Lot Ended
Description
Low mileage with tons of history; former show-winner; current
owner 10 years; wonderfully original; advisory-free MOT; a pampered example of
this luxury Seventies saloon
In 1974 British
Leyland launched an Allegro-based car that was simply called the Vanden Plas
1500. It replaced the Vanden Plas Princess 1300 and was the first Vanden Plas
since the marque was established in 1960 not to be referred to as a
"Princess".
Cost constraints dictated that only
the bonnet could be altered, and the designers at Vanden Plas took their
inspiration from the Daimler Double-Six grille. On the inside they really went
to town and it was luxuriously appointed in proper 'British country house'
style, with oodles of walnut and leather.
Supplied new by Kennings Car Mart of Ealing in October 1974, this
splendid Vanden Plas 1500 Automatic is finished in Harvest Gold with Deep Olive
trim, brown vinyl roof and a fully functioning Tudor Webasto sunroof with wind
deflectors. Being a MkI it has chrome sill strips and no picnic tables.
Showing only 36,000 miles on the clock (of which
more later), it comes with a vast file of invoices back to 1978 which will keep
the next owner happily engrossed for hours. Rest assured – this car has been
mollycoddled throughout its life and maintained regardless of
expense.
Our vendor acquired the car 10 years ago
and is an enthusiastic member of the VDP owner’s club to whom this car is very
well known, featuring in various issues of the club magazine and winning several
trophies over the years. It also attended the Allegro's 50th Anniversary
celebration at Gaydon in 2023, as you can see if you visit the Allegro Club
International website.
Like his
predecessors, our vendor has maintained the car meticulously, as detailed
in many invoices on file, with regular servicing and waxoil treatment plus a new
set of Uniroyal tyres. The most recent service was by the five-star rated BL/BMC
specialists Hydragas & Hydrolastic Service Ltd of Telford in Sept/Oct 2024
which cost £590 and included a full service, a brake overhaul and a check of the
suspension to ensure that the famous ride quality of this model remains in peak
condition.
Although it is free-to-tax and
MOT-exempt, it has been tested every year with any advisories promptly
addressed, the current MOT being valid until May 2026 which was another clean
pass once a few minor corrosion issues and an oil leak were attended to.
There are also no fewer than 30 old MOTs back to 1974 which imply
that the speedo wasn't working from 2005 - 2014 so the true mileage isn't known.
Judging by the condition of the car, various SORN certificates and how few
miles it covered each year, the current 36k reading is probably not too far
wide of the mark.
Aside from all the maintenance
invoices, it comes with lots of wonderful literature about the model including
period brochures and road tests, handbook, workshop manual etc, all contained in
a Fortnum & Mason picnic hamper. There are also records of all seven
previous owners and a VDP Owners Club Heritage Certificate (see
photos).
As you can see in the photos, this
well-historied Vanden Plas looks very smart indeed and has been starting
instantly and running beautifully as we have moved it around on site. You would
be hard pressed to find a better-preserved example so do come and take a look!
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 –
[email protected]