RE: SOTW: Austin Ambassador/Princess
Discussion
Very true .. my Dads sdi from 1977 according to records died in 1991 (last time it was taxed). 14 years for a car that cost quite a bit seems unbelievable by modern standards, but thats what they were all like.
J4CKO said:
Appreciate that none of the BL cars were the last word in quality, reliability and rust proofing but I dont see legions of other seventies cars hanging around rust free, gleaming in the sun ?
All the Italian stuff disintegrated even faster than the BL stuff, the Japanese stuff wasnt far behind but was at least reasonably reliable (by the standards of the time) and had really good heaters.
From germany you stillhad the Beetle which dated from the forties and rusted, badly, the Golf was a good car but rusted like anything else, BMW's were pretty rare on the roads then as were Audi's, most rusted away like any other car.
Fords and Vauxhalls were the mainstays of the seventies, they were more reliable than the BL stuff but hardly innovative being all live axles and they didnt get to the FWD party until years after everyone else, though the MK2 Escort is now celebrated, back then all I remember is my mates mums tragic yellow 1.1 "Popular" with fist sized holes in it, its only the hotter versions that really were worth the effort and most rusted away.
Lets not forget Lada's, Skoda's, Hillman's, Chrysler's etc etc, they were all pretty ropey !
All the Italian stuff disintegrated even faster than the BL stuff, the Japanese stuff wasnt far behind but was at least reasonably reliable (by the standards of the time) and had really good heaters.
From germany you stillhad the Beetle which dated from the forties and rusted, badly, the Golf was a good car but rusted like anything else, BMW's were pretty rare on the roads then as were Audi's, most rusted away like any other car.
Fords and Vauxhalls were the mainstays of the seventies, they were more reliable than the BL stuff but hardly innovative being all live axles and they didnt get to the FWD party until years after everyone else, though the MK2 Escort is now celebrated, back then all I remember is my mates mums tragic yellow 1.1 "Popular" with fist sized holes in it, its only the hotter versions that really were worth the effort and most rusted away.
Lets not forget Lada's, Skoda's, Hillman's, Chrysler's etc etc, they were all pretty ropey !
Jonny TVR said:
Very true .. my Dads sdi from 1977 according to records died in 1991 (last time it was taxed). 14 years for a car that cost quite a bit seems unbelievable by modern standards, but thats what they were all like.
14 years was pretty good, I doubt that much survives that long nowadays (P and R reg), even big, expensive, quality cars as they cost a lot to run and can be ruinous to fix if say a computer or auto box fails so then the car gets scrapped when in actual fact it is overall still pretty good, they dont really rust anymore,people used to squeeze every drop of use out of a car but now its economics rather than the car really being than knackered.My dad used to sell Princess' when they first came out. I've got a picture of me, my dad & my brother sitting in a sandy coloured 2.2 HLS from about 1977.
A few years later, he had a silver Ambassador (1.7L) then a black one, again a 1.7L as company hacks.
Somewhere in between, we attended a launch day at Donnington where there was the opportunity for people to be driven round by drivers in various MG metro's, Meastros and BL offerings, including an Ambassador Vanden Plas. We somehow managed to get a drive in the latter, without one of the offical drivers, with my father at the wheel, thrashing the t*ts off the brand new top of the range BL offering.
Happy days....
A few years later, he had a silver Ambassador (1.7L) then a black one, again a 1.7L as company hacks.
Somewhere in between, we attended a launch day at Donnington where there was the opportunity for people to be driven round by drivers in various MG metro's, Meastros and BL offerings, including an Ambassador Vanden Plas. We somehow managed to get a drive in the latter, without one of the offical drivers, with my father at the wheel, thrashing the t*ts off the brand new top of the range BL offering.
Happy days....
What was it with BL and their awful dashboards? Why were they so stingey with the rev counters in the seventies? The italians were generous (Suds, Betas, 131s), the french less so but that BL period left you whole ranges of cars that never got a look in. Maxi/18-22/Land Crabs never got a look in and what few dials they did give you looked horrendous.
I had to check the reg plate on the Princess in that advert to make sure it wasn't my great uncle's old one.
After a long line of great cars (Rover P5B Coupe, Stag), he went and bought a new Austin Princess identical to the one in the ad in 1977. He got it ex demo with 6000 miles on the clock, over the next 12 years he added another 6000 until he passed away. And it was left to my dad. Great.
Massive legroom, floaty ride and not a spot of rust, it could even be classed as 'concours' today, however at the time we hadn't a clue what to do with it and eventually sold it to next door neighbour who was a childminder - she could get so many kids in the back she loved it.
The reg was GBT***S, no idea what the numbers were so can't check if it's still around.
After a long line of great cars (Rover P5B Coupe, Stag), he went and bought a new Austin Princess identical to the one in the ad in 1977. He got it ex demo with 6000 miles on the clock, over the next 12 years he added another 6000 until he passed away. And it was left to my dad. Great.
Massive legroom, floaty ride and not a spot of rust, it could even be classed as 'concours' today, however at the time we hadn't a clue what to do with it and eventually sold it to next door neighbour who was a childminder - she could get so many kids in the back she loved it.
The reg was GBT***S, no idea what the numbers were so can't check if it's still around.
MX7 said:
rovermorris999 said:
Love these. Huge amount of room and super comfortable. Those who slag them have presumably never been in one.
That's your criteria for a good car?! I must say I'm surprised by some of the posts. It appears that crap + time = cool.
They were indeed very comfortable cars, certainly for passengers, the rode better than modern cars with their marketing led rubber band tyres and "sports" suspension, not sure the driver was having that much fun, especially if the hydragas needed topping up and it didnt have PAS like my grandads didnt.
I'm sorry to admit that I was the (proud ?) owner of a Princess when I first gave up company cars ( a string of Itals, then Montego followed by a switch of allegiance to a Vauxhall Belmont) in about 1987.
It was in the wonderfully trendy "ever popular"
BEIGE !-PLUS obligatory brown vinyl roof. As said above, they are a remarkably comfortable car to sit in with seats that only now are being surpassed in size by your typical big, soft fall-into armchairs. It had that usual hydragas feel to it of course which meant that you floated/wafted along in such a large job although that was not a characteristic of the smaller hydrolastic/gas saloons of the time.
They did all share the "rise & fall" on the handbrake though when you eased the clutch in & out-great fun for hinting at women when at traffic lights (if you know what I mean)
I got rid when the power steering pump failed as it was a proper barsteward to steer even on the move.
wish I'd kept it for the reg no.VVV 81W IIRC & I only paid £950 for the car then!
It was in the wonderfully trendy "ever popular"
BEIGE !-PLUS obligatory brown vinyl roof. As said above, they are a remarkably comfortable car to sit in with seats that only now are being surpassed in size by your typical big, soft fall-into armchairs. It had that usual hydragas feel to it of course which meant that you floated/wafted along in such a large job although that was not a characteristic of the smaller hydrolastic/gas saloons of the time.They did all share the "rise & fall" on the handbrake though when you eased the clutch in & out-great fun for hinting at women when at traffic lights (if you know what I mean)
I got rid when the power steering pump failed as it was a proper barsteward to steer even on the move.
wish I'd kept it for the reg no.VVV 81W IIRC & I only paid £950 for the car then!
Edited by sprinter1050 on Friday 5th August 10:25
<song>
I've got an austin Ambassador Y Reg, Y reg, Y Reg,
An Austin ambassador Y reg, It gets me from there to here!
I've got an austin Ambassador Y reg, Y reg Y reg!
Don't keep asking me "Why, Reg?" it just happens to be that year!
</song>
Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL.
I've got an austin Ambassador Y Reg, Y reg, Y Reg,
An Austin ambassador Y reg, It gets me from there to here!
I've got an austin Ambassador Y reg, Y reg Y reg!
Don't keep asking me "Why, Reg?" it just happens to be that year!
</song>
Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL. Shed FAIL.
Edited by MarJay on Friday 5th August 10:30
Fantastic pair of sheds,its good to have something different now and again.
Love the Ambassador and an Auto Princess wedge with power steering has tobe a rare thing.
Owned an Ital 1.7L in beige with a Cinnibar orange interior once,rotting from the bottom upwards but a lovely comfy daily smoker!
Top leftfield shedding!
Love the Ambassador and an Auto Princess wedge with power steering has tobe a rare thing.
Owned an Ital 1.7L in beige with a Cinnibar orange interior once,rotting from the bottom upwards but a lovely comfy daily smoker!
Top leftfield shedding!
Manufacturer: Austin Morris
Model: Not available
Year: 1981
Colour: Beige
Fuel Type: Petrol
Engine Size (CC): 2000
VIN: Not available
V5C Issued: Not available
Tax
Tax Status: Unlicensed
Expiry Date: 01/03/1993
Registration Date: 21/02/1981
Looks like it died in 1993 .. ah
Model: Not available
Year: 1981
Colour: Beige
Fuel Type: Petrol
Engine Size (CC): 2000
VIN: Not available
V5C Issued: Not available
Tax
Tax Status: Unlicensed
Expiry Date: 01/03/1993
Registration Date: 21/02/1981
Looks like it died in 1993 .. ah
sprinter1050 said:
I'm sorry to admit that I was the (proud ?) owner of a Princess when I first gave up company cars ( a string of Itals, then Montego followed by a switch of allegiance to a Vauxhall Belmont) in about 1987.
It was in the wonderfully trendy "ever popular" BEIGE !-PLUS obligatory brown vinyl roof. As said above, they are a remarkably comfortable car to sit in with seats that only now are being surpassed in size by your typical big, soft fall-into armchairs. It had that usual hydragas feel to it of course which meant that you floated/wafted along in such a large job although that was not a characteristic of the smaller hydrolastic/gas saloons of the time.
They did all share the "rise & fall" on the handbrake though when you eased the clutch in & out-great fun for hinting at women when at traffic lights (if you know what I mean)
I got rid when the power steering pump failed as it was a proper barsteward to steer even on the move.
wish I'd kept it for the reg no.VVV 81W IIRC & I only paid £950 for the car then!
It was in the wonderfully trendy "ever popular"
BEIGE !-PLUS obligatory brown vinyl roof. As said above, they are a remarkably comfortable car to sit in with seats that only now are being surpassed in size by your typical big, soft fall-into armchairs. It had that usual hydragas feel to it of course which meant that you floated/wafted along in such a large job although that was not a characteristic of the smaller hydrolastic/gas saloons of the time.They did all share the "rise & fall" on the handbrake though when you eased the clutch in & out-great fun for hinting at women when at traffic lights (if you know what I mean)
I got rid when the power steering pump failed as it was a proper barsteward to steer even on the move.
wish I'd kept it for the reg no.VVV 81W IIRC & I only paid £950 for the car then!
Edited by sprinter1050 on Friday 5th August 10:25
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