Leyland (Austin) Princess 2000 HLS -1979

Princess HLS

Hi Folks,

I have a 1979 Princess (Wedge) and am wondering are there any others in existance in Ireland as I feel that mine is the only one BUT i could easily be wrong??

mike65

Fantastic car! Can you post some more pix esp the interiour?

How's the rust?

Mike.

RoundyMooney

Oh that's marvellous!

OP, there is a wedge owners club in the UK, let me know if you need a link.

Alfasudcrazy

A really cool car. I have been toying with the idea of buying one but can't decide between the princess and a rover SDI.

Max_Damage

^ I'd go with an SD1 (Rover V8 )

OP, that's a good looking Princess. Just make sure to keep a careful eye on any rust spots. BL cars were known for it.

Princess HLS

Guys,

The Princess is not concours condition but is in extremely good condition.

The interior is immaculate and looks almost new.

Rust is minimal with a small amount at the bottom inside of the drivers door-easily treated as it is only on the surface.

There is a minor crack in the roof vinyl, again nothing major and as the car is under cover indoors much of the time, I am not unduly worried about this for the time being.

Its 2 litre(1993cc) engine has 85,400 miles of which about 600 have been clocked up since I got it.

Since acquiring it, I have had to do very little to it.
I've put new tyres on it and replaced the bonnet gas struts and the thermostat which was sticking.

The exhaust has a small hole appearing in it so that will probably be the next item to be replaced on it, once I source a replacement.

The car drives superbly and is at its best when out on the open road, where it cruises along very comfortably.

I have joined the UK Princess & Ambassador Owners Club recentlky so that will be usefull for sourcing spares etc in the future, although the car came with a huge amount of brand new spares, which was great.

Again, I am curious to hear if anyone else in Ireland has a Princess, no matter what condition, so just get in touch if you do and want to

I have lots more pics so will post some more up when I get a chance.

Any ideas, queries just get in touch

richardsheil

Princess HLS wrote:

Guys,

The Princess is not concours condition but is in extremely good condition.

The interior is immaculate and looks almost new.

Rust is minimal with a small amount at the bottom inside of the drivers door-easily treated as it is only on the surface.

There is a minor crack in the roof vinyl, again nothing major and as the car is under cover indoors much of the time, I am not unduly worried about this for the time being.

Its 2 litre(1993cc) engine has 85,400 miles of which about 600 have been clocked up since I got it.

Since acquiring it, I have had to do very little to it.
I've put new tyres on it and replaced the bonnet gas struts and the thermostat which was sticking.

The exhaust has a small hole appearing in it so that will probably be the next item to be replaced on it, once I source a replacement.

The car drives superbly and is at its best when out on the open road, where it cruises along very comfortably.

I have joined the UK Princess & Ambassador Owners Club recentlky so that will be usefull for sourcing spares etc in the future, although the car came with a huge amount of brand new spares, which was great.

Again, I am curious to hear if anyone else in Ireland has a Princess, no matter what condition, so just get in touch if you do and want to

I have lots more pics so will post some more up when I get a chance.

Any ideas, queries just get in touch

My uncle's one went up in flames in around 1980- much to his delight. It was appalling.

MercMad

Well they were sold over here back in the 70's but I dont recall seeing one at any of the usual shows, then again I would have walked past one if I did see it !

No seriously our neighbour had a new one back in 1978, the one with the twin headlights, better IMO !

8~)

I'm also a Princess fan, though I like may of the 70s BL products for some unknown reason.

I have seen only one Princess in Ireland and that was a long time ago... maybe nearly 20 years. It was a maroon 2200HLS automatic and was for sale for 200 quid... was a bit pricey for me at the time!

I did notice the remains of one, a blue one, on Padraig Nally's property... got a glimpse of it in the background in one of the news reports... wonder how many other people noticed that?

Henry Ford III

I remember going to rugby matches abroad (Wales etc.) in 1.

Owner had to crank engine for at least 1 minute before it would start.

They are roomy and comfotable enough I recall.

G Luxel

8~) wrote:

I'm also a Princess fan, though I like may of the 70s BL products for some unknown reason.

I have seen only one Princess in Ireland and that was a long time ago... maybe nearly 20 years. It was a maroon 2200HLS automatic and was for sale for 200 quid... was a bit pricey for me at the time!

I did notice the remains of one, a blue one, on Padraig Nally's property... got a glimpse of it in the background in one of the news reports... wonder how many other people noticed that?

yep i saw that one too, a blue one I think, definitely needed TLC. Recently in the last few years I saw an original Irish regd wine Ambassador, the succcessor to the Princess. I also have a toy Princess by Dinky Toys and I have a sales brochure for a Wolseley 6 from I975.

Esel

8~) wrote:

I did notice the remains of one, a blue one, on Padraig Nally's property... got a glimpse of it in the background in one of the news reports... wonder how many other people noticed that?

I might drop in and have a look at that one of these dark autumn evenings. :eek:

G Luxel

There are also Hearse and Limousine versions of the Princess by Woodall Nicholson. Im certain that there are a few of these still run by funeral directors in Northern Ireland and probably down here too.
Just looking at the styling of the Princess which is known as Wedge shaped, it bears similiarity to the present Honda Civic hatchback, well thats my own opinion......

Blue850

G Luxel wrote:

There are also Hearse and Limousine versions of the Princess by Woodall Nicholson. Im certain that there are a few of these still run by funeral directors in Northern Ireland and probably down here too.
Just looking at the styling of the Princess which is known as Wedge shaped, it bears similiarity to the present Honda Civic hatchback, well thats my own opinion......

IMO the Civic bears more of a resemblance the Allegro;)

MercMad

Blue850 wrote:

IMO the Civic bears more of a resemblance the Allegro;)

..............actually it does, doesn't it !! :eek:

Maybe BL had it right all along, and its taken 30 years for the Japs to catch up ..............................nahh !

8~)

If you can see some of the early concept drawings of the Princess (and Allegro) by Harris Mann, do - they are brilliant in a really 70s exotica supercar sense. Unfortunately, by the time the cars got to production the designs were diluted, though the Princess still is a distinctive car.

I will probably own one one day, when I happen across a reasonable example.

chevyv8

esel wrote:

I might drop in and have a look at that one of these dark autumn evenings. :eek:

keep an eye out for bullets when you are there,:D

Max_Damage

There are also Hearse and Limousine versions of the Princess by Woodall Nicholson.

It was a shame they sacrificed one for an episode of Father Ted:

MercMad

8~) wrote:

If you can see some of the early concept drawings of the Princess (and Allegro) by Harris Mann, do - they are brilliant in a really 70s exotica supercar sense. Unfortunately, by the time the cars got to production the designs were diluted, though the Princess still is a distinctive car.

I will probably own one one day, when I happen across a reasonable example.

..........yeah I saw them in one of the Classic mags in the last few months !

Alfasudcrazy

They pop up on Ebay quite regularly - a lot of them seem to have hitches fitted though which spoils them IMO - as in this otherwise pretty good looking one.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1980-AUSTIN-MORRIS-PRINCESS-HL-BEIGE_W0QQitemZ300146914775QQihZ020QQcategoryZ29753QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Princess HLS

I did notice the remains of one, a blue one, on Padraig Nally's property... got a glimpse of it in the background in one of the news reports... wonder how many other people noticed that?

Can anyone tell me where Padraig Nallys' property is located please?
Also,is it a breakers yard and is the car available for spares?

I dont want to encroach on someones private property if not.

Thanks in advance

Esel

Princess HLS wrote:

I did notice the remains of one, a blue one, on Padraig Nally's property... got a glimpse of it in the background in one of the news reports... wonder how many other people noticed that?

Can anyone tell me where Padraig Nallys' property is located please?
Also,is it a breakers yard and is the car available for spares?

I dont want to encroach on someones private property if not.

Thanks in advance

Padraig Nally is infamous for battering and shooting to death a traveller called John Ward who he claimed was breaking in to his house. He was convicted, then acquitted on retrial. You would probably be better advised to look elsewhere!

mike65

Indeed! That would make some headline for boards.ie

Mike.

maidhc

esel wrote:

Padraig Nally is infamous for battering and shooting to death a traveller called John Ward who he claimed was breaking in to his house. He was convicted, then acquitted on retrial. You would probably be better advised to look elsewhere!

I doubt if there would be any problem so long as you don't show up in a Toyota Dyna with a few gates hanging out the back!