1975-1982 жылдарғы «Принцесса» автокөлігінің тарихы

Car produced in 1975–1982 by Austin Morris
Austin Princess, Princess and Vanden Plas Princess automobiles produced from 1946 to 1974

Princess sales, although initially strong, were tailing off by the end of the 1970s. Some competitors had added a fifth door as a "hatchback", something the Princess lacked (though Harris Mann originally designed the car with a hatch) and the large family car sector fell victim to a poor economic climate further compounded by the OPEC oil crisis. The Princess was somewhere between the Ford Cortina and Ford Granada in terms of size, being designed to compete with more expensive versions of the Cortina as well as entry level versions of the Granada. British Leyland restyled the Princess with a separate boot so that it would not compete with their existing SD1 and Maxi designs. The limousine version was devised in late 1975 and produced on a small scale by Woodall Nicholson. Based on the top of the range Princess 2200 HLS, stretched at the B pillar to allow more room for the rear compartment, the front door remained unchanged, making the car look oddly proportioned from the side. The Princess 2200 HLS Limousine was produced between 1975 and 1979, and was mostly sold to local borough councils (as a mayoral car) and to the funeral sector. The Princess limousine was a lower cost alternative to the Daimler DS420 for local government use. Total production amounted to 224,942 units, with most examples scrapped by the 1990s. TOC

The car was launched on 26 March 1975 as the 18–22 series, "the car that has got it all together". The number designation 18–22 referred to the engine sizes available carried forward from the 1800 cc BMC B series and 2200 cc E series engined BMC ADO 17 "Landcrab". For the first six months of production three badge engineered versions were produced: Austin, Morris and Wolseley. The Austin model bore the original "design intent", featuring trapezoidal headlights and a simple horizontally vaned grille with added "Austin" script to the lower right side. The Morris and Wolseley cars bonnets had a raised "hump" permitting a larger, styled grille for each model; the Morris one was a simple chrome rectangle with "Morris" script in the lower right hand corner, while Wolseleys had a chrome grille with the traditional illuminated Wolseley badge in the middle, with narrower vertical bars either side set back within the chromed surround. Both of these versions had four round headlights, and the Wolseley model was only available with the six cylinder engine and luxury velour trim. Apart from their bonnet and headlamp designs, and of course their badging, the Austin and Morris models were virtually identical.

The exterior styling was distinctive, innovative, and somewhat divisive. "The Wedge", as it was often nicknamed, was indeed very wedge shaped; the styling was all angles and slanting panels. This was very much a 1970s design as created by Italian stylists (see Lamborghini Countach for example). Within BL the car was often referred to as "The Anteater". The designer, Harris Mann, was also responsible for the Triumph TR7, another wedge shaped car, as was his original design for the Austin Allegro, although by the time that design had been readied for production nearly all the angular styling features had been lost. The Princess, unlike the Allegro, made it to regular production relatively unscathed and unaltered from Harris's original plan. The bonnet (hood) was a little higher, to allow for taller engines, but the biggest change from Harris's design involved the rear. Harris had intended the design to be a five door hatchback, but management decided that the Austin Maxi should be the only hatchback in the range, making that its unique selling point, and besides, they thought the Princess's prospective buyers would dislike a hatchback – despite the fact that in the Rover division the larger Rover SD1 was being given a hatchback design. Consequently, the Princess received fixed rear glass and a separate boot, belying its appearance. An estate version was also proposed, but never reached production.

The base engine fitted was the 1798 cc B series pushrod straight 4. The lay out closely followed that of the predecessor model, but access to the alternator/water pump was greatly improved by exploiting the car's longer nose to fit a front mounted radiator. The basic design of the engine dated back to 1947 and the unit with a claimed output of 84 bhp

In New Zealand the car was officially sold as the Austin Princess. Assembled in the New Zealand Motor Corporation's plant in Nelson, it was introduced to the market in 1977 and utilized the Austin 1800 B series engine. In early 1979 the car was re engined with the BL O series OHC motor. Due to a conflict of the Austin Princess and Morris Marina competing in the same market sector in New Zealand, the Princess got a 2.0 L unit mounted transversely, while the Marina (which was face lifted at that time and renamed in NZ as "Morris 1700") received the 1.7 L unit mounted longitudinally. Being competitively priced, the Princess proved a popular car on the New Zealand market, and proved to be a good alternative to the rear wheel drive Ford Cortina, Mitsubishi Sigma and Holden Commodore ranges. Local production of the car ended in June 1982, when the completely knocked down kits of the car had been used up. The Austin Princess R, the last model sold there, was still on new car price lists in 1983, and was available only in black to commemorate the end of local assembly of a long line of Austin cars.

The Princess designer Harris Mann intended it to be a hatchback and Torcars created a conversion designed to meet the growing demand for fifth door saloons which was dealer approved. The Torcars Princess Estate was available in 1800 or 2200 engine sizes, with manual or automatic gearboxes. The original sleek wedge profile was completely retained but the tailgate revealed an enormous loadspace accessible by probably the largest estate car aperture available on any European car at the time. With the rear seat lowered there is a load length of nearly 6 feet (2 m), a load width averaging 4 feet (1 m), a load height of nearly 3 feet (1 m), and an overall carrying capacity of 54 cubic feet (assuming Dunlop Denovo run flat wheels and tyres are fitted, obviating the need for a spare wheel). Also included as standard items not available on the standard Princess were a wash wipe system for the rear screen and a fully carpeted luggage area.