Lot Ended
Description
AMENDMENT; A delightful example of this classic Seventies wedge;
few owners, the current since 1993; wonderful colour combo
Designed by
Harris Mann of Allegro and TR7 fame and internally known as the ADO71, the
Princess was perhaps the classic wedge to emerge from the studios of
British Leyland in the 1970s. Heavily influenced by the slashing angles and
slanting panels that were all the rage in Italy (Lamborghini Countach; Maserati
Khamsin; Lancia Stratos; Fiat X1/9), the Princess brought a dash of Milanese
style to the streets of the Midlands.
While not
everyone liked the styling (critics sneering that it looked like the front and
rear ends were designed in different factories), few could complain at the
roominess, the roadholding and the Citroen-like ride quality thanks to the
Hydragas suspension.
First registered in March
1980, this Princess 2 has been in the current ownership since 1993 with just
four former keepers. Being a post-facelift model, it has the later
transversely-mounted O-Series 1,993cc engine mated to 3-speed automatic
transmission. With 95bhp on tap, the Princess 2 could hit 60 in 14
seconds on its way to a top speed of 99mph. Finished in oh-so-Seventies Reynard
Metallic with a brown flock interior and Denovo wheel trims, it has acres of
interior space thanks to front-wheel drive.
Sadly there is very little history with the car, bar a few invoices
which show a gearbox service in 2015 and a full service and a cylinder head
overhaul, new head gasket and new timing belt in 2017, since when it has only
covered 130 miles. It also had a new set of spark plugs in 2019. The owner then
became unwell and the car was laid up until 2023.
The odometer currently shows 74,375 miles which is correct and is
backed up by no fewer than 32 old MOTs back to 1983. The current MOT runs to May
2024 with no advisories recorded. An original owner's handbook, Haynes
workshop manual and Autodata repair manual are also included.
Despite
the lack of history, the car must have led a very pampered life indeed and it
looks wonderful, being every bit as clean and tidy as it appears in the photos.
The gas struts to keep the boot lid up have gone weak but that should be an easy
fix. Starting promtly and running nicely as we have moved it around on
site, the ride quality still impresses today.
Something of a flop in period – mainly because of early reliability
issues and the fact that it had a boot rather than a fashionable hatchback – the
Princess is now regarded as a blue chip Seventies classic and, with good
examples thin on the ground, values have begun to rise accordingly. This
certainly looks like one of the good ones and could yet prove a canny buy at the
sensible guide price suggested.
For an excellent account of the
development of the ADO71, copy and paste this link into your browser:
https://www.aronline.co.uk/cars/austin-morris/princess/ado71-development-story/?utm_content=cmp-true
For more information contact James on
07970 309907 or email [email protected]
AMENDMENT: Bidders are advised
that this car was subject to a Cat D insurance claim in March
1997