ever!! Like Wow. That fuel pump sounds just like the one in my Jensen Healey which I find to be a very comforting sound just to hear something function and work with that car kinda puts your mind to rest while taking it in journeys
A good idea is to install the new unsinkable SU deluxe foam floats (marketed for the Rover P6 with HIF6 carbs) in the Princess SU HIF6 carbs they fit perfectly and the carbs never ever flood again with the new ethanolized fuels.
I paid £60 for my one and sold it 2 years later for £150 even though the primary gear was grinding it's way through the gearbox casing ( and the buyer new about it) It was the most comfiest car so far I've owned with it's velour trim
i had this car but never knew there was a limousine type but what a car at the time being oh , and vinyl roof and it was yellow toasted shade
Followed a Daewoo Matiz in High Wycombe on 6 Aug with a HUB NUT Sticker.
I rode in a Coleman Milne(?) version as a child to and from my fathers funeral in 1978…very smooth motor, but rough riding - I think they over presssurised the hydrangeas system. Noisy power steering pump hiss, too. Horrible day, but I can’t blame the car for that. I’m actually a big fan of the ADO 71 - love the Wolsely version with those “finned brake drum” hubcaps.
Oxford city council had one just like that for the mayor of Oxford, the number plate was FC 1 ,it broke down in the late 80’s, it was replaced with a rover 827
ooooh..... now I want one again...
God that fuel pump reminded me of the electrical ones we used to put on fiats/fso back in the 90s
Very nice motor
another great video has always Ian and Carly miss/mrs hubnut and hublets and hubmutt 👍
Awesome find - great drive 😊
I thought it would be a delight and a delight it was. Imagine if they had made a VDP model 2200. 😍
They did build a prototype, which survives. It's at the venue for Rustival.
@@HubNut I think I've seen the pics. 👍
I've only ever seen the hearse version, I hadn't realised that there was a limo version too that seems to have only been built for chauffeur's who are 5ft 4 and below lol
I almost thought you were going to forget the windscreen wiper test, Ian. Well done to slot it in right at the end of the video.
Actually did forget. Realised at the last moment!
@@HubNut Ha ha ha Ian! Great editing.
The extension actually looks OK.
My dad used to be a long time in that hearse business. And I remember we used to have one of these. Could be exactly that car, my childhood pictures plopps into my mind. As I remeber on an R-Reg, the hearse had the Reg number before, that Limo, they were delivered exactly on the same day. Also a Princess 2200 HL, same as a hearse for the coffin. Had also a vinyl roof. For my taste, the roofline looks a bit to high. That were also my thoughts as a kid 45 years ago. We had these couple until the nineties. And I did have no idea who did built that couple. It was my dad's job, we didn't use it for our own. We had a Maxi, later on an Allegro 3 as a family banger. I thought it was from Coleman and Milne... but now I know, I was wrong my entire life. Well, you live and learn... 😮
What a lovely car, great test drive 🙂👍
What great family transport if you're just ever so eccentric 😊. Love it. That e series engine sounds just a tad like a small BMW six...
That looks like the spiritual ancestor of the Citreon C6.
The glass divider handy for those in the cheap seats during furious braking!
I love a small six cylinder engine. It's a pity they don't make them any more (so far as I know there hasn't been a car with a six under 3 litres since the late 2000's)
A victim of emissions sadly. I had a Rover 45 2-litre V6. Loved it. Apart from the fuel consumption...
Lovely car