I absolutely love this Vanden Plas and your clear presentation. Thank you for showing us what I consider to be one of the best 1970's cars. I have a Rover P6. My Dad had an Allegro and I loved it. Many thanks.. (Phil - Lancashire UK)
Phil, thank you so much. And I'm a big fan of the P6. One of Baches best and iconic works - and probably the last high quality Rover for many many years.
I learn to drive in one , this is back in the 1970s when driving instructors could still smoke in cars. The car was in a very dark green, the same as yours with all that lovely wood interior and he was their retired army officer who was my driving instructor. The car was automatic, and as we went along, he smoke these little cigars in a tin by the name of café Creme , Talking about what car did we learn to drive in today with a friend is what bought me do your video
Having had one of these back in the day in the UK.... Its sounding well... and that auto box is behaving itself... just regular oil changes and your good to go ... oh and dont go out in the wet.... or it will soon be not rust free....lol... just drive it in the dry and keep it in the dry and all will be well... engine is bombproof really unless you go slamming it around the place... usual stuff when it comes to lubricants... enjoy it... Yoki...
Harvest gold? The 1750 is the version to have. If your american watching this think Cadillac Cimarron and you've got the picture. Sunroof rain leaks could quite possibly be causing the headliner issue above the rear window. You need to look into that. Kind regards.
I always had a soft spot for these VPs, and never disliked the ADO67 styling generally, preferring the Mks 1 and 2. I lived in Leipzig from '92 to '98, and for the first few years drove my UK registered Triumphs there: a Herald 13/60 convertible, then a Dolomite 1850HL automatic. The last few years I had a German registered '84 Mercedes W123 230E. Mercedes and Triumph are still among my favorite marks now I live in South Australia. No Triumphs at the moment, but I've had a W114, W116, W123 300D (best car in the world ever) and retain a '66 W108 250S, bought 22-years ago. My wife and I are retiring to the UK part-time next year and an ADO16 or small Triumph are top of the list for a car there, but I think I'll include an ADO67 Vanden Plas Mk 2 or 3. A nice presentation of your car, thank you.
You had such an amazing car history! And very diverse too. Same here, I always liked the Allegro a lot. Btw, I think the Dolomite is a great looking car. I had a ADO16, and still miss that car a lot.
I remember a blue later ( 1980) VDP in my local BL garage! Some thought it looked silly, but i liked it a lot.My 1st car was a ADO 16 Wolseley 1300.Great detailed video.😊
Lovely car. The Allegro and VDP people love to rubbish them but they are a good car. The VDP styling is what seems to take the brunt of complaints but i like them and always have. I love Harvest gold my first car was Harvest Gold and my dad had a Wolseley six in harvest gold. I have never seen one without picnic tables and wasn't aware of that fact and yet i've seen early cars. I remember them when they were new. Dont think i have ever seen one with a webasto sunroof. The leather looks to be in good condition. and the right colour combination olive green. They have a reasonable boot as well. My dad also had an Allegro. Happy motoring.
Hi i just found your channel through this video. It's great to see you give an honest but affectionate appreciation of this unusual British car. I am sure you know about the Austin Maxi - another BL "might have been great but..." car - we had a Maxi when I was a kid and I learnt to drive in it.
The "Rolls-Allegro" was pretty common in the UK when I was a child in the 80s. Even growing up near Luton, home of Vauxhall, I would see them regularly amongst the Cavaliers and Astras. I'll be honest, the looks of the VdP have always been a little too "challenging" for my taste, but I admire your enthusiasm for this piece of British automotive history! Enjoy it! :-)
Love your Vanden Plas 1500 Stunning , rhe only one I have see in New Zealand wad when I was about 11 or 12 there use to be one in Christchurch with a dark bronze metallic paint and tinted windows it fascinated me ad our family car was a 1979 Austin Allegro LE have a big soft spot for British Leyland Car ❤.
Yes, I remember a lady I knew adored Harvest Gold! She wanted the (original) MINI in that nice colour! That was a great thing about British Leyland - you sometimes even have your MINI in the same colour as your JAGUAR, in front of your home!
It is amazing to think that Leyland brought out the Allegro around the same time as VW were developing the first Golf - they are light-years apart, aren't they? Designing an upmarket version of the Allegro with that beautiful interior and the almost Bentley-style grille seems like such an odd thing to do, but then BL wasn't renowned for sensible decisions! I've read that when they got each bare shell to VP's Kingsbury Works, there was a lot of remedial work done on top of fitting that glorious interior so the quality was a bit better than a standard Allegro. I really like these odd little cars.
Absolutely right! But also, when BMC brought the Mini, or even more interesting, the ADO16, VW was years away from any innovation. Of course, that all changed with the Gold.
@@petrolpunx For sure - my father owned both an Allegro and a Mk1 Golf when I was a child. Worlds apart in terms of quality, something I noticed even when I was young.
I love the Vanden Plas - pronounced Vanden Pla, and you have a beautiful one. You're Vanden Plas replaced The Vanden Plas 1100, late the 1300, and is based on the Austin 1100. The Vanden Plas 1100 and 1300 also had the same interior. There was also the Wolseley 1100 and 1300, the Riley Kestral, with similar interior and based on the Austin 1100, and there was also an MG 1100 and 1300 that was based on the Austin 1100 with the same interior
For me, the VP and the Allegro feel very different. If I could choose another Allegro, it would be a 1300. It has just the right weight for the car, it's a good engine. So, a 1300 for me, posher MKII Seneffe spec preferred.
It is a common mistake, to think that Harris Mann designed these cars! The Allegro Owners Club were looking for a "hero", and when Harris Mann designed an IDEA, that you showed, the club praised him for it. But the car that DID get produced with that shape, was the Vauxhall Chevette Hatchback. IF you don't know that car you can look it up on the internet! (Isn't that useful, today!) Now let me tell you who actually DID design these cars! They were copied from a car 10 years earlier, called the OGLE SX1000! The company was owned by David Ogle, and that car was designed either by himself, or Tom Karen who designed the Bond Bug 3-wheel sportscar, and the Reliant Robin, as well as Reliant's sports car estate car! AND the Ogle SX1000 , like the Reliants was fibreglass. AND the car had TWO doors, and was like a "baby Porsche" with a Mini 1000 engine. A REALLY rare car! And I was actually lucky to see one! AND you can see very interesting videos about the lovely Ogle SX1000 on the internet!
Hm, sounds pretty wild - but it doesn't really make much sense. Not even if you follow Harris Mann's statements. And I also don't know why the Allegro Club needed a hero. Sure, I know the Ogle and am very familiar with Tom Karen (I once drove a Reliant Scimitar SE5A), and I also know the Chevette. But I don't see the connection with the Allegro at all. In general, one has to say that 1.) certain design ideas were widespread (e.g. hatchback, front engine, and front-wheel drive as a concept) and 2.) design departments consisted of teams. So, nice idea for a story, but historically and factually it makes little sense.
Great find, a wicked example of my dream car. I had my Grandfathers Mk3 as my first and most loved car
Lovely!
I absolutely love this Vanden Plas and your clear presentation. Thank you for showing us what I consider to be one of the best 1970's cars. I have a Rover P6. My Dad had an Allegro and I loved it. Many thanks.. (Phil - Lancashire UK)
Phil, thank you so much. And I'm a big fan of the P6. One of Baches best and iconic works - and probably the last high quality Rover for many many years.
Hey Benni! Congratulations on your new old car. It must be great to achieve your dream car ownership!
Thanx so much!
I learn to drive in one , this is back in the 1970s when driving instructors could still smoke in cars. The car was in a very dark green, the same as yours with all that lovely wood interior and he was their retired army officer who was my driving instructor. The car was automatic, and as we went along, he smoke these little cigars in a tin by the name of café Creme , Talking about what car did we learn to drive in today with a friend is what bought me do your video
Utterly awesome! Alone having a Vanden Plas as a driving school car is amazing. Thanx so much for a sharing this!
To ASA1973100
Cafe Creme cigars? Yes, I have tried those! I did have an AUSTIN Allegro!
Having had one of these back in the day in the UK.... Its sounding well... and that auto box is behaving itself... just regular oil changes and your good to go ... oh and dont go out in the wet.... or it will soon be not rust free....lol... just drive it in the dry and keep it in the dry and all will be well... engine is bombproof really unless you go slamming it around the place... usual stuff when it comes to lubricants... enjoy it... Yoki...
It has to stay away from all the salt 😂 - and it will got a waxoil treatment up next. First thing I've did after the purchase: changed the oil.
Harvest gold? The 1750 is the version to have. If your american watching this think Cadillac Cimarron and you've got the picture.
Sunroof rain leaks could quite possibly be causing the headliner issue above the rear window. You need to look into that. Kind regards.
Thanx mate. I've seen that problem and with the rear part of the headliner on a few Allegros. So, I'm not sure if it's the roof.
I always had a soft spot for these VPs, and never disliked the ADO67 styling generally, preferring the Mks 1 and 2. I lived in Leipzig from '92 to '98, and for the first few years drove my UK registered Triumphs there: a Herald 13/60 convertible, then a Dolomite 1850HL automatic. The last few years I had a German registered '84 Mercedes W123 230E. Mercedes and Triumph are still among my favorite marks now I live in South Australia. No Triumphs at the moment, but I've had a W114, W116, W123 300D (best car in the world ever) and retain a '66 W108 250S, bought 22-years ago. My wife and I are retiring to the UK part-time next year and an ADO16 or small Triumph are top of the list for a car there, but I think I'll include an ADO67 Vanden Plas Mk 2 or 3. A nice presentation of your car, thank you.
You had such an amazing car history! And very diverse too. Same here, I always liked the Allegro a lot. Btw, I think the Dolomite is a great looking car. I had a ADO16, and still miss that car a lot.
I remember a blue later ( 1980) VDP in my local BL garage! Some thought it looked silly, but i liked it a lot.My 1st car was a ADO 16 Wolseley 1300.Great detailed video.😊
Lovely car. The Allegro and VDP people love to rubbish them but they are a good car. The VDP styling is what seems to take the brunt of complaints but i like them and always have. I love Harvest gold my first car was Harvest Gold and my dad had a Wolseley six in harvest gold. I have never seen one without picnic tables and wasn't aware of that fact and yet i've seen early cars. I remember them when they were new. Dont think i have ever seen one with a webasto sunroof. The leather looks to be in good condition. and the right colour combination olive green. They have a reasonable boot as well. My dad also had an Allegro. Happy motoring.
Congrats Benni!
Thanx so much!
Gosh these are rare in the UK where they sold the most, so must be incredibly rare in Germany.
Oh, your English is perfect, but one tiny thing - British Leyland is pronounced British Layland. No idea why, just wont of those weird quirks.
Incredibly rare. No one knows what it is. The faces are priceless 😂
@@petrolpunx lol I bet
Since Vandenplas has his origin in the Flemish part of Belgium, it is pronounced with an “s”. Enjoy your videos a lot!
Hi i just found your channel through this video. It's great to see you give an honest but affectionate appreciation of this unusual British car. I am sure you know about the Austin Maxi - another BL "might have been great but..." car - we had a Maxi when I was a kid and I learnt to drive in it.
Sorry for the late reply. Yes, I know the Maxi, and it's a car I like a lot. But I've only seen one in the last 20 years on german roads.
The "Rolls-Allegro" was pretty common in the UK when I was a child in the 80s. Even growing up near Luton, home of Vauxhall, I would see them regularly amongst the Cavaliers and Astras. I'll be honest, the looks of the VdP have always been a little too "challenging" for my taste, but I admire your enthusiasm for this piece of British automotive history! Enjoy it! :-)
Super interesting. Yes, the looks 😂 I just love it. Also, for me it's the most BL car of all the BL cars.
Love your Vanden Plas 1500 Stunning , rhe only one I have see in New Zealand wad when I was about 11 or 12 there use to be one in Christchurch with a dark bronze metallic paint and tinted windows it fascinated me ad our family car was a 1979 Austin Allegro LE have a big soft spot for British Leyland Car ❤.
Yes, I remember a lady I knew adored Harvest Gold! She wanted the (original) MINI in that nice colour! That was a great thing about British Leyland - you sometimes even have your MINI in the same colour as your JAGUAR, in front of your home!
Hahaha, oh yes! And for me, one of my favourite BL colors.
It is amazing to think that Leyland brought out the Allegro around the same time as VW were developing the first Golf - they are light-years apart, aren't they? Designing an upmarket version of the Allegro with that beautiful interior and the almost Bentley-style grille seems like such an odd thing to do, but then BL wasn't renowned for sensible decisions! I've read that when they got each bare shell to VP's Kingsbury Works, there was a lot of remedial work done on top of fitting that glorious interior so the quality was a bit better than a standard Allegro. I really like these odd little cars.
Absolutely right! But also, when BMC brought the Mini, or even more interesting, the ADO16, VW was years away from any innovation. Of course, that all changed with the Gold.
@@petrolpunx For sure - my father owned both an Allegro and a Mk1 Golf when I was a child. Worlds apart in terms of quality, something I noticed even when I was young.
Hätte niemals mit so einem Channel aus Göttingen gerechnet😅❤
Göttingen ist doch noch für Überraschungen gut 😂😂😂
I love the Vanden Plas - pronounced Vanden Pla, and you have a beautiful one. You're Vanden Plas replaced The Vanden Plas 1100, late the 1300, and is based on the Austin 1100. The Vanden Plas 1100 and 1300 also had the same interior. There was also the Wolseley 1100 and 1300, the Riley Kestral, with similar interior and based on the Austin 1100, and there was also an MG 1100 and 1300 that was based on the Austin 1100 with the same interior
I actually had a ADO16 before. It was a Austin 1300 MKIII, and it was harvest gold too. And it was such a good car. I'd love to have the Princess!
Wow, now that is cute... what is his name?
I got it with the name Bertie. After some first drives I added something. It's now "Bertie the turtle".
i dont think that is Harvest Gold....looks more like just yellow, im sure HG is more beige ?
Oh.. a non-'Quartic' steering wheel .. that's a surprise.
And I wish it would have one
I prefer the normal Alegro 1500 MK1
For me, the VP and the Allegro feel very different. If I could choose another Allegro, it would be a 1300. It has just the right weight for the car, it's a good engine. So, a 1300 for me, posher MKII Seneffe spec preferred.
Vandan Plas allegro ha ha British Leyland at it's worst sorry best. Enjoy brother
Very likely the only one in Germany.
I think it is - although, I've heard about a second one.
It is a common mistake, to think that Harris Mann designed these cars!
The Allegro Owners Club were looking for a "hero", and when Harris Mann designed an IDEA, that you showed, the club praised him for it. But the car that DID get produced with that shape, was the Vauxhall Chevette Hatchback.
IF you don't know that car you can look it up on the internet! (Isn't that useful, today!)
Now let me tell you who actually DID design these cars! They were copied from a car 10 years earlier, called the OGLE SX1000!
The company was owned by David Ogle, and that car was designed either by himself, or Tom Karen who designed the Bond Bug 3-wheel sportscar, and the Reliant Robin, as well as Reliant's sports car estate car!
AND the Ogle SX1000 , like the Reliants was fibreglass.
AND the car had TWO doors, and was like a "baby Porsche" with a Mini 1000 engine.
A REALLY rare car! And I was actually lucky to see one!
AND you can see very interesting videos about the lovely Ogle SX1000 on the internet!
Hm, sounds pretty wild - but it doesn't really make much sense. Not even if you follow Harris Mann's statements. And I also don't know why the Allegro Club needed a hero. Sure, I know the Ogle and am very familiar with Tom Karen (I once drove a Reliant Scimitar SE5A), and I also know the Chevette. But I don't see the connection with the Allegro at all. In general, one has to say that 1.) certain design ideas were widespread (e.g. hatchback, front engine, and front-wheel drive as a concept) and 2.) design departments consisted of teams. So, nice idea for a story, but historically and factually it makes little sense.