Princess 1100

The Austin/Morris 1100 range was an instant hit. Its Pininfarina styling was very up to the minute and its clever Hydrolastic suspension made it ride like its sophisticated European counterparts. Issigonis had another hit on his hands.

The range rapidly expanded with the inevitable Countryman, MG, Wolseley and Riley variants. So impressed was Fred Connolly (owner of the famous leather firm) with the ride and comfort of the humble 1100 that he approached Van den Plas (one of his main customers) with the idea of introducing a limousine in miniature based on it. The idea was enthusiastically embraced and the new model launched at the 1963 Earls Court Motorshow. Eventually nearly 40,000 Princess 1100/1300s were to be produced, initially from Longbridge, but latterly at Van den Plas themselves where they took an MG bodyshell complete with twin carb 55bhp engine and painted, coach lined and trimmed the car to their normal high standard.

Complete with full Connolly leather interior, lashings of Burr walnut to the dash and doors, picnic tables and the “oversized” Van den Plas grille at the front, the recipe was complete.

This highly original example was bought new from HJ Saunders in Hereford by the father of the vendor in late 1964. Always used as a second car, it had amassed only 21,000 miles by 1972. In 1978 it was passed to the son who did use it more extensively, the mileage now totalling some 69,000. 11 MOTs accompany the car along with the original touch up paint in Sherwood Green, the correct handbook and tool kit.

Dry stored all of its life, it was last on the road in 1984. The vendor stopped using it thanks to the arrival of a new model and there she has sat until now. A battery attached to the car showed the electrics hop into life, although after all that time it will need careful re-commissioning before it can hit the streets again.

This charming and original example has been well cared for throughout its life and will make a super winter project.