1957 Austin Princess DS7

The project commenced at the end of World War II, and the first iterations of Lord's idea were the A110 Sheerline and A135 Princess DS1, both of which debuted in 1947. While Sheerlines were built and bodied at Austin's Longbridge plant, the Princess's bodywork was done by Vanden Plas, the respected coachbuilding firm who had bodied everything from Lagondas to Packards before becoming a subsidiary of Austin Motors in 1946.

Styling on the debut models had elements of Bentley and Jaguar Mk VII, with a touch of Alvis TD21 on later models, especially around the grille. Where the Princess differed from the Sheerline was in its use of faired-in headlamps, rear wheel spats, aluminium body panels and generally better finish and detailing, as it was largely hand built. This was reflected in the price, which was around 40 per cent dearer than a Sheerline.
Although the majority of Princesses were built as saloons, a small number of longer wheelbase limousine versions were also produced, which added up to 23 inches of extra space, most of it in the rear seat compartment. This allowed for the fitment of an additional pair of 'jump seats' which folded into the floor or backs of the front seats. Engines used in both Princess variants changed from a 3.5-litre six cylinder to a 4-litre six almost immediately after launch, requiring a change in designation from DS1 to DS2 (limousine versions carried a 'DM' suffix to the model name).

Combined Sheerline/Princess production peaked at over 3000 units during the early 1950s but began to fall soon after. This led to the Sheerline model being dropped in 1954, and by the time the Mark IV DS7 Princess appeared in 1956, production was down to only a few hundred units per year, most of which served as wedding/funeral cars or other specialty applications.

The DS7 was distinguished by a more modern, full-width body with a chrome grille surround and single piece windscreen. The independent coil spring front suspension and half-inch leaf spring rear suspension from the very first Princess remained unchanged, but a different chassis meant the wheelbase, track and overall length and width of the DS7 were slightly altered. While the MkIV/DS7 used the same 4-litre 6-cylinder engine as the MkIII/DS5, changes to the carburation and compression saw a 20 horsepower increase for the new model. Power steering was another feature that debuted with the MkIV/DS7, while automatic transmission became an option during the DS7's lifespan.

Many of the early DS7s were painted in complementary two-tone schemes of blue, green or brown, with the colour change split along the line of the bonnet and door handles. Solid colours and combinations of silver or black with other similarly sombre tones were also available.

Confusingly, after August 1957, the 'Austin' part of the name was dropped and the DS7 was simply known as a 'Princess DS7'. The saloon version was phased out in 1959, but limousine versions continued to be produced in tiny numbers until 1968, badged as the 'Vanden Plas Princess' from June 1960.

A very limited production model, no more than 200 combined DS7 saloons and limousines are believed to have been built.

The appeal of this car, or indeed any pre-1960 Austin Princess, is its rarity. Never produced in big numbers, few are around today. However, as many were used for wedding hire or similar low-use applications, surviving DS7s are usually low mileage, well looked after examples. The Austin-based mechanical components (the engine was the same as that used in a lot of Austin trucks from the same period) make these vehicles relatively cheaper and easier to service than an equivalent era Rolls/Bentley/Jaguar. Those same qualities would make the Austin Princess DS7 an economical and practical wedding/limo hire car.

SPECIFICATIONS: 1957 Austin A135 Princess Mk IV DS7

Engine: 3.9lt OHV six-cylinder
Bore/stroke: 87.3 x 111.1mm
Compression: 7.6:1
Power/torque:150bhp@4100rpm / N/A
Fuel system: twin SU carburettor
Cooling system: liquid
Electrics: 12 Volt
Transmission: 3 speed automatic/4 speed manual
Front brakes: drum
Rear brakes: drum
Wheels: 16" (Fr & Rr)
Tyres:6.50 x 16" (Fr & Rr)
Wheelbase: 3073 mm
Weight: 2159kg
0-100kph: 17 sec (approx)
Top Speed: 159 kph (approx)

TRIVIA

The British Royal Family started a long association with Vanden Plas-bodied Austins when they purchased a pair of limousine versions of the A135 Princess MkII/DM4 in 1952.
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When developing the DS7 Princess, Vanden Plas produced a convertible version as a design study. While it featured the side styling of the DS7, the one-off convertible used the semi-shrouded grille and two-piece windscreen of the MkII Princess.

A Mark II DS3/DM3 version of the Princess appeared in 1950, followed by a Mark III DS5/DM5 in 1953. Wedged inbetween those was a DM4 limousine, which appeared in late 1952. Both the MkII/MkIII variants were identified by minor changes to the body, which was applied to both the standard wheelbase saloons and long wheelbase limousines.

After 1959, the 'Austin' Princesses were usually no more than better trimmed and more luxuriously appointed versions of volume-built BMC Austin models.

Small numbers of Princesses were built on longer wheelbases with 'chauffeur' divisions between the front and rear seats.