1965 Vanden Plas Princess

The Vanden Plas Princess 4-Litre R is a five-seater saloon produced from 1964 to 1968.

The 4-Litre R was the result of talks between BMC and Rolls-Royce to jointly produce a range of executive cars. This project was eventually abandoned but Crewe did offer the British Motor Corporation a version of its FB60 military vehicle engine for use in one of its own cars. The subsequent VDP was based on the Princess 3-Litre, a rear-wheel-drive, 4-door saloon with cam-and-peg steering, disc/drum braking, independent front coil spring and wishbones and rear semi-elliptic leaf springs with anti-roll bars on both axles. The major differences were in the 175bhp 4-Litre engine, the altered monocoque coachwork and a much-improved level of trim and finish.

The Vanden Plas Princess 4-Litre R was launched in August 1964 and to justify a far higher price than the 3-Litre - £1,994 6s 3d as opposed to £1,474 – dealers would point out how the roofline had been altered, affording rear passengers more room, the lack of tailfins and the splendid interior. The 4-Litre offered separate heating for front and rear passengers, a map reading lamp and finish that was superlative even by Vanden Plas standards. Then there was the ‘R’ badge which either stood for ‘Royal’ or ‘Rolls’, depending on which neighbour you hoped to impress.

‘Hydrosteer’ power steering and automatic transmission were also part of the package (there was no manual option) and the 4-Litre was fitted with a new front cross member, in order to accommodate the larger power plant. Extras included a heated rear window, air conditioning and Selectatide rear dampers and the top speed was 106mph with an acceleration of 0-60 mph in 12.7 seconds. Autocar magazine concluded that ‘even if the origin of the engine were not disclosed, the refinement of the car justifies its position in the £2,000 price category’, but sales were limited and the 4-Litre R ceased production in early 1968.

The Princess was also available with a bench front seat and sliding glass division to form a limousine. A shooting brake 4-Litre R was coachbuilt for HM The Queen.

The Vanden Plas 4-Litre R’s engine was a 3,909cc S6 OHV plant related to the unit in the Austin Champ 4x4. The transmission was a 3-speed Borg Warner Model 8 box.

On the road, a Vanden Plas 4-Litre R is as stately as a galleon, conveying a genuine sense of distinction, while the hide-trimmed cabin is a splendid place in which to relax.

In addition to the corrosion issues that often afflict the 3-Litre, the VDP 4-Litre R’s engine may suffer from overheating due to internal corrosion, piston slap or worn valve gear. The power steering can also be prone to leaking.

For rather too long, the 4-Litre R was disdained by motoring enthusiasts for its alleged social pretentions but now it is appreciated for its considerable merit. And the fact that it debuted in the same year as the Austin 1800 shows the diversity of BMC’s range in the 1960s.

The Vanden Plas Princess 4-Litre R was targeted at the motorist who might have otherwise considered the Daimler Majestic Major, the Ford Zodiac Executive Mk. III or Mk. IV, the Humber Imperial, the Jaguar Mk. X, the Rover P5 3-Litre saloon or the Vauxhall Viscount.