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VANDEN PLAS · VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS · Cars

VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS Rare

As of 2026 Q2, 311 VANDEN PLAS PRINCESSs remain registered in the UK — a genuinely rare sight on today's roads. Numbers are at their highest recorded level since the model first appeared in our data in 2014 Q3. Unusually, the numbers are actually rising — up 10 (3.3%) over the past year, as imports and barn-finds rejoin the register faster than cars leave it.

VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS car — UK survivor photo
Photo: andreboeni / CC BY 2.0 · via Flickr
Surviving in the UK · 2026 Q2
311
198 licensed113 SORN
▲ 10 (+3.3%) yr/yr
Peak: 311 in 2026 Q2 · first seen 2014 Q3

Survivors over time

0 78 156 233 311 2014 Q32020 Q32026 Q2

How rare is it?

Rare — fewer than 1,000 remain (311 in the latest data).

Rarer than 48% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.

Fuel breakdown

Of the 310 on the road today
Petrol 99%Diesel 1%

Trend

Numbers are broadly stable — no clear decline to project. Often a sign of a cherished, well-preserved model.
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About the PRINCESS

The Princess is a badge engineered variant of the Austin A99 Westminster, manufactured by BMC from 1959 to 1968 and marketed under the Vanden Plas marque. The model was launched in October 1959 under the name Princess 3-litre. From July 1960, these vehicles bore the name Vanden Plas Princess 3-litre, Vanden Plas having become a badge-engineered brand in its own right instead of being known as a coachbuilder for cars of other manufacturers. The 3-litre was superseded by the Vanden Plas Princess 4-litre R in 1964. The Princess was a great deal smaller and less than 44 per cent of the price of the...

Source: Wikipedia, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.

VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS — questions & answers

How many VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS are left in the UK?

As of 2026 Q2, 311 VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS were still registered in the UK — 198 licensed and on the road, plus 113 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.

Is the VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS rare?

The VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS is rare — fewer than 1,000 remain (311), making it rarer than 48% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.

Is the VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS increasing or decreasing?

Over the last year the number of VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS on UK roads rose by 10 (3.3%).

What fuel do most VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS use?

Most VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS run on petrol — about 99% of those still registered, with the rest split across diesel.

When did the VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS peak?

The VANDEN PLAS PRINCESS peaked at 311 registered in 2026 Q2, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.

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