1968model Vanden Plas Princess 1300 Mk-II 4MT – エステートセールスプレマシー

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1968model

Vanden Plas Princess 1300 Mk-II 4MT

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Just as it was in the atmosphere of the 1960s… there existed a “Baby Rolls” that could also be enjoyed for its driving pleasure with a 4-speed manual…! Interior and exterior fully restored — even the condition of the burr walnut is enough to bring tears…! The 1968 Vanden Plas Princess 1300 Mk-II was a car through which one could truly savor the rich essence of British luxury car culture…!

Chapter One…

The Princess I longed for over twenty years and finally encountered…
What is the late-1968 production Mk-II, whose interior and exterior were restored several years ago—and whose vintage burr walnut ambiance is simply magnificent…?

Its standing姿 is dignified and exceptionally beautiful, and from the body quietly resting three meters away, an unmistakable sense of superb refinement is deeply conveyed…
The unmistakably vintage charm—born from British automotive culture itself and never fading no matter how much time passes—is surely the clear and unquestionable reason for choosing this 1968 Vanden Plas Princess Mk-II…

The chassis number listed on the vehicle inspection certificate was officially stamped by the Shizuoka Transport Bureau…
Although the first domestic registration in Japan is recorded as Showa 61 (1986), the serial number #VAS2-17648 indicates production in the latter half of 1968…
From its exterior as well—the clean fender line without side markers… the delicate body moldings characteristic of the 1960s BMC era… Lucas fog lamps and period-correct lighting… slender chrome trim… and the interior details, especially the seats—it can be observed that this is a late-1968 production car, attractively retaining the poised appearance from before later safety regulations and British Leyland-era rationalization took effect…

The chic almond-green tone, believed to have been refinished several years ago with the glass and rubber components removed, does not display the gloss of a freshly completed job, but instead exudes a perfectly balanced atmosphere…
The original wheel caps free of rust or tears… the chrome parts and mirrors… each fine detail richly speaks of the 1960s… and once inside, one is moved to tears by all seats, carefully reupholstered in what appears to be high-quality Connolly leather, evident even from its thick feel to the touch…
The excellent condition of the ebonite steering wheel, the burr walnut arranged just like that of a 1960s Rolls-Royce, and the Smiths gauges lined up like those of a Silver Cloud—together create such overwhelming vintage presence that one can only surrender in admiration…!

Even the ancillary components in the engine bay that were clearly replaced in later years have been selected carefully to match the originals, with absolutely no unnecessary embellishment…
Nothing added, nothing taken away… it is unmistakable that a knowledgeable individual carried out a careful and meticulous restoration and original revival plan over a long period of time, allowing this car—nearly 60 years after its release—to deliver the atmosphere and driving experience of its era without compromise, even enjoying refreshing cool air from the under-dash hanging-type air conditioner in early summer…
As you may already understand, such a car is not easily found…

The owner, who enjoys a variety of character-rich automobiles—including historic Morgans—tailored to his lifestyle, has previously entrusted me with assisting in the release of parts of his collection…
Upon speaking with him again, he shared that this Vanden Plas Princess 1300 Mk-II 4MT was not merely a hobby classic, but a car he had longed for in his heart for over twenty years—“one day I want to drive one”…
He narrows his eyes fondly as he looks at the car, saying, “This car alone was something truly special…”

Due to garage circumstances at home, he had let go of his previous 3-number registered vehicle and began searching for something more compact—initially looking for an Old Mini, which is relatively easier to find…
Just as he was about to purchase a Mini in good condition, he happened to encounter this Princess by chance…
The moment he saw it, his feelings were shaken profoundly, and before he knew it, his mind was completely captivated by the Princess…
Thus, the car he had admired for twenty years finally entered his garage as a long-cherished dream fulfilled…

Rather than daily use, he spent indulgent drives with this enchanting Princess purely for relaxation…
As a way to reset his mind, almost like a weekend date, he would gently drive familiar scenic routes during quiet early weekend mornings, savoring his blissful time with this captivating Princess…

The secret to enjoying this car lies in “driving it leisurely”…
The 4-speed manual version differs in character from the automatic SU single-carb specification, originally paired with twin SU carburetors and the traditional OHV 1275cc A-series engine…
With an officially stated output of 65 hp at the time, the 4MT version carried a sports-saloon character…
Though affectionately called the “Baby Rolls” for its luxurious trim rooted in British luxury car culture, this Vanden Plas Princess, despite its compact size, offers surprising composure and moist, settled ride quality far beyond what its dimensions suggest—deepening one’s affection even further…
As the owner says with a gentle smile, “While making full use of the 4-speed manual, nothing feels better than driving it slowly and gracefully…”
In the quiet early mornings when both people and cars are scarce, gently cruising favorite winding roads becomes the most elegant and spiritually cleansing time of all…
That was surely the greatest joy of keeping this Princess close at hand…

Although clear maintenance records were unfortunately not included at the time of purchase, its beautiful and well-balanced stance, along with the careful attention evident throughout the interior and exterior, make it easy to infer that this example has been properly restored…
While the engine internals have not been opened, the absence of oil leaks, the proper synchronization of the twin SU carburetors, and the installation of a stainless steel Capton-type exhaust suggest that attention has also been given to the engine’s internals…
From the effectiveness of the under-dash air conditioner to the proper functioning of the electrical components, there are currently no issues whatsoever with driving, stopping, or turning…
In fact, as you can confirm in the video, it is in very good condition…

One point to note, as shown in the photos and video (from around 2:56), is a crack in the filler beneath the paint on the upper right front fender…
Additionally, during the repaint, the delicate pinstripe that originally ran along the body side—once hand-painted by craftsmen—has been carefully recreated using decals…
However, its overall presence retains the quality that faithfully conveys the coachbuilder culture that Vanden Plas embodied at the time…

The owner, who truly fell in love with this Princess and preserved it in the best possible condition since acquiring it, has unfortunately decided to part with it…
The reason is neither mechanical trouble nor changes in life circumstances, but rather an injury…
Due to a shoulder injury, the unique operation of right-hand drive with left-side gear shift has become physically burdensome, and with great reluctance, he must let go of the wonderful Princess he had finally found…

From the gentle way he looks at the car and his words, it is painfully clear that this enchanting Princess was a car he would have wished to own for many years to come…

After more than twenty years of longing, he finally encountered this 1968 Vanden Plas Princess 1300 Mk-II 4MT…
It was a precious interview, through which one could truly feel that this rare example—with its unique story included—embodies the ideal Vanden Plas Princess that many envision…

Chapter Two…

The compact saloon bearing the name “Princess” was born from this very background…
Unraveling its appeal through the historical facts of BMC…!

To understand the name Vanden Plas, one must first go back to a time when the British automobile industry was still built upon the culture of coachbuilders…

The origins of Vanden Plas lie in Belgium at the end of the 19th century. Later relocating to Britain, it developed into a prestigious coachbuilder responsible for crafting bodies for leading British luxury manufacturers such as Rolls-Royce and Bentley…
At that time, luxury cars were not sold as fully completed vehicles as they are today. Customers would purchase only the chassis and engine, and then commission their preferred coachbuilder to construct the body. Within that world, Vanden Plas was held in particularly high regard…

After World War II, the British automotive industry entered a period of major restructuring…
Centered around Austin and Morris, the British Motor Corporation—commonly known as BMC—was formed, and Vanden Plas was incorporated under its umbrella…
However, it was not retained merely as a brand name…
BMC positioned Vanden Plas as its luxury division, assigning it a new role: to transplant the tradition and refinement cultivated in its coachbuilding heritage into mass-produced vehicles…

This philosophy was most clearly expressed in the ADO16 series…
Alec Issigonis, who had opened new possibilities for front-wheel-drive transverse-engine layouts with the Mini in 1959, developed the ADO16 as its evolution…
The ADO16 was marketed under numerous brands—including Austin 1100, Morris 1100, MG 1100, Riley Kestrel, and Wolseley 1100—and became one of the best-selling cars of 1960s Britain…
At the same time, BMC conceived the idea of giving this excellent compact platform the Vanden Plas name, crafting it into a truly luxurious small saloon…

Thus was born the “Vanden Plas Princess” series…
Burr walnut… Connolly leather seats… Smiths instruments… picnic tables…
Lavish appointments typically seen in Rolls-Royce or Bentley were generously applied. This was not merely an upgraded trim level, but a philosophy aimed at creating a genuine British luxury car within the body of a compact vehicle…
This is precisely why the car later came to be affectionately known as the “Baby Rolls”…

The name “Princess” itself also carried deep roots in British luxury car history…
Its lineage traces back to the Austin Princess introduced in the 1930s…
True to its name, it was a formal luxury car favored by members of the British royal family and government officials, and the name continued for decades as a distinguished part of Britain’s luxury automotive heritage…
Thus, this small Vanden Plas Princess 1300 was not merely a luxury-spec ADO16, but a rightful successor to the prestigious Princess nameplate…

Equally fascinating is the ADO16 platform itself…
As one of Britain’s most successful mass-market cars of the 1960s, over two million units were produced worldwide, making it one of the greatest successes in British automotive history…
Yet among them, the Vanden Plas Princess remained extremely rare—11,717 units for the Mk-II, 8,312 for the Mk-III, and including approximately 1,000 early examples, totaling only around 20,000 cars. That is merely about 1% of total ADO16 production, giving it a distinctly different presence from the rest…

In essence, this car represents the happiest fusion of two worlds: the advanced compact-car engineering of the globally successful ADO16, and the coachbuilding tradition of Vanden Plas, which once crafted bodies for Rolls-Royce and Bentley…
Even more intriguing is the designation Mk-II…
The Mk-I, Mk-II, and Mk-III classifications commonly used today were organized retrospectively by enthusiasts. At the time of sale, the car was simply marketed as the Vanden Plas Princess 1300. Strictly speaking, there was no official “Mk-I” model name at its introduction…
Owners’ clubs and researchers later adopted these distinctions for convenience in identifying specification changes and improvements…

The example featured in this interview carries the serial number VAS2-17648…
Decoding the serial number confirms production in the latter half of 1968…
Furthermore, the fender shape without side markers, the configuration of Lucas lighting including fog lamps, the slender chrome moldings, and the burr walnut-dominated interior all indicate a late-1968 Mark II generation car…
Mechanically, it is equipped with twin SU HS2 carburetors producing 65 bhp, paired with a 4-speed manual transmission—clearly distinguishing it from the automatic single-carburetor version and giving it a more sporting saloon character…

This Princess cannot be explained simply as a compact luxury car…
It is a rare existence in which the coachbuilder Vanden Plas tradition and BMC’s innovative compact-car engineering merged in their most harmonious form—an embodiment of British luxury car culture…
That is precisely why, even nearly 60 years after its release, this car still carries such a rich fragrance of 1960s British luxury culture…

Chapter Three…

“Baby Rolls”… its refinement is truly supreme —
1968 Vanden Plas Princess 1300 Mark II 4MT…
Author’s Afterword…!

There are many examples that have been restored in later years as time has passed, and no doubt passionate collectors will continue to bring such cars back to life…
However… to encounter a car that faithfully preserves the atmosphere of its era—one whose very passage of time shines beautifully, and that has been carefully maintained in true respect of its originality—is not something that happens often…!
It was surely for this very reason—the ability to feel the air of the 1960s from its poised stance down to the finest details—that the veteran owner, the protagonist of this story, fell in love with this Princess at first sight…

And yet… when walnut veneer panels are refinished in later years with acrylic coating, they often cannot withstand the high interior temperatures of summer, leading to surface cracks and even peeling of the acrylic layer…
But the burr walnut in this particular car was finished with oil stain from a time before acrylic coating became common…
The rare “pearl” grain patterns visible only in select sections of genuine solid wood—now increasingly scarce due to changes in the global environment and shifting timber sources—are extraordinarily precious elements that may never be seen again in the future…

Within this truly Victorian cabin, gazing at Smiths gauges set against burr walnut exactly as in a Rolls-Royce, and operating the slender ebonite steering wheel reminiscent of a Silver Cloud…
It goes far beyond the expression “Baby Rolls,” offering what can only be described as a supreme moment for any true car enthusiast…

Without question, the precious time spent with this lovely Princess will be filled with rich atmosphere, and will surely enrich the life of the partner who shares in its journey…

Just as it was in the atmosphere of the 1960s… there existed a “Baby Rolls” that could be enjoyed for its driving pleasure with a 4-speed manual transmission…! Interior and exterior restored — even the condition of the burr walnut is enough to bring tears…! The 1968 Vanden Plas Princess 1300 Mk-II was a car through which one could truly savor the rich essence of British luxury car culture…!

This is truly a car that cannot be found even if one tries to search for it—just as this owner experienced, “one can only wait for the right encounter…” Such is the wonderful aura of this exceptional example…

The current owner longed for this Princess for over twenty years before finally meeting it…
The question now is whether the next custodian will be able to build a mutually devoted relationship with this beautiful Princess…
Please do come to Gunma Prefecture for this supreme in-person viewing experience…

This truly magnificent “1968 Vanden Plas Princess 1300 Mark II 4MT” is currently located in Gunma Prefecture.

As this is a private sale, no consumption tax or additional fees will be charged.
At the time of purchase, the buyer will be responsible for the prorated automobile tax settlement (annual amount: ¥45,400) as well as the recycling deposit settlement (¥11,410).

Transportation arrangements should be made by the buyer; however, if desired, please feel free to consult with us. Depending on the distance, we can provide a quotation and deliver the vehicle using our company-owned 3-ton flatbed loader truck.

Regarding Inquiries…
The vehicle featured on this page is listed on the cross-border EC platform for classic and collectible cars, “Estate Sale Supremacy®︎.”

Estate Sale Supremacy®︎ is the Japanese counterpart of North American estate sale culture, introducing vehicles filled with the owner’s passion through interview-based articles and video presentations.
We faithfully express the current owner’s sentiments, preserving cherished memories while ensuring a proper transition to the next generation through secure sales mediation services.

The contents of this article were written based on an interview with the owner conducted on March 15, 2026, starting at 1:00 PM, during approximately three hours of coverage under clear weather conditions.
Due to the limited inspection time, the vehicle’s condition may not be described with 100% accuracy, and not all written content has been independently verified.
Please understand that any comments regarding condition are based solely on the weather and circumstances at the time of the interview, as well as the author’s subjective impressions.

For questions regarding the listed vehicle or to request an in-person viewing, please contact us using the form at the bottom of this page.
As this is a private transaction, and to prevent non-serious inquiries, in-person inspections are limited strictly to customers who are considering purchase as a premise.

We sincerely appreciate your consideration.