Meet the owner - Karen Gray's 1976 Leyland Princess 1800HL

Every classic car has a story that is of far greater importance than the mere mechanical data. Karen’s 1976 Leyland Princess 1800HL was acquired by her father in 1980 but:

He unfortunately died 10 days later whilst at work. One of his colleagues brought the Princess home and put it in the garage. My mum couldn't drive, and so the Princess stayed in the garage until my brother passed his driving test later that year.  He was then allowed to use the car to go to and from work and to take mum on holiday to Cornwall with the caravan.

However, this arrangement did not last, and so the Princess was:

put back in the garage and was gradually buried beneath various household items. After Mum died in 2006, we thought we would find a pile of rust in the garage, but we were pleasantly surprised to find a car!! My late husband, who loved classic cars, said that it could be saved, and so it was stored in a friend's barn until we could get around to working on it. This was not until nine years later.

And it goes without saying that the Flamenco Red 1800HL was worth saving. In September 1975, British Leyland replaced the original Austin, Morris and Wolseley badges with the Princess marque name. “The Leyland 18-22 Series has been launched to more acclaim, from the press and public alike, than any other new car since the Mini”, announced BL. “Now to simplify matters, we’re calling it the Princess”.

As befitting their status, the HL (“High Line”) versions had a centre console, a fuel cap lock, vinyl-clad C-pillars, and a rear folding armrest as standard. The 1.8-litre Princess was immediately distinguishable from its six-cylinder 2.2-litre stablemates via its four headlamps and, as an early model, Karen’s HL has “Knit-back expanded vinyl seat surfaces”. From April 1976 onwards, they had a cloth-trimmed cabin. 

In 1976, a Princess 1800HL cost £2,520, compared with £2,408 for a Vauxhall Victor 1800 FE, £2,598 for a Ford Granada 2000L and £2,297 for a Cortina 2000XL Mk. III. Other alternatives included the Chrysler 180 at £2,468, the Datsun 200L Six at £2,679, the Fiat 132 1800GLS at £2,599, a Peugeot 504L at £2,687 or a Toyota 2000 at £2,575. However, none had the combination of the Princess’s front-wheel-drive layout and Harris Mann’s elegant styling.

Today, the Princess is a much sought-after classic car. Karen’s 1800HL now has an original 1970s picnic basket.   “After a couple of years sourcing parts etc., the red Princess was eventually put back on the road and made her debut at the NEC Classic Motor Show in 2017”.  Flamenco Red very much suits its lines, even if the person who painted her said “it is the colour of a kitchen splash back”.  As with many older vehicles, the Princess HL has had her issues. “On one of her ‘naughty days', she had a lift home after her suspension failed - the joys of classic car ownership”.

Karen says the Princess “is still looking good and goes to classic car shows where she is greatly admired”.  And rightly so, for it is a remarkable car - with an even more remarkable story.

With thanks to Karen Gray for her time.

With thanks to Karen Gray for the permission to use the images in this blog.