A very misunderstood car. I was around when these were introduced. Most folks looked at them and just thought "what the hell. . .". The looks were very devisive. Looking back now, they were very ahead of their time. I had an Ambassador 1.7 base model for a while. It didn't have power steering, and trust me when I say, You REALLY need that. It was extremely heavy at parking speeds. My wife , who is quite small, found it almost impossible to drive because of that. Otherwise, very comfortable, huge amount of space especially with the hatchback, and pretty good to drive once you get above 15MPH. Great work Steph. Thanks.
The thing that always got me with the Princess was the 4 speed box, Maxi's had a 5 speed and surely there must have been a way to adapt these for the Princess which would have made them a nicer drive. Other than that though I didn't mind the Princess, it has always been a very nice design.
Wow. Another fantastic survivor. Great to see this car being cherished. It became fashionable to knock BL in period but these were good cars (once the inevitable early production issues were sorted). Love the colour - I'm wearing a top in the same colour today 😂
Good One Steph looking good as always. Yet another car I have always like and feel are very underrated by many. I recall at the time they were first launched many people didn't like the shape but I always thought they looked very modern and were quite advanced for the time. One of my suppliers had a red one in the late 70's and I loved going out in it.
So sleek.. it actually looks awesome ! ..and the vinyl roof.. a classic pigeon splatter mat ! lol Great video !!.. I do love the old British Leyland motors. It's a classic 1970's colour as well.. the design team probably got free mustard at the Berni Inns on their business lunches !! My Dad used to train senior managers at BL.. and was always astounded at how drunk thery were... true story. 8:29 wtf !!..a random prowler looking for a swimming pool ! 😁 That six sounds awesome at the exhaust ! Superb review !!
Great Video I am sure Orange velour seats will come back. The range was designed as a hatchback but B.L stopped it as they figured it would hit sales of the Maxi, very shortsighted and stopped the car reaching its full market potential.
Being Australian, I have never encountered this vehicle. Thank you for demonstrating it. The only "Princess" cars here are Austin wedding limos. But no tacho on a manual twin SU transverse 6? (It was 30C today here in spring, and I wore a suitcoat and necktie as I felt cold! Last year it reached over 50C in the shade.)
A very misunderstood car. I was around when these were introduced. Most folks looked at them and just thought "what the hell. . .". The looks were very devisive. Looking back now, they were very ahead of their time. I had an Ambassador 1.7 base model for a while. It didn't have power steering, and trust me when I say, You REALLY need that. It was extremely heavy at parking speeds. My wife , who is quite small, found it almost impossible to drive because of that. Otherwise, very comfortable, huge amount of space especially with the hatchback, and pretty good to drive once you get above 15MPH. Great work Steph. Thanks.
I love when people of the time comment on a car. Gives you proper perspective x
Orange! Nice matching frock too!
One of my faves 😂
The thing that always got me with the Princess was the 4 speed box, Maxi's had a 5 speed and surely there must have been a way to adapt these for the Princess which would have made them a nicer drive. Other than that though I didn't mind the Princess, it has always been a very nice design.
Absolutely correct. A 5 speed box should’ve been standard, at least on the 2200 x
I do have a thing for B/L cars & this has made my day, thanks steph 👌
Glad to have Made your day. Hope the rest of it is fab toooooo ❤️❤️❤️
Wow. Another fantastic survivor. Great to see this car being cherished. It became fashionable to knock BL in period but these were good cars (once the inevitable early production issues were sorted). Love the colour - I'm wearing a top in the same colour today 😂
Haha. I love a bit of burnt orange x
Good One Steph looking good as always. Yet another car I have always like and feel are very underrated by many. I recall at the time they were first launched many people didn't like the shape but I always thought they looked very modern and were quite advanced for the time. One of my suppliers had a red one in the late 70's and I loved going out in it.
Progress is linked to risk. This was a risk that deserved more love
So sleek.. it actually looks awesome ! ..and the vinyl roof.. a classic pigeon splatter mat ! lol
Great video !!.. I do love the old British Leyland motors.
It's a classic 1970's colour as well.. the design team probably got free mustard at the Berni Inns on their business lunches !!
My Dad used to train senior managers at BL.. and was always astounded at how drunk thery were... true story.
8:29 wtf !!..a random prowler looking for a swimming pool ! 😁
That six sounds awesome at the exhaust !
Superb review !!
Hahahah random prowler. Just ugly laughed 😂😂 x
Great Video I am sure Orange velour seats will come back. The range was designed as a hatchback but B.L stopped it as they figured it would hit sales of the Maxi, very shortsighted and stopped the car reaching its full market potential.
It’s a sad mismanagement isn’t it x
and there were various Vanden Plas Princesses. I have one of the ADO16 variants: a 1300 VDP Princess
A friend's dad had one, it was a very smooth ride.
Hi Steph just wantvto say what a wonderful video as always and a such a beautiful car to review 😊
Ahh thank you. I’m so grateful to Alan for his generosity in sharing x
Being Australian, I have never encountered this vehicle. Thank you for demonstrating it.
The only "Princess" cars here are Austin wedding limos.
But no tacho on a manual twin SU transverse 6?
(It was 30C today here in spring, and I wore a suitcoat and necktie as I felt cold! Last year it reached over 50C in the shade.)
I don’t know how you do it. I’d be roasting x
My next door neighbour had a blue one..
Lovely!
It was a comfortable car, but it did get through driveshafts, lasting on average 2k miles a set !
Yeah couldn’t be doing with that, would drive me nuts x