Top Gear to do 'BL' special in new Series
Discussion
How can anyone be proud of that heap of junk? Using the low mileage to justify its saviour is simply odd! It was no good back then, it is no good today.
It's a national embarrasement, it shouts volumes about what a mess out country was in when built.
We were the laughing stock of Europe during those times, the old man of europe.
It's a national embarrasement, it shouts volumes about what a mess out country was in when built.
We were the laughing stock of Europe during those times, the old man of europe.
tinman0 said:
MK4 Slowride said:
I was quite gutted when he trashed that red Mazerati, it looked mint & had a V8 iirc. I'd of had that.
the Maserati was scrap. it looked nice but after they dropped the skip you could see why it was condemned. it was totally rotten.You guys come across as the most pretentious bunch of people I have come across in a fair while.
The car wasn't cool when it came out, with a tiny bit of work it would be nowadays though. Either way it's besides the point as I am pretty sure you could count the ammount left running by the fingers on your hands.
Top gear is usually funny and I can see how this would be, if they used an old basket case for the show, but if it does get trashed I am going to have a serious humour failure with the beeb.
The car wasn't cool when it came out, with a tiny bit of work it would be nowadays though. Either way it's besides the point as I am pretty sure you could count the ammount left running by the fingers on your hands.
Top gear is usually funny and I can see how this would be, if they used an old basket case for the show, but if it does get trashed I am going to have a serious humour failure with the beeb.
I can say whatever I like about it because I'm a member of the Princess owners club - http://www.princessownersclub.com/
FourWheelDrift said:
I can say whatever I like about it because I'm a member of the Princess owners club - http://www.princessownersclub.com/
and yet you dont own up to owning one, having owned one in the past, or wanting on ein your dream garage .... according to your profile 
XJSJohn said:
FourWheelDrift said:
I can say whatever I like about it because I'm a member of the Princess owners club - http://www.princessownersclub.com/
and yet you dont own up to owning one, having owned one in the past, or wanting on ein your dream garage .... according to your profile 
The Princess was a truly lamentable heap of misguided and appallingly assembled shite that absolutely represented the nadir of our automotive industry. As such it is surely worth keeping the odd few that have miraculously survived into old age if only to remind us of the errors of the past.
That particular car does look like a minter and the mind boggles thinking of the amount of love, care and attention that has been lavished on such a snotter to keep it in good nick. Let it live, I say...
That particular car does look like a minter and the mind boggles thinking of the amount of love, care and attention that has been lavished on such a snotter to keep it in good nick. Let it live, I say...
Edited by ettore on Tuesday 14th August 12:18
I saw an old duffer in an Austin Maxi a little while ago, it looked almost mint - in fact better than any I remember seeing when they were still reasonably common however many years ago!
I had to admire the effort that obviously gone into it, but also had to wonder why? However, like the photo of that Princess, it was nice to see if only to remind you of a previous age and make you appreciate how cars on our roads have moved on.
I had to admire the effort that obviously gone into it, but also had to wonder why? However, like the photo of that Princess, it was nice to see if only to remind you of a previous age and make you appreciate how cars on our roads have moved on.
LikesBikes said:
I saw an old duffer in an Austin Maxi a little while ago, it looked almost mint - in fact better than any I remember seeing when they were still reasonably common however many years ago!
I had to admire the effort that obviously gone into it, but also had to wonder why? However, like the photo of that Princess, it was nice to see if only to remind you of a previous age and make you appreciate how cars on our roads have moved on.
Yes. I agree.I had to admire the effort that obviously gone into it, but also had to wonder why? However, like the photo of that Princess, it was nice to see if only to remind you of a previous age and make you appreciate how cars on our roads have moved on.
Top gear are not true petrolheads if they trash this. It's a piece of rare, british motoring crapness history. If they take it to lotus for a mid mounted V8 and suspension sorting, I will applaud them. If they trash it, I think I will safely say that top gear isn't on my watch list.
I read this topic and I have to say people are so kind.
This is part of our british motoring history. What other manufacturer would have dared to launch such a car in the 70's. It might not appeal to all of us. I personally love it, and I know many more people who do. If you don't like it then don't read the thread.
No wonder cars like this are rare, it's because people do not appreciate them enough. Don't give me a load of bollox either, saying that 'They were crap all along' 'BL made shit cars, etc' because it seems that most of you base your opinion purley on what you have been told. If they were truly crap then why are their enthusiasts like us.
This is part of our british motoring history. What other manufacturer would have dared to launch such a car in the 70's. It might not appeal to all of us. I personally love it, and I know many more people who do. If you don't like it then don't read the thread.
No wonder cars like this are rare, it's because people do not appreciate them enough. Don't give me a load of bollox either, saying that 'They were crap all along' 'BL made shit cars, etc' because it seems that most of you base your opinion purley on what you have been told. If they were truly crap then why are their enthusiasts like us.
MetroLee said:
I read this topic and I have to say people are so kind.
This is part of our british motoring history. What other manufacturer would have dared to launch such a car in the 70's. It might not appeal to all of us. I personally love it, and I know many more people who do. If you don't like it then don't read the thread.
No wonder cars like this are rare, it's because people do not appreciate them enough. Don't give me a load of bollox either, saying that 'They were crap all along' 'BL made shit cars, etc' because it seems that most of you base your opinion purley on what you have been told. If they were truly crap then why are their enthusiasts like us.
Well said, Sir.This is part of our british motoring history. What other manufacturer would have dared to launch such a car in the 70's. It might not appeal to all of us. I personally love it, and I know many more people who do. If you don't like it then don't read the thread.
No wonder cars like this are rare, it's because people do not appreciate them enough. Don't give me a load of bollox either, saying that 'They were crap all along' 'BL made shit cars, etc' because it seems that most of you base your opinion purley on what you have been told. If they were truly crap then why are their enthusiasts like us.
Even if you consider the car crap, that one does look like a minter, and quite apart from anything else, just to wantonly trash it seems to me to be an unwarranted kick in teeth to those who have looked after it for 25+ years.
Speaking as an owner of some early BL tin, this should not be crushed. Granted they are not everyone's cup of tea but I know there are a few people that would certainly well look after that one.
These aren't cheap either in the Practical Classic sense, a '75 Wolseley in that good a nick would clear £3000.
If they do a BL special then I hope they focus on some of the good cars. Interesting how some people listed the good ones actually turned out to be the biggest heaps of shit they ever made. Certainly the Stag with their chocolate engines and the SD1 with their pantomime electrics, paint and 6-cyl engines easily fall into that category.
These aren't cheap either in the Practical Classic sense, a '75 Wolseley in that good a nick would clear £3000.
If they do a BL special then I hope they focus on some of the good cars. Interesting how some people listed the good ones actually turned out to be the biggest heaps of shit they ever made. Certainly the Stag with their chocolate engines and the SD1 with their pantomime electrics, paint and 6-cyl engines easily fall into that category.
I find it appalling that so many people say the cars were crap. Based on what? Sure, there were terrible build quality issues at the time, due to all the industrial relations strife. But in design and engineering terms the cars were most definately not crap. Take your heads out of your arses and stop perpetuating the urban myth about BL that is as erroneous as the faked moon landings. Compared to its contemporaries, you will find that it was no crapper than they were, and also had much to commend it. The 2200HLS auto was an especially good comfy and spacious wafter.
Balmoral Green said:
I find it appalling that so many people say the cars were crap. Based on what? Sure, there were terrible build quality issues at the time, due to all the industrial relations strife. But in design and engineering terms the cars were most definately not crap. Take your heads out of your arses and stop perpetuating the urban myth about BL that is as erroneous as the faked moon landings. Compared to its contemporaries, you will find that it was no crapper than they were, and also had much to commend it. The 2200HLS auto was an especially good comfy and spacious wafter.
Yes, very easy to forget that the Princess had something that not many cars (if any at all) had. Full Moulton air suspension.As for the contemporaries, I give you....
Vauxhall Viceroy
Renault 20TS
Chrysler 180
Alfa Romeo Guiletta
Lancia Beta
Citroen CX
Only the Granada Mk2, Saab 99, Volvo 244 and Audi 100 would arguably acquit themselves better, the latter three being far more expensive than the Princess. As for the Granada, it was only ever a 4-banger in the UK and didn't have the 6-cylinders of the Princess.
215cu said:
Balmoral Green said:
I find it appalling that so many people say the cars were crap. Based on what? Sure, there were terrible build quality issues at the time, due to all the industrial relations strife. But in design and engineering terms the cars were most definately not crap. Take your heads out of your arses and stop perpetuating the urban myth about BL that is as erroneous as the faked moon landings. Compared to its contemporaries, you will find that it was no crapper than they were, and also had much to commend it. The 2200HLS auto was an especially good comfy and spacious wafter.
Yes, very easy to forget that the Princess had something that not many cars (if any at all) had. Full Moulton air suspension.As for the contemporaries, I give you....
Vauxhall Viceroy
Renault 20TS
Chrysler 180
Alfa Romeo Guiletta
Lancia Beta
Citroen CX
Only the Granada Mk2, Saab 99, Volvo 244 and Audi 100 would arguably acquit themselves better, the latter three being far more expensive than the Princess. As for the Granada, it was only ever a 4-banger in the UK and didn't have the 6-cylinders of the Princess.
However, the Alfa, Lancia and Citroen are arguably one step up the ladder compared to the Princess in my eyes.
Alfa was twin cam, twin carb, transaxle and discs all round for a start...
215cu said:
Balmoral Green said:
I find it appalling that so many people say the cars were crap. Based on what? Sure, there were terrible build quality issues at the time, due to all the industrial relations strife. But in design and engineering terms the cars were most definately not crap. Take your heads out of your arses and stop perpetuating the urban myth about BL that is as erroneous as the faked moon landings. Compared to its contemporaries, you will find that it was no crapper than they were, and also had much to commend it. The 2200HLS auto was an especially good comfy and spacious wafter.
Yes, very easy to forget that the Princess had something that not many cars (if any at all) had. Full Moulton air suspension.As for the contemporaries, I give you....
Vauxhall Viceroy
Renault 20TS
Chrysler 180
Alfa Romeo Guiletta
Lancia Beta
Citroen CX
Only the Granada Mk2, Saab 99, Volvo 244 and Audi 100 would arguably acquit themselves better, the latter three being far more expensive than the Princess. As for the Granada, it was only ever a 4-banger in the UK and didn't have the 6-cylinders of the Princess.
Lancia Beta
Citroen CX
You`re suggesting these were worse than the Princess?
I say save the car but I think it`s going a bit far if we start building a revisionist case for the Princess. Much of BL`s woes were linked to appalling quality (IR) issues but the rest were linked to crap product. Much of what was good seems to me to have been inherited from the constituent parts and survived despite rather than because of BL.
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