Princess
2.2 HLS Auto - Practical Classics
David Wicks
Bracknell
You may have seen the "one you can buy" feature
in last months PC which road tested the Princess HLS for sale by Pioneer Autos
in Berkshire. Well I bought it folks! Never set out to buy a Princess although I
was always interested in them as a species having owned a Landcrab many moons
ago. Well to cut a long story short, I was very smitten by the car on a visit to
the said brokers barn and before I knew it was taking the old girl out for a
drive which convinced me I should own her. She is a condition 1 low miler and
has had no welding or bodywork done except a bit of paint refreshinhg here and
There. One of my first jobs has been to join this club and I intend to use and
enjoy the car for many years. There are no immediate jobs needing doing but I
will treat the bonnet to a respray over the winter as it has faded and worn a
bit thin. The car is an Auto and I have never experienced the Borg Warner 35
before - the handbook warns of a soft thump when selecting drive or reverse from
rest which is fair enough but should they also jerk a bit during the change up?
Mine does, although it is smoother when thoroughly warmed up. Also, another
question, the transmission whines quite loudly and the characteristics of the
whine suggest differential, are they all like this? Harking back to my Landcrab
I know that was a noisy begger so am I just too conditioned by modern "quiet"
cars? Anyway looking forward to meeting some fellow owners - is the club
planning anything at the NEC this year? Best Rgds Dave.
