Vanden Plas models.

Vanden Plas, or in correct Dutch, Van der Plas, was originated in Belgium. The vanden Plas workshops started in 1870 making wheels, followed by axle units for carriages. Business moved from Brussels to Antwerp in 1884 where horse drawn carriaged were produced. Work increased and an other branche was opened in Brussels again in 1890. Work was exhibited ad the World Trade fairs and in 1900 vanden Plas gained the highest award ever by a Belgium coach builder.

By 1908, Vanden Plas had a workforce of 400 men producing 300 special bodies a year and this soon increased to over 750. In 1913 'The Times' stated that 'Vanden Plas bodied cars had an air of distinction lacking in many of the products around them'.

Today most people will connect Vanden Plas with the more up market Austin Rover Products, but in the past they were coach-builders for Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Alvis, Daimler and Lagonda and many more. It is said that up to 1939, no two bodies by Vanden Plas were identical. Many cars built with vanden Plas standards, it means luxury and with the the rationalisation of the British Leyland empire, the Vanden Plas Factory at Kingsbury was closed in 1979. 1500 production was transferred to MG Abingdon until its closure in 1980 when manufacture ceased. The Daimler models were transferred to Coventry.

From 1980 the Vanden Plas name was added to the most expensive luxury versions of the Austin Metro, Maestro, Montego and Ambassador, as well as the Rover SD1 and 213/216 models.

See also the vanden plas club website. Click here

Rover V8-S, vanden Plas models

The Rover V8-S

Rover had been working to improve the SD1 with the aim to launch the car onto the US market, which happened in 1980. Many of the changes were seen in the V8-S model from June 1979, which was basically part of the revision of the whole range of SD1 cars. The V8-S model became top of the range SD1 cars and one of the rarest to find. The intention was to build 140 cars per week, but that figure was never reached.

So what was so special about the “S” type? It was an attempt from Rover to respond to the customer demand for a better-specified car with more luxurious interior that had more the looks of the old models, the P5 and P6. It’s standard equipment included air-conditioning, sunroof and headlamp wash-wiper. The new car was mechanically identical to the 3500 and came with manual 5 speed as standard or optional automatic transmission (Borg Warner). Metallic paint was available at no cost option, and most of them had this. From the outside it was easy to distinguish the V8-S models from the 3500 model. Alloy wheels were standard, delivered on the first 900 models in gold paint. Black bumpers and double coach lines identified the car, together with a small intake under the bonnet line, which allowed extra cooling. There was a zone tinted windscreen as well as chromium plated door handles and exhaust tailpipe.

Leather upholstery was available as an option for £ 290, - and the car was supplied with deep shag-pile carpets, cross-ribbed velvet-covered seats and cloth-covered door facings as standard. Front and rear head restraints with detachable headrest cushions were standard on the V8-S models.

The primary colour for all “S” models interior was a rather drab shade of Nutmeg (brown) with seats and other fittings in beige or bronze. It had a manual sliding sunroof and could be locked at a desired position. And like the V8 models the “S” had electrically operated windows, central door locking and a radio and stereo cassette player with front and rear speakers as standard.

The Rover V8-S was the better-specified SD1 and received a warm welcome from the motoring press.

The Rover SD1 series 2, Vanden Plas models.

The Rover SD1 series 2 were built at Cowley from 1982 onwards. That September Rover announced the newly range of cars, from the 2300, 2300S, 2600S and 3500SE to the top of the range the Vanden Plas models. A name that was not been used before on the previous models.

First of all the models came with four new interior colours, blue, green and light and dark brown. (Not all colours were available on all models) The cars were equipped with velvet seats and better carpets; leather trimmed steering wheel and a fully carpeted rear parcel shelf as well as illuminated switches. The front seats had an adjustable lumbar support, and a hand wheel adjustment for backrest angle. The seats were re-designed and by reshaping the rear seats, a little extra head and legroom was obtained for those in the back.

The Vanden Plas models came with automatic transmission, as standard but five-speed manual gearbox was available as no-cost option. The car was supplied with electric operated sun-roof, power windows, central door locking, electrical operated mirrors, cruise control, trip computer, headlight wipe-washer and many others as standard.