A (hate) message to all Princess owners

[lisbon_road]

I didn't realise the Princess was made with a B series.  I do remember the paint falling off them when they were new though.  Perhaps it has done a bit better as painted locally?  Normally you think of shipping panels and painting locally as a bad idea but if done properly - could be better than we got.

 

I am assuming they were painted locally if they were assembled there.  

 

Anyway, looks totally fab.

 

OK, edit: not wanting to get off topic, but looking at Wikipedia (which is never wrong), Maxis had four speed auto and five speed manual boxes but Princesses didn't.  Am I missing something?

[vulgalour]

All early Princess (or 18-22 to be more accurate) were equipped with the B instead of the O in later cars.  The B was dropped when the Princess 2 came along in either '78 or '79.  I'm not certain, but I think the NZ/Aus versions never made it past the 18-22 version so were all B series and earlier trim specifications with domestic only interiors and paint options like the stunning cream vinyl roof over black, powder blue or terracotta coachwork which we never got.

[STUNO]

It's daytime there now, isn't it? I want to hear that you've bought it.

 

 It's not for sale!   I just went to drool over it........

[adw1977]

I didn't realise the Princess was made with a B series.  I do remember the paint falling off them when they were new though.  Perhaps it has done a bit better as painted locally?  Normally you think of shipping panels and painting locally as a bad idea but if done properly - could be better than we got.

 

I am assuming they were painted locally if they were assembled there.  

 

Anyway, looks totally fab.

 

OK, edit: not wanting to get off topic, but looking at Wikipedia (which is never wrong), Maxis had four speed auto and five speed manual boxes but Princesses didn't.  Am I missing something?

Maxi used the E series engine, which was never used in the Princess.  British Leyland logic, having a 1750 and an 1800 engine of completely different type in production at the same time!

[STUNO]

I didn't realise the Princess was made with a B series.  I do remember the paint falling off them when they were new though.  Perhaps it has done a bit better as painted locally?  Normally you think of shipping panels and painting locally as a bad idea but if done properly - could be better than we got.

 

I am assuming they were painted locally if they were assembled there.  

 

Anyway, looks totally fab.

 

OK, edit: not wanting to get off topic, but looking at Wikipedia (which is never wrong), Maxis had four speed auto and five speed manual boxes but Princesses didn't.  Am I missing something?

 

 

I visited the factory once , they were assembling cars using wooden jigs to ensure everything lined up properly and wheeling the bodies on castors along the line. They were probably painted by old Fred who new what he was doing. must have been modernised later as they became Honda assembly. Closed like all other assembly plants when the Govt realised that importing built-up was cheaper. 

I am sure this will be 4 speed box, date of this will be '76 or '77.

[vulgalour]

The Princess did use the E series, that's what the 2.2 straight six is they put in them.  It will definitely be the 4 speed though, the Princess was never blessed with a fifth gear.

[JeeExEll]

Interesting find there. Reminds me of the Aus/NZ spec long nose cars with the Leyand P76 4.4V8 and live rear axle. I think the 4 speed Rover 3500S P6 manual box was used but autos also available.

[Skizzer]

 It's not for sale!   I just went to drool over it........

 

Ah, I was misled by you saying it was very reasonably priced.  I see what you meant now.

[JeeExEll]

The reason why so few long-nose V8 Princesses were made is because Leyland Aus were struggling to meet the engine demand for the V8 4.4 litre rear wheel drive Maxi coupe.

The diesel Maxi, although popular in the UK, was not a big seller elsewhere so the V8 was in high demand.

[Squire_Dawson]

Is that stretch Princess a real car? How curiously incongruous.

[adw1977]

The Princess did use the E series, that's what the 2.2 straight six is they put in them.  It will definitely be the 4 speed though, the Princess was never blessed with a fifth gear.

 

Oops, yes the Princess did use the 6 cylinder E series, but not the 4 cylinder E series from the Maxi (and Allegro).