Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Steve Brookman on 14 March 2010, 09:17:35

Title: Austin Princess
Post by: Steve Brookman on 14 March 2010, 09:17:35
I've always liked these in a sort of it's so ugly it's beautiful.

What about this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330413630172&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I might be tempted!
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Martin_1962 on 14 March 2010, 09:25:45
Horrid things
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Steve Brookman on 14 March 2010, 09:35:47
One of the most comfortable cars I've ever ridden in. My uncles had a 2.2HL, a 2.0HL and my cousins 2 1.8HL's.

A friends father had a 2.2HLS when we were about 18. My friend used to drive it like a lunatic-very good handling and performance-for the time.
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: TheBoy on 14 March 2010, 09:41:12
Good enough cars in their time, but poor engines, and typical BL (lack of) rustproofing
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: TheBoy on 14 March 2010, 09:41:25
but rather ugly!
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: sexydaz on 14 March 2010, 09:42:16
tbh i like it..i like it a lot :)
i love cars from that era,the princess,marina,talbot sunbeams and so on..they have a smell and feel to them and i always found them comfy :y
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Elite Pete on 14 March 2010, 09:44:24
I like them, but saying that I have a soft spot for BL cars ;)
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: TheBoy on 14 March 2010, 09:44:58
Quote
tbh i like it..i like it a lot :)
i love cars from that era,the princess,marina,talbot sunbeams and so on..they have a smell and feel to them and i always found them comfy :y
Now that one always was a car I disliked with a passion!
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Steve Brookman on 14 March 2010, 09:50:50
I learned to drive on a 1300 Allegro with the quartic steering wheel-and I still passed first time!
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Elite Pete on 14 March 2010, 09:56:04
I would love a Land Crab :-[
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: omegadti on 14 March 2010, 10:01:38
I remember going to see them at the local dealer on launch day and the selling point was height adjustable driver's seat!!!!
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Tony H on 14 March 2010, 10:17:54
I owned  2.2 Princess back in the eightys. The transverse straight six ( whiched pushed out a neck breaking 105 H.P ::))was a dream to work on due to the fact that you could actually stand in the engine bay in the space between the block and the rad. On the down side it was a pain to return to the car to find it listing to on side in a pool of bright green fluid because the hydra gas suspension unit had rusted and leaked some thing that happened to me on at least two occasions. That said it was a very comfy car for its time.
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Seth on 14 March 2010, 10:33:10
Oooer ..........  :(
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Steve Brookman on 14 March 2010, 10:33:51
Talking about Landcrabs, my father had a Wolseley Six auto in the late 70's. Same engine as the 2.2 Princess except that there was no room around it. Had to change the alternator once - to get at it you had to take off the wheel, unbolt an access plate in the inner wing and get at the alternator from there. It took ages!
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Banjax on 14 March 2010, 11:11:48
dad had a mint green HLS with chocolate brown vinyl roof and white wall tyres..........no, really  ;D

comfiest car i can remember, plus the gas used to leak out the hydragas suspension and it sat really low - cool as fk when you're 12yrs old  :y
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Welung666 on 14 March 2010, 11:14:16
I had a 2.2 HLS in a royal blue colour, was a very nice motor allbeit confusing when I first got it. Turns out it was an auto but the previous owner had fitted a manual gearknob and surround! I looked at the stick then the pedals and thought 'there's something odd here'! Soon got used to where the gears where though, great (not so) little car.
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 14 March 2010, 14:40:16
Never liked them when new, and certainly do not like them now! ::) ::) ::) ;)
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: splott on 14 March 2010, 14:47:35
Only good thing about them was the gear box as Lotus used them in their Essex and Esprit  :D :D
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: dbug on 14 March 2010, 16:42:33
Thats a Harris Mann design - he who designed the TR7  (Not a true TR - spot the similarity with the Princess/Ambassador ;))
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: splott on 14 March 2010, 18:59:58
Quote
Thats a Harris Mann design - he who designed the TR7  (Not a true TR - spot the similarity with the Princess/Ambassador ;))

You can understand why they wouldn't let the TR7 into the TR Register , at first,if it was designed by the same bloke that designed the Princess :D
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Martin_1962 on 14 March 2010, 21:42:36
Quote
tbh i like it..i like it a lot :)
i love cars from that era,the princess,marina,talbot sunbeams and so on..they have a smell and feel to them and i always found them comfy :y


a) Rubbish, b) utter rubbish, c) one of the best small hatches of the period - particularly the 1600 twin carb and 2.2 16v models
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Martin_1962 on 14 March 2010, 21:43:51
Quote
I owned  2.2 Princess back in the eightys. The transverse straight six ( whiched pushed out a neck breaking 105 H.P ::))was a dream to work on due to the fact that you could actually stand in the engine bay in the space between the block and the rad. On the down side it was a pain to return to the car to find it listing to on side in a pool of bright green fluid because the hydra gas suspension unit had rusted and leaked some thing that happened to me on at least two occasions. That said it was a very comfy car for its time.


Wow 5 more than a 1600 Sunbeam, and 10 less than mine was ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: STMO999 on 14 March 2010, 21:44:21
Quote
Quote
tbh i like it..i like it a lot :)
i love cars from that era,the princess,marina,talbot sunbeams and so on..they have a smell and feel to them and i always found them comfy :y


a) Rubbish, b) utter rubbish, c) one of the best small hatches of the period - particularly the 1600 twin carb and 2.2 16v models


I used to love my hillman imp, lovely little car  :'(
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Vamps on 14 March 2010, 21:49:16
One of the most spacious and comfortable cars I have driven........ :y
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: pscocoa on 14 March 2010, 23:38:09
I had the Austin Ambassador when it replaced Princess in 1982. Did about 30k in 18 months then it was replaced by Rover SD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Ambassador
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Tony H on 14 March 2010, 23:52:20
Quote
Quote
Quote
tbh i like it..i like it a lot :)
i love cars from that era,the princess,marina,talbot sunbeams and so on..they have a smell and feel to them and i always found them comfy :y


a) Rubbish, b) utter rubbish, c) one of the best small hatches of the period - particularly the 1600 twin carb and 2.2 16v models


I used to love my hillman imp, lovely little car  :'(
[/highlight]

Apart from the fact that you had to remove the whole rather engine to change the  thermostat  >:(
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: Squealey on 15 March 2010, 04:57:56
My gramps had a V reg 1700HL with twin headlights in gold with a brown vinyl roof and even browner velour(ish) interior.

Although I was young I do remember a couple of things like him taking it to the garage to get the Hydrolastic suspension pumped up, seat belt warning light/clicker and, god knows how I remember this, but the lighting behind the heater controls was done off one bulb and fibre optic cables.

Cutting edge stuff!
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: neilr on 15 March 2010, 16:56:17
my dad had a 1970 morris 1800 (land crab) which he let me borrow a few times it seemed to fly i remember 100+ on the A10 5 up so comfy. We got stopped once coming through london at about 2 in the morning by a beat copper. he told me that a colleague had seen us going a bit too quick. a reminder to slow down and sent me on my way.

As for the imp sit the engine on milk crate push the body away about 40 mins work to have engine out. and a bag of sand in the front to keep the wheels on the road.

What great days !!!!!!!!! :y
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: STMO999 on 15 March 2010, 17:08:07
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
tbh i like it..i like it a lot :)
i love cars from that era,the princess,marina,talbot sunbeams and so on..they have a smell and feel to them and i always found them comfy :y


a) Rubbish, b) utter rubbish, c) one of the best small hatches of the period - particularly the 1600 twin carb and 2.2 16v models


I used to love my hillman imp, lovely little car  :'(
[/highlight]

Apart from the fact that you had to remove the whole rather engine to change the  thermostat  >:(


Mine needed a bit more than a thermostat after I'd finished with it. I suppose I could have fitted a new stat if I could have sourced a replacement engine ;D
Title: Re: Austin Princess
Post by: sexydaz on 15 March 2010, 19:29:58
the maxi