Austin's flagship limousine was no hot rod: a 1953 road test of the Princess Long-Wheelbase by The Motor clocked 0-60 mph in a leisurely 23.3 seconds.
Median 104 hp across 556 similar cars
Lead trim: Princess LWB 4.0 D-Series six (3991 cc)
Austin Princess (A120/A135)1952–1968
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Austin Princess (A120/A135) yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactAustin's flagship limousine was no hot rod: a 1953 road test of the Princess Long-Wheelbase by The Motor clocked 0-60 mph in a leisurely 23.3 seconds.
The Austin A135 Princess Long Wheelbase Saloon (DS6, 88 built) and Limousine (DM4, 3,238 built, plus 18 landaulettes) were introduced in 1952 with the D-Series 3991 cc six-cylinder engine on a 132 in wheelbase. The GM Hydramatic 4-speed automatic and Hydrosteer power steering from the Princess IV were options from 1956. The marque name changed from Austin to Princess in August 1957 and to Vanden Plas from July 1960, and the long-wheelbase models continued to be built by hand in limited numbers as the Vanden Plas Princess 4-litre Limousine until 1968, when the Jaguar Mark X-based Daimler DS420, initially produced at the Vanden Plas works in Kingsbury, replaced them. The limousine was luxuriously appointed with polished wood, optional mohair rugs and a radio with controls in the armrest, and among the long list of extras were monograms and a flagstaff.
Collectors Spotted in the Austin Princess (A120/A135) Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Austin Princess (A120/A135) yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princess LWB 4.0 D-Series six (3991 cc) | 1952–1968 | 4.0 L Inline-6 | 130 hp | 210 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Austin priced the flagship Princess IV at 6.5 times an Austin A30 — so far above the market that almost nobody bought one.
Austin's flagship limousine was no hot rod: a 1953 road test of the Princess Long-Wheelbase by The Motor clocked 0-60 mph in a leisurely 23.3 seconds.
Several early Princess saloons got an unglamorous second act: converted into taxis in the late 1950s and fitted with Perkins diesel engines to save on fuel.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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