1967 Vanden Plas 4 Litre R

Registration No: LNJ 606E
Chassis No: VRS35912
MOT: Exempt

• A highly original example
• Current ownership since 2014 with over £6,000 worth of expenditure during this time
• Supplied new by Caffyn’s of Eastbourne, Rolls-Royce and Bentley agents
• 1 of just 6,555 examples made

Announced in August 1964, the Princess 4-Litre R featured a Rolls-Royce, all-aluminium, 175bhp engine enabling an unusually high power-to-weight ratio enabling cruising at 90mph and a top speed in period of 112mph. The engine was the product of over two years of technical collaboration between BMC and Rolls-Royce. Twin SU carburettors were fitted, both the cylinder block and head were aluminium, tappets were hydraulic self-adjusting operating on overhead valves configuration and the counter-balanced crankshaft ran in seven main bearings, reducing vibration. Pricing aimed at challenging the MkX Jaguar was a major change of market positioning, aiming at growth in the prestige and executive market segments of Europe and the United States. The 4.0 R was luxurious with polished walnut fascia, padded top and bottom, fully reclinable leather seats and polished picnic tables for the rear passengers. A new automatic transmission was provided by Borg-Warner; its first use in a British car, and Hydrosteer variable-ratio power steering accompanied wider tyres.

One of just 6,555 examples manufactured, chassis ‘VRS35912’ was manufactured in 1967. Supplied to the home market, it was first registered in the United Kingdom on the 1^st of May that year, being sold through Rolls-Royce and Bentley agents Caffyn’s of Eastbourne. Finished in the attractive colour combination of two-tone Carlton Grey over Dove Grey paintwork, the 4 Litre R features a complementary Blue leather interior upholstery with burr walnut dashboard and features. Retained by its first lady owner for ten years, the ownership history of the Vanden Plas is known from new. According to the vendor, exceptionally original other than a full repaint many years ago, ‘LNJ 606E’ now shows a believed genuine mileage of some 69,000 miles.

Purchased by the vendor in 2014, the Vanden Plas has benefitted from around £6,000 worth of improvement during the vendor's ownership. Receiving an overhauled steering box, starter motor and dynamo renovation, re-chroming, re-finishing of the original burr walnut veneers, driver's seat re-padding, a new set of tyres, and a new battery. ‘LNJ 606E’ is offered with a history file that comprises the ownership records, collection of previous MOTs and tax discs, handbooks, maintenance manual, a current V5C document, and the tool kit. Due to be driven to the sale, some 110 miles, this highly original example is presented in a very pleasant colour scheme.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452