On September 17, 1974, the Vanden Plas 1500, based on the Austin Allegro, was released as the successor to the Princess 1300. It was equipped with British Leyland’s ‘E’ series 1485cc overhead camshaft engine, and had a single SU HS6 carburettor, producing 68bhp at 5500rpm.
Unlike the Princess 11/1300s, the Mark 1 model did not include the picnic tables on the back of the front seats, and it had slightly less rear legroom compared to its predecessor. However, it featured highly polished burr walnut on the uniquely designed fascia and door cards. The seats were upholstered in leather, with bound Wilton carpets over additional sound deadening covering the floor, and the cabin roof was trimmed in nylon cloth. A total of 3,640 Mark 1s were produced before the Mark 2 model was launched in October 1975.
The Mark 2 Vanden Plas 1500 had revised suspension settings, offering a much-improved ride, while the engine and transmission remained unchanged. Inside, the rear seats were adjusted and moved back to provide more legroom, and due to customer demand, picnic tables were added as a standard feature to the rear of the front seats. A total of 7,318 Mark 2s were produced before the introduction of the Mark 3 model in October 1979.
The Mark 3 models (like this one) underwent slight name changes. The manual transmission version retained the 1485cc engine but was now fitted with twin SU type H1F4 carburettors, increasing the power output to 77bhp at 5750rpm. This version was named the Vanden Plas 1.5.
Externally, the Mark 3 cars featured a flat boot lid, black surrounds for the front and rear windscreens, black door mirrors, and side indicator repeaters on each front wing. Internally, a radio and front seat headrests became standard features, and the interior door handles were changed from chrome to black.
The Vanden Plas factory at Kingsbury closed in July 1979, with all remaining cars finished at MG Abingdon. Production of the Mark 3 ended in August 1980, with a total production run of 752 manual and 232 automatic models.
Our 1981 Vanden Plas is one of those 752 manual models. It was actually built at the Austin factory at Longbridge before being finished and Trimmed at MG Abingdon. Originally leaving the factory finished in Silver Grey Metallic, it was repainted in the late 1980s in Rover Cashmere Gold over Vanden Plas Tan trim.
Since being in the Bridge Classic Cars workshop, it has undergone some paint repairs as well as having a new water pump fitted.
