1981 Austin Princess garage find

[Dick Cheeseburger]

it was first a company car and covered 50k miles in the first three years, then was sold to the family I got it from. They used it for holidays in their caravan as it has a towbar. I think they then upgraded to a Montego but wanted to keep the Princess as everyone loved it so it went into the garage and stayed there for 20 years!

 

Great that you know the story from day one. It’s cleaned up so damn well! As for the Okk thing, is that a reference to the one which used to be on here? It was painted black last time I saw it for sale, and didn’t look too great. If you’ve bought parts to he,p you with yours, all well and good. They need to come from somewhere!

Looking at your Flickr link, is the 304 convertible yours? I always liked the look of that one, and remember reading about, and commenting on a thread on it somewhere. Have you got a thread on here, or is it the blue forum?

[fordperv]

Top looking motor there lad, there is hope for the next generation

[Pillock]

just to clarify I didn't break that car, it was already in parts and obviously I'm going to buy them off that than pay like 100% more for new reproductions!!

 

I'm only joshing. One good car is better than two basket cases!

[vulgalour]

Indeed.

 

[Noel Tidybeard]

Damask red if i'm not mistaken

[danthecapriman]

Yum! That's magnificent! Really good looking car.

 

I'll keep my eyes peeled for it once it's back on the road since your local.

[Cavcraft]

That's lovely!

[Twiggy]

What a lovely bit of kit !

[Tadhg Tiogar]

...Well done for choosing something utterly unconventional!

Wait 'til he discovers Citroens.... 

[MorrisItalSLX]

When I was 17, I had a 1985 Jaguar Sovereign.

You are 17 and have a 1981 Austin Princess.

 

I am jealous.

[Zantimisfit]

That looks fantastic. 17 years and you have your own Princess...a long and illustrious life clearly lies ahead of you

 

I need a nice lie down after looking at those.

[P304r5]

My ambition has always been to drive a car older than me - you've absolutely nailed that aspiration.

 

Top chodding, sir, she looks a beaut.

 

Hope you can find some reasonably priced insurance cover soon, you must be itching to drive it.

 

Do you know anyone with some private land ?

thank you! Don't know anyone unfortunately so might just have to drive it up and down the driveway a couple of times! 

[P304r5]

Damask red if i'm not mistaken

everyone has said that but its Carmine! 

[P304r5]

Great that you know the story from day one. It’s cleaned up so damn well! As for the Okk thing, is that a reference to the one which used to be on here? It was painted black last time I saw it for sale, and didn’t look too great. If you’ve bought parts to he,p you with yours, all well and good. They need to come from somewhere!

Looking at your Flickr link, is the 304 convertible yours? I always liked the look of that one, and remember reading about, and commenting on a thread on it somewhere. Have you got a thread on here, or is it the blue forum?

thank you so much! Yes it was a red Princess painted black and full of filler according to the current owners, well known on here apparently so some people are sad that it's been broken- which I can completely understand! yes that is mine as well, I posted it on here a couple of years ago I'll try and find it! 

[schnappi]

Nice looking car.   I remember trying to persuade my dad to buy an Austin Princess.  I was about 10 years old and "Back to the Future" was a thing.  Through my youthful eyes, the wedgey shape of the Austin Princess beared a passing resemblance to the DeLorean DMC-12.  Fortunately my dad had more sense and ended up with a Mk2 Cavalier SRi.

[barefoot]

I got insurance for my lads on a Metro VDP for £400 for me taking out the policy and him as named driver,

 

 

Isn't that 'fronting'?

[mrbenn]

Your Princess is bloody lovely! Bet you can't wait to drive it.

 

£1100 doesn't sound too bad for insurance on the Focus, and you should see a decent drop at the end of year 1.

[captain_70s]

My first car cost me £1400 to insure, but I was 20 at the time! It was also a 1.0 3-cylinder Yaris... When I got my Dolly 1300 the following year it inexplicably cost MORE to insure despite being less powerful, being garaged and on a limited mileage policy because MASSIVE ENGINE SIZE.

[P304r5]

Your Princess is bloody lovely! Bet you can't wait to drive it.

 

£1100 doesn't sound too bad for insurance on the Focus, and you should see a decent drop at the end of year 1.

should be about £800 next year but still got the dreaded black box! 

[mercrocker]

Driving one of these now aged 18 is the equivalent of me having had an Austin Sixteen at that age.   Fair play, young Sir!

[P304r5]

thank you for the comments! 

[AlabamaShrimp]

Now all you need is the full Captain 70s gear and you're set for life.

[wuvvum]

My ambition has always been to drive a car older than me - you've absolutely nailed that aspiration.

 

To be fair, at his age he could nail that aspiration with a Bini.

[P304r5]

To be fair, at his age he could nail that aspiration with a Bini.

nope- they were launched after I was born

[RoadworkUK]

Not only is this entirely exquisite, but it wears some of the very finest wheel trims ever devised. Strong work, Sir.

[Pillock]

I got insurance for my lads on a Metro VDP for £400 for me taking out the policy and him as named driver, I also took one out on the Allegro for similar money from a comparison website. As you will be learning, get Father or Mother to insure vehicle with you as named driver on a provisional. When test is passed, it goes up somewhat. Oldest got £1500 for the Mini for him being main driver when he passed. Sheilas Wheels of all providers!

Don't do it, that's insurance fraud.

Oh yeah, they'll sell you the policy, but if you have an accident they'll just refuse to pay out if they suspect you're doing this.

 

Named drivers should spend less time behind the wheel than the primary driver / policy holder. Most places now ask directly "who will drive the car most" if you have more than one driver to stop people doing this.

 

Plus, you've just told the internet that's what you're up to, and as I found out... Insurance companies do pay people to sit on forums matching users cars to policies!

 

(Having an adult as a named driver to reduce cost is perfectly OK)

[Paul Dupart]

Insurance, in 1982 my first car (a Marina 1800HL TC) cost me £280 for TPF&T.  Translates to about £1100 in todays money.  Some things don't change.

 

Love the Prinny, my dad had a 2200HL in the late 70's, always had a soft spot for them... 

[P304r5]

https://flic.kr/p/22drLGX got sent this photo of it in the 80s by the previous owner 

[AlabamaShrimp]

Can someone post that pic please my phone won't show it, wants me to sign up.

[adw1977]

Can someone post that pic please my phone won't show it, wants me to sign up.