Originated
in Belgium in 1870 manufacturing wheels, then
axle units for carriages. In 1884 moved from
Brussels to Antwerp where horse drawn carriages
were produced, some of their creations being
exhibited at the World Trade Fairs. Manufactured
components for De Dion Bouton, Berlier, Germain,
Packard and others. Formed a company in England
in 1913, building bodies under licence from Vanden
Plas in Belgium, going on to manufacture coach-work
for the best of British marques such as Rolls-Royce,
Bentley,
Alvis, Daimler and Lagonda to name a
few.
In 1946 Vanden Plas became a subsidiary
of Austin Motors, and went on to use Austin chassis,
although the Austin name was officially dropped
in
1960. Most famous for the 3 and 4 litre Princess
models of the early 1960's, the Queen even ordering
a special Countryman version in
1963, this model
subsequently replaced by the Rolls Royce powered
4 Litre R, today a highly collectable vehicle. Suffered like most in the British car industry
carnage of the 1970's, the Vanden Plas Factory
at Kingsbury being closed in
1979.
The Princess
1500 production was transferred to MG's Abingdon
facility until its closure in
1980 when manufacture
ceased. The Daimler models were transferred to
Coventry, and from 1980 the Vanden Plas name
was added to the most expensive luxury versions
of the Austin Metro, Maestro, Montego and Ambassador,
as well as the Rover SD1 and 213/216 models.
Today the name Vanden Plas continues on the top
Jaguar Saloon marketed in the US.
Also see: This History of Vanden Plas (USA Edition)
