project 1972 Vanden Plas Princess 1300 - The Forum Bike VP

[N Dentressangle]

15 minutes ago, SiC said:

Not sure I like green. 

Interesting that Tahiti blue was a BLMC colour at the time. I suspect it wouldn't have been an option on a VP as a bit bright. There are two Tahiti Blue. An earlier one (which I prefer) or a later (which I don't). Earlier was used on this era, later on 90s Minis and such. 

What's the actual paint code on yours?

[SiC]

Just now, N Dentressangle said:

What's the actual paint code on yours?

No idea! Where can I find it? If on the body, it's a good chance it's been painted over 🤣

[N Dentressangle]

10 minutes ago, SiC said:

No idea! Where can I find it? If on the body, it's a good chance it's been painted over 🤣

Possible there isn't one - I'm no ADO16 licker.

Nothing on or around the chassis plate?

I suppose we can't all drive a Rover... 😉

[captain_70s]

I like Aconite. Tend to lean towards darker colours on cars with plenty of brightwork, helps it stand out.

[SiC]

I suspect it might have been Royale Blue 

Going by the colour behind the dash which is very likely original.

[MiniMinorMk3]

The colour on the inside looks like Blue Royale or Midnight Blue. The colour on the outside looks like Trafalgar Blue. Here's some dodgy pictures of the colour charts from 1971 and 1972.

 

[vulgalour]

Just got myself caught up on this. For the dashboard, don't faff about with fablon, over time it will shrink and some of the wood grain ones can fade very badly.  Far easier to get some adhesive backed real veneer and then put some varnish of finish choice on top.  If you want the factory burled walnut with heavy lacquer look that's a shedload of work to achieve, especially DIY.

Carpets can be got by the metre from Woolies, I used this one in the Princess https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-1671-carpet-maroon and it's held up just fine, didn't even need to bind the edges, no colour fading either.  Happily, the carpet in the ADO16 is nice and simple so you'll be able to get that in no bother DIY.

 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Midnight blue would look classy. 

White may invite attention, Maxi stylee...

 

[Spottedlaurel]

Dark blue is what comes to mind when I think of the VDP version, but oddly when I looked on my Flickr uploads all I could find was white:

I was slightly surprised to find that this one is still around (or still taxed at least).

And several examples of this 'gold'.

Do you have the wheel trim rings? They add a certain touch of class.

[Wibble]

46 minutes ago, vulgalour said:

Just got myself caught up on this. For the dashboard, don't faff about with fablon, over time it will shrink and some of the wood grain ones can fade very badly.  Far easier to get some adhesive backed real veneer and then put some varnish of finish choice on top.  If you want the factory burled walnut with heavy lacquer look that's a shedload of work to achieve, especially DIY.

Carpets can be got by the metre from Woolies, I used this one in the Princess https://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/p-1671-carpet-maroon and it's held up just fine, didn't even need to bind the edges, no colour fading either.  Happily, the carpet in the ADO16 is nice and simple so you'll be able to get that in no bother DIY.

 

“if you want the factory burled walnut with heavy lacquer look that's a shedload of work to achieve, especially DIY.”

It really isn’t that difficult. Use cellulose lacquer in aerosols and you’ll get there but definitely not varnish.

[camryv6]

What about painting it Sand and Sable like a baby Rolls Royce ?

[SiC]

Bought some new wood to fix the dash.

£1 from Proper Job (a local cheap shop)

WPCGW?

[camryv6]

@Wibbleis having a heart attack !!

[Wibble]

38 minutes ago, camryv6 said:

@Wibbleis having a heart attack !!

I am! Please just send it to me!!

[camryv6]

Just now, Wibble said:

I am! Please just send it to me!!

Remember this is not a restoration, all he is doing is refurbishing the dashboard, and controls and a repaint. 

[camryv6]

Oh and maybe a spot of welding

[SiC]

8 minutes ago, camryv6 said:

Remember this is not a restoration, all he is doing is refurbishing the dashboard, and controls and a repaint. 

 

8 minutes ago, camryv6 said:

Oh and maybe a spot of welding

And replacing the head lining. 

And replacing the carpet. 

Maybe replacing/rebuilding the engine depending on how that holds up. 

Possibly some suspension work too. 

[N Dentressangle]

12 minutes ago, Wibble said:

I am! Please just send it to me!!

He's winding us up.

I hope.

 

[Wibble]

13 minutes ago, N Dentressangle said:

He's winding us up.

I hope.

 

So do I 

[SiC]

Hmm. It didn't go as well as I hoped, which is probably what you expected. 

No pictures as I think I try again to improve it. Don't think I sanded it well enough after chipping all the old veneer off. Also will try with some spray glue instead of relying on the sticky backed glue. 

[Matty]

8 hours ago, Andyrew said:

Ha! anyone who finds the paint colour of an Ado16 controversial seriously needs to have a wank and a biscuit. 

Brighter the better IMO , Also better at hiding not so good bodywork.

I wanted to do either The MG Aconite purple or Alice charmers orange.

 

 

Aconite for me. Stunning colour 😍 

[Wibble]

1 hour ago, SiC said:

Hmm. It didn't go as well as I hoped, which is probably what you expected. 

No pictures as I think I try again to improve it. Don't think I sanded it well enough after chipping all the old veneer off. Also will try with some spray glue instead of relying on the sticky backed glue. 

I’m not going to bite, yet!

[captain_70s]

2 hours ago, SiC said:

Hmm. It didn't go as well as I hoped, which is probably what you expected. 

No pictures as I think I try again to improve it. Don't think I sanded it well enough after chipping all the old veneer off. Also will try with some spray glue instead of relying on the sticky backed glue. 

[SiC]

Okay okay I was pulling all your legs. Aren't I funny bugger... 😆 (Mrs SiC has to put up with this foolhardiness daily the poor woman)

So what have I actually been doing today?

Picked up this lot. Not bad for £115 I reckon. While not mint, they're in far better condition than the originals and weren't expensive. 

I thought these were black in the photos but in person they're a navy blue. That's fine as the interior on the car is actually blue.

The seat diaphragm has gone on both though. Been looking at eBay for replacements - I reckon the TR3/4/5 might work. They're £45 for a pair so not silly money. 

Also went to the Atwell Wilson museum on the way back as it wasn't far away from where I picked up these seats. I've been a few times before but mostly wanted to go back and look at their Austin 7 exhibits and artifacts. I'll put a separate post on that another day (if I remember)

Finally through the post this little key fob came through the post. Was only a couple of quid but very handy to tell the difference when you have multiple bunches of BMC/BL keys that look all the same. 

I started cleaning and feeding the leather outdoors this evening until I ran out of light. So took them indoors into a downstairs spare room. As you can imagine, Mrs SiC is thrilled. 

You can see the difference part way through that feeding does (top treated, bottom not yet). I'm using Autoglym Leather Care Balm as I have loads of it and it smells nice. 

Right side treated. Left not.

Both seats done (one is sat in another room) and the rear base is done. Just the rear top half to do tomorrow and maybe another coat all over. 

Drivers side seat has a gash in it. Really the only major physical damage. (Some bits have stains on but I might dye them in the future)

Suggestions on how to fix this are welcome. I might set Mrs SiC at it with a needle and thick thread. Not going to be super pretty but should stop it getting worse.

Probably all needs a few more coats of this balm. But it's coming up nicely. 

These seats will be the best bit of the car 😅

[SiC]

5 minutes ago, SiC said:

Been looking at eBay for replacements - I reckon the TR3/4/5 might work. They're £45 for a pair so not silly money. 

A link to what I was talking about:

https://ebay.us/m/Gw640r

[Zelandeth]

BMC colours, brighter the better?  

Snapdragon surely...

[MorrisItalSLX]

6 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

BMC colours, brighter the better?  

Snapdragon surely...

Applejack a close second…

[EyesWeldedShut]

1 hour ago, MorrisItalSLX said:

Applejack a close second…

As a kid we were told that Applejack was  specially commissioned by Appleyard* by one of the guys that work there. We believed him.
The Allegro colour that sticks with me is an Orange (Google suggests 'sunfire' or 'sunset' as possibilities but I an not that sure myself). I had a gig driving a 1300 estate badermatic (whooo!) for an elderly owner in our village who wouldn't go further than the paper shop if driving himself. As a 17 year old, getting paid to drive? Happy days.

* Leeds based (I think) chain of car dealerships who had a branch in Ayr.
 

[BeEP]

The colour list above is a bit misleading. Whilst all may have been available at some point between 73 and 75 most were introduced in 74 or 75 (Tahiti and flamenco fall into the latter). In fact only two of those colours were ever available on an ado16; damask and tundra. There are many 73 colours not on that list; teal blue, mallard green, blaze orange, black tulip, limeflower and glacier white to name a few.

[MiniMinorMk3]

15 hours ago, SiC said:

Bought some new wood to fix the dash.

£1 from Proper Job (a local cheap shop)

WPCGW?

I might have a dash for a Princess in one of my lock ups. I'll go and have a look this week and see if it a 1300 version and not an Allegro version.