Richard Edmonds Auctions
Lot 1144
1957 Austin A135 Princess Mk.IV DS7 Reg. No.: NS 3384 Chassis no. DS7/13023 Engine No.: 13023 The Princess was a distinctive range that Austin produced with its subsidiary Vanden Plas from 1947 to 1968. Launched in 1947, it was the most expensive flagship model in the Austin range and featured either large saloon or limousine coachwork. From 1957 the Austin badge was dropped so the cars could be sold by Nuffield dealerships. So although Austin was producing a Princess, it was no longer the ‘Austin Princess’ by name. From May 1960, the Vanden-Plas name was added in front of ‘Princess’. The series IV was designed at a time when the large owner-driver saloon with pretensions to the spacious luxury of formal limousines was falling out of favour. It is now a rare car indeed, able to deliver spirited performance and a ride quality equal to the Rolls-Royce products of the day. This car left the factory and was supplied to a Mrs Anne Fotheringham of the Southerland Arms Hotel, on the shores of Loch Shin. Its second owner then used the car for guided tours, after which it was laid up in a heated garage from 1971 until the owner’s death forty one years later. The current vendor is only the third owner, and tells us that the car starts and runs as it should. The recorded mileage of 17,000 is believed correct, and the interior reflects this. Re-commissioning work has been carried out in recent times, including work on the brakes and a complete new exhaust. There is some rust in the side sills and some to the rear wings, however the majority of the exterior has surface defects only. We are told that the car starts and runs in a way commensurate with the indicated 17,000 mileage. Similarly the interior is in excellent original condition. The car is sold with its original handbook, workshop manual, original tool roll and smiths jack. Click Here to view this item on www.i-bidder.com
