M25 Classics – 1952 Austin Princess

British manufacturers have long been skilled at producing cars that blend style with luxury, and the model we have here certainly boasts both of those attributes. And for Austin enthusiasts it’s sure to be of interest.

The first of these Princess models arrived in 1947, and the second version like the example here was introduced three years later. Lasting until 1953, it combined a smooth straight-six engine with an opulent interior crafted from the finest leather and wood. It was an impressive car indeed for those that could afford the purchase price.

It is certainly an imposing machine, and this particular one has an interesting story having originally been in the same family ownership since 1959. Although it was taken off the road in 1966 it did benefit from an engine rebuild before it was stored away in a barn.

Previously sold at auction, the bodywork and interior had survived remarkably well and it had less than 5000 miles on the clock. The buyer had stored the car once again, and it was from there that it was acquired by M25 Classics.

That low mileage is certainly unusual given this car is more than seventy years old, and we can’t help thinking that it makes for an extremely tempting restoration project. Once completed it would make for a very luxurious way to travel, and one that would get plenty of attention on the road.

Five years after this car was made the Austin name would be dropped and later versions would carry the name of Vanden Plas, but the Princess would continue to sit at the top of the company’s model range. And while production of these models would cease in the 1960s the name would reappear on a family car in 1975.