I've always thought those Farina styled cars looked quite smart.
Back in the very early 70's, I did a University field trip (a power-station test at ICI Wilton) and was based in Redcar for a few days.
One of my student friends borrowed his father's much-loved car to get four of us there. It was a Vanden Plas Princess (based on the more-upscale Farina-styled Westminster) and was the somewhat rare "R" version, with a 4-litre Rolls-Royce sourced engine (though, as I understand it, not a mainstream car one) with 175hp on tap.
Sheer luxury, and we were "making progress" across the N York Moors when the big end(s) went.
We made it to Redcar somehow, but after long telephone conversations the car was recovered (to where I know not).
I made my way back to University by train at the end of the trip (by virtue of qualifying for reduced fares); the others cadged lifts in other, now overloaded vehicles.
I suspect the fix, if there was one, was neither cheap nor easy, and the car was certainly subsequently a proscribed topic of conversation.
I know insurance practice was rather different in those days, but the driver could have been no more than 19 or 20 - it makes one wonder.
(This crossed with Runfer's edit)
Last edited by: tyrednemotional on Mon 31 Aug 20 at 21:09
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