VANDEN PLAS

Vanden Plas originated in Belgium, although the name derives from the Dutch, and to be grammatically correct should be expressed Van Der Plas.

Today most people will connect Vanden Plas with the more up market Austin Rover Products, but in the past they were coachbuilders for Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Alvis, Daimler and Lagonda and many more. It is said that up to 1939, no two bodies by Vanden Plas were identical.

The workshops of Vanden Plas started in 1870 making wheels, followed by axle units for carriages. In 1884 the business moved from Brussels to Antwerp where horse drawn carriages were produced, and with the increase in business another branch was opened in Brussels again in 1890. Work was exhibited at the World trade fairs. In 1900 having gained the highest award ever by a Belgium coachbuilder, work flowed in from De Dion Bouton, Berlier, Germain, Packard and others producing vehicles at that time.

By 1908, Vanden Plas had a workforce of 400 men producing 300 special bodies a year and this soon increased to over 750. In 1913 'The Times' stated that 'Vanden Plas bodied cars had an air of distinction lacking in many of the products around them'.

On the 13th March 1913 the first company of Vanden Plas (England) Limited was formed, building bodies under license from Vanden Plas in Belgium. This was followed with the forming of Vanden Plas (England) 1917 Limited, and finally Vanden Plas (England) 1923 Limited with the move of the coach-works to Kingsbury, London.

1946 Vanden Plas became a subsidiary of Austin Motors.

1947 to 1950 Vanden Plas produced the Austin A120/135 Princess I Standard Wheelbase Saloon on Austin's new six- cylinder chassis

1950 to 1953 A135 Princess II

1953 to 1956 A135 Princess III

1952 The first of the Austin Princess Limousines were exhibited at Earls Court and Her Majesty the Queen, purchased the first two production models. For many years thereafter Vanden Plas cars formed part of the regular vehicles at the Royal Mews. In 1954 a long wheelbase Limousine was supplied to a Sheik, painted scarlet with all the bright metal parts plated in 22 carat gold.

1955 the A135 Princess Chassis was produced for specialist Ambulances and Hearses

1956 saw the introduction of the Princess IV also known as the DS7

July 1960 the name 'Austin' was formally dropped from the title of Vanden Plas products which were thereafter marketed under the name of 'Princess' and in consequence, Vanden Plas were able from 1960 onwards to exhibit at Shows not as coachwork specialists but as manufacturers. The Flying 'A' bonnet ornament, was replaced by a horizontally positioned coronet symbolising the marque. A black coronet was used on the long wheelbase 4 litre Princess and a red coronet on the smaller Princess cars.

1968 saw the replacement for the Princess 4 Litre Limousine by the new Daimler DS420 based on the Jaguar 420G Chassis but painted and trimmed at Kingsbury by Vanden Plas.

Details obtained from the Vanden Plas Owners Club - UK