There was a time when the word limousine didn’t conjure up images of drunken women in short skirts on a hen night. When it wasn’t about taking a large American saloon and inserting an extra ten feet in the middle. When, in short, the limousine could offer class. Back in the post war era limousines were large, stately cars designed from the ground up to take eight passengers in formal surroundings, and naturally they made the perfect automotive accompaniment to jobs in state or jobs which required a degree of respect be paid.
British Motor Holdings was in an enviable position in the mid-1960s – shy of a Rolls-Royce there were only two traditional limousines on offer to mayors, funeral parlours and the like – and both were built by BMH subsidiaries. The Austin-based Vanden Plas Princess and Majestic Majorbased Daimler DR450 were both ageing models though, and by the late 1960s thought was being given to their replacement. But BMH, soon to become British Leyland, didn’t need any more internal competition – and as BMC and Jaguar had merged in 1966 to form the conglomerate it was decided that only one limousine would be produced. Discussions at the highest level were held – including Sir William
