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Feb 13, 2012 14:09:45 GMT
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Modified Princesses & Ambassadors threadPrincess Brochure scansThis has been a bit of a surprise purchase for me, one that because of the circumstances behind it, has earned the car the nickname of Serendipity which as it turns out is a suitably pretentious name for the ambitiously titled Austin Princess. How Serendipity Was FoundI've got to the point where I'm on the cusp of collecting the car and every reply I think to make in the thread above just risks turning it into a build thread, so here we are. Serendipity the First: I was browsing closed eBay ads when I first got the notion to purchase a Princess and came across a low spec, small engine, manual box version. It was a colour that I found appealing (within the limited BL colour range) and I had put it in my brain as something to look for. The advert read: 1980 Austin Princess 1.7 HL manual All running with 12 months MOT. Only 71000 Miles. Only for sale as, unfortunately, its garage parking space is needed. Was purchased by me some 4 years ago from its previous "garage owner" in York. He had overhauled the complete body and used it at shows in the Yorkshire areas. I drove it down from York with no problems and since then it as been garaged and SORN due to my personal lack of spare time to give to her. It has been run up and moved regularly and, aside from a sticky carburettor float needle, it went straight through its MOT, last week. The body and bumper/light chrome-work is still very clean and undamaged as shown on the photos. Although, quite serviceable, the bonnet is showing signs of "orange peeling" and could do with a strip down and repainting to make it perfect again. The leather look exterior lining behind the rear doors could do with being replaced which is an easy straight forward job. The roof cill chrome runners are discoloured, but I do have a new pair which could be included, subject to agreement with the purchaser. The interior is very clean and seats are in good, clean, serviceable, condition but are showing their age now. The door interior and roof linings are in excellent unmarked condition. Underneath she is solid, but could do with a good water spray clean, or scrubbing, to remove loose previous under sealing and be given a fresh re-coat of waxoil or under-seal. Mechanically the engine runs smoothly and she drives very well. The gearbox reverse gear selector is a little worn (a common and easily fixed fault) but all gears work perfectly well. The clutch works well and all tyres and wheels are in very good condition. The suspension is at the right height and has never required pumping in the time I have had her The car will come with some spares, new clutch assembly, overhauled steering rack, spare distributor, etc. I have not taxed the car but this could be done at the buyers expense and she can be driven away quite confidently. Overall, this car is a easy project for someone. I had tried to be as honest as I can and you can see my feedback. She is very attractive and creates interest and would make a nice, inexpensive, car to take around the shows. The reserve is set low to give someone a bargain. She is far too good to scrap for spares. __ It sold for £620 on eBay, but the buyer paid closer to £800 as he paid for 6 months tax and got stung for the eBay fees by the previous vendor. In the pictures, it looked great. Fact is, the interior isn't clean and the body is not as pristine as the pictures lead one to believe. Slight over exposure and massive eBay compression gives a misleading vision of near perfection.
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Last Edit: Sept 18, 2014 20:56:47 GMT by Deleted
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Feb 13, 2012 14:18:21 GMT
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Serendipity the Second: I had mentioned to my brother I wanted a Princess, we discussed it, jokes about cheese were made, but he said he'd keep an eye out. One day he happened to be driving down a road he wouldn't normally and saw the Princess I'm posting about, so distracted he nearly had an accident. The car was only a few miles from home and at the time I didn't know it was the eBay car above, just that it ticked a fair few boxes. I was expecting the car not to be for sale and to be completely rotten as is usually the case with old cars on driveways. I left a note with my contact details and went home, excited that something might happen but fully expecting to hear nothing, ever. Serendipity the Third: I get a text message at 11:30pm the same night telling me that the car is for sale and that I'd get a call the following day, with details... which I did! Serendipity the Fourth: The car still had MoT and Tax (not much Tax though) and the owner wanted to sell before the Tax ran out. I wanted to get it before the tax ran out so it could be driven home and save the expense of trailers and faff. Serendipity the Fifth: When my brother and I returned for the viewing proper, we spotted a little red R reg Rover Metro on the drive that we remembered from last year. The chap had pulled up behind us at a supermarket as we were loading up the Polo and, since my bro loves his Metros, we got chatting. We never expected to bump into the same guy again outside of car meets, much less to find we were looking to buy a car from him!
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Last Edit: Feb 13, 2012 14:19:35 GMT by Deleted
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Feb 13, 2012 14:25:30 GMT
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Serendipity the Sixth (I think you can see how this is going): We talk to the chap, find there's a lot of small jobs all over the car to fix and that while it's solid where it needs to be, it's not a quick polish-and-show job and will need a good bit of effort to get it great again. A price of £450 is agreed which I know is much less than he paid, but the condition of the car (as I'll reveal when I take more pictures) only warrants that price imho, especially with the tax being up at the end of March and the problems I'll list shortly.
Serendipity the Seventh: I'm now in a bit of a spot because I've agreed to buy a car that, technically, I can't afford. Now when I say 'agreed' what I mean is that the vendor tells us there's another buyer interested in it who seems to be my doppelganger when it comes to price and time scales. This didn't scare me off, if someone else got the cash before me then fair play, I'd just keep looking and let this one go. I splurge my possible-new-car-excitement about the place, as you do, more jokes about cheese are made, and then one friend says "Sure, I can help you with that" and the money magically is made available. I was and still am humbled and thoroughly gobsmacked by this as I was going to have to look at other options that were less secure to raise the capitol.
While Serendipity is a ridiculous name for a car, it is, I think, well earned. I'm still expecting that big spanner to fall from on high as it kept doing all throughout 2011, but for now I'm comfortable that the car is mine thanks to the security deposit I paid yesterday and that the balance will be available within a few days.
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Feb 13, 2012 14:40:25 GMT
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Here's where, for now, the serendipity ends. I'm going to list the bad points that I know of with this car and add to it when I've got it home and can inspect it with tools. BodyworkThe car has clearly been "lightly restored" in it's past. At a quick glance it looks great, but all is not as it seems. > Driver's door rear corner has filler in it that's starting to crack and lift. > Driver's side rear door has a 3" stripe of different paint along the bottom and filler in the back corner which is bubbling a little and showing a small amount of rust staining. > Both rear arches have small rust bubbles under the paint where they meet the chrome trim. > Roof has some rust stains (looks worse on pale paint) in the gutter and at the top of the rear pillars. This has been painted before and it's not bubbly or crusty or showing signs of filler. > Rear screen has a rust bleb on the top corner and could do with being removed so it can be remedied properly. > Rear vinyl trims have started to lift. Passenger side (which is omitted from pretty much every picture of it) is much worse as it looks like the water is running off the gutter and straight under the trim. > Rear arch where it meets the sill has some surface rust. Not crusty, still has original plastic finishing trims, but needs looking at. Engine> When cold, runs quite well with full choke, but once up to temperature won't idle without a bit of choke on. Running cold in this clicky video. > Manifold to downpipe join blows, this could in turn be affecting the poor running. > Engine sounds like the tuning is off and in need of a general fettle. > Tiny fan on massive radiator hard wired to an override switch in the cockpit. I want to put twin fans on and a temperature regulated switch so this works properly, with the override switch kept for emergency situations. Interior> Pipe smoke stain and finger stains to the driver's headlining and visor. I'm pretty sure it's pipe smoke and not cigarette smoke due to the location. > Driver's seat has partially collapsed. I suspect the frame needs a dab of welding. > Rubber mat on driver's side front carpet is shagged. > Passenger side front carpet has a big stain > Carpet pile is quite flat and very dirty, whole thing needs a shampoo > There are cushions on the parcel shelf for no reason. Other> Spare tyre is perished with cracks visible in the tread. > One sealed beam headlight bulb is dead. > Chrome screen seals are faded and could do with being replaced. > Bonnet gas struts no longer hold the bonnet up > Driver's door winder handle/spline is partially stripped and the window doesn't work because of it. > Rear seat belts are absent > It's all a bit grimy, everywhere, and it's old grime.
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Last Edit: Feb 13, 2012 14:47:21 GMT by Deleted
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village
Part of things
Always carries a toolbox. Because Volkswagen.......
Posts: 567
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Feb 13, 2012 14:52:36 GMT
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plenty of room under the bonnet for something a bit more exciting!
keep it BL and bung in a Rover M or T series 16v (absolute minimum IMO) or the turbo charged version for a bit more welly.
To keep the wafftyness intact, you could go for a KV6 - preferably an R75 one not an R800 one - and possibly an auto g/box too...
Loving this car, I'll be watching this thread with interest.
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"The White Van is strong with this one...."
Chris "Chesney" Allen 1976-2005 RIP
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Feb 13, 2012 15:09:39 GMT
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Just read the previous purchase thread all the way through - Excellent work. I will also be watching future developments with interest.
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1982 Granada 2.8 Ghia X - SOLD ☹️ 1976 Mini Clubman Estate - Getting there slowly.
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Feb 13, 2012 16:52:24 GMT
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great car! Fond memories of my dad having one, and later an Ambassador!
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Feb 13, 2012 17:43:42 GMT
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I like these. I will own one some day.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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Feb 13, 2012 21:08:28 GMT
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Well done chap ;D I may not share all your taists in mods or cars (but TBH that's why i'm here and not on a one make forum) BUT one thing i do know is you write a great thread and i enjoy them immensely Loking forward to following this thread You do realise it's exactly people like you that make this site what it is, a broad spectrum of taists and talent displayed for all to entertain, enlighten and encourage, i salute you ;D
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R.I.P photobucket
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Feb 13, 2012 21:14:45 GMT
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Thank you, Bortaf, that's excellent of you to say The Princess is going to be about as far removed from the Polo as it can be as far as mods are concerned, I'm going to keep it simple as I don't think it needs as much to stand out. I'm going to save most of my crazy for the Polo so it's very important I don't part with it!
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Feb 13, 2012 21:23:41 GMT
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This has all made a very nice little story I love the fact you have bought this with the heart, there is no reason behind it other than something just feeling right about a Princess. Look forward to seeing this progress.
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Feb 13, 2012 21:32:43 GMT
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village: I think I'm okay with the 1700 lump that's in, I'm not really that fussed about power, I like slow cars weirdly. An MG gearbox is a possible option, especially if I can find a 5 speed that bolts straight on, just so it's a bit less of a pudding stirrer. akku: Genuinely surprised to see you here, I didn't tag you as a Princess liker, which shows what I know! @granada & Weble: I hope not to disappoint. Really, I can't see how it will be anything other than a step up in comfort from the Polo, but maybe a step down on the wiggling around the back roads. In fact, while I think on, here's what I have planned. My first job really is to clean it. I hate dirty cars, especially if I have to spend any time in them, so I want to really give this a thorough going over. The steering wheel doesn't feel too bad, but the interior is full of dust and crumbs and finger grease. I know it's not going to come up looking new, 70s stuff never does, but I can at least get it clean. Part of the cleaning will involve removing the seats. I want to get the carpet out and shampoo them. While I'm at it I can inspect the floor pan and treat any rot that might be there even though it appears to be nice and solid. Under the dashboard on the driver's side there is some messy wiring. This isn't factory mess, but looks to be the result of the little tape deck that's installed there that hasn't been tidied up. It's a little job, but it'll bug me if I don't do it. Then of course there's the bodywork. I'm hoping it's not any worse than I think it is. My finger didn't push through any bodywork but I don't like the amount of edge-blebs and rust stains, especially since it's pale paint. I'm going to have to get the sandpaper, kurust and a tin of paint to remedy the trouble spots. On the bodywork I think I'll work from the top down. I really want to get the roof done first. Chocolate brown is the easy choice, but I am tempted to get in touch with a certain Rotherham based RR type person to find out how much some copper/bronze/champagne/clear metalflake will be on the roof and C pillars. This will be the most obvious modification on the entire car to begin with but is one I'm doing to stay in keeping with the original styling while getting shut of the vinyl trims. Any mods I do put on the car will be 70s period, even though it's technically a build-in-the-eighties car, because I think some subtle 70s stuff will suit better. The other thing is the door mirrors. The door mirrors are horrible and obscured almost entirely by some stick on blind-spot mirrors. I'm not sure what I want to fit yet, but I know they've got to go. I do prefer driving a car with wing mirrors, but due to the scarcity and expense of new wings and the BL propensity to rot, I'm not sure I want to go drilling fresh holes in them. This is a real quandary for me. I might even go the gutter-mounted peep mirror route yet and have the original mirror holes welded up when the doors are repaired. Wheels? Well, there's a few options. Lotus Eclat alloys are tasty and drop straight on. Wheel trims are a good option too, and I do like old metal wheel trims as a cheap, easy way to instantly change the look of a car. I have considered getting the wheels done to match the roof and then having beauty rings and hub caps fitted for something a bit different for a Princess. I think that's it really. I like the interior as it is, with the Battlestar Galactica dashboard and ridiculous ruched orange velour. I have got a full tan leather Lexus LS400 interior that would fit, but the more I think about that option the more I think it's wrong for this car. Oh, maybe a couple of stickers, I had a Captain Slow Club one made up for the Polo that'll suit the Princess better I think, and I'll need a new RR badge of course. It's weird, having a car I'm happy with from the factory. Normally there's loads I want to do, but not so with the Princess. That might change over time, but mostly I just want it to look new... must be getting old ;D
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Feb 13, 2012 21:33:48 GMT
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@alol: not entirely with my heart, the wallet came into it a lot. The insurance being a tenth of the Polo and the car costing as much to buy as the Polo would be to fix were big factors... but there is a fair chunk of heart behind it because when I'm sat in it the car does just feel right in a way the Polo didn't until I'd done a lot of work to it.
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Feb 13, 2012 21:45:08 GMT
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Just caught up with the other thread. Congrats dude, a nice little ending to the original enquiry and now the real fun can begin!
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Feb 13, 2012 21:58:40 GMT
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You've bought a beige Princess. My, my. Despite the.... "uuuhh?" factor, I'll agree with you when you say life would be boring if every decision made actually had to make sense. Reading into it with cheaper insurance (bonus) and it's a comfy old barge... quite different.
Interested to see what you make of it.
Good (impulse) buy!
--Phil
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Feb 13, 2012 22:05:16 GMT
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Keefy: I quite literally can't wait! PhilA: Trust me, I never though I of all people would buy a beige Princess, I never thought a beige Princess would be that interesting but when you see it on the road it looks almost like it's just come from the Moon. If it had been at a higher price, or worse condition, I think I'd've walked away and looked for something else, it's one of those situations where it's only an impulse purchase because of things being so unbelievably spot on for what I want.
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MonzaPhil
Posted a lot
Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought
Posts: 2,456
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Feb 13, 2012 22:41:25 GMT
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Well done and I'm another one looking forward to the updates and progress.
Nice wedge.
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This is now a clicky linky!
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Feb 14, 2012 11:46:41 GMT
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Lovely car! Much nicer than an Ambassador which are just too dismal, even for me. Any engine swap is going to be quite involved - you can’t just swap another box in due to the original being an ‘in-the-sump’ job. Here’s someone’s attempt to swap in an O-series from a Monty - as you can see, it sounds easy but in reality quickly turns into a right ballache. www.leylandprincess.co.uk/Modifying.htmI would just enjoy yours as-is, it looks great.
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1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 Mazda 929 Coupé 1986 Mazda 929 Wagon 1979 Mazda 929 Hardtop 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 1989 Subaru 1800 Wagon 1982 Hyundai Pony 1200TL 2-dr 1985 Hyundai Pony 1200 GL 1986 Maserati 425 Biturbo 1992 Rover 214 SEi 5-dr 2000 Rover 45 V6 Club 1994 Peugeot 205 'Junior' Diesel 1988 Volvo 760 Turbodiesel Saloon 1992 Talbot Express Autosleeper Rambler 2003 Renault Laguna SPEARS OR REAPERS
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Del
South East
Posts: 1,448
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Feb 14, 2012 12:34:56 GMT
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I see there's an Ambassador lurking in the garage. Any idea what's happened to that?
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Feb 14, 2012 13:47:21 GMT
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xbo11ox: I'm surprised you don't own a Princess actually. Mostly, the plan is to enjoy as is, it's almost like it was designed with me in mind. Del: I wondered that too when I saw the pics. Maybe he needed space for another one. Insurance, how I despise your wiggly convoluted ways. All I wanted to do was switch my policy so it covers Princess instead of Polo. There's only 5 years between the two cars, but the Princess is classed automatically as classic and the Polo isn't, so I can't just straight swap. Because I've got 11 months license and don't get my 1 year NCB until May I'm looking at £989ish to insure the Princess on a new policy which admittedly is less than the Polo but nine times what I'll pay come the end of May. Interesting thing I learned about insurance too: Polo is currently off the road awaiting repairs to the engine. I can put him back together bodge him to run, but I'm wanting to do it right. Stupidly, I let slip to the insurance company that the Polo being off the road is why I'm buying the Princess, they discovered he's SORN and then suspended my policy. The good thing is that then stops payments going out (but it doesn't, according to their letter they sent) but the bad thing is that if I don't get him on the road again at least a month before my policy ends I don't get my 1 year NCB! I am not pleased about this. At the end of the week I'm calling to tell them he's been put back on the road and if need be I'll buy some tax and send them proof, that NCB is precious and makes my Princess policy affordable, I cannot afford to lose it. Urgh. Interestingly, bro got in touch with the local police to find out the legality of driving the Princess home, which has tax and MoT on it but no insurance. Turns out that as long as the person driving the car doesn't own it, but does have fully comp insurance, it is legal for the short distance to get it back. We've been warned it'll set off every ANPR camera along the way, but that if we contact them again when the car is moved the traffic police will be aware and no bad things will happen. This would be all so much easier if a) the Princess' owner hadn't cancelled his insurance so I could drive it home on mine or b) it was May and I had my 1 year license & NCB. The law hates new drivers, and I don't understand what I did wrong.
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