Vanden Plas
Vanden Plas was a Belgian-founded coachbuilding business that became a British luxury-car marque and designation associated with Austin, Daimler, Jaguar, British Leyland, and Rover.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Vanden Plas originated in Brussels in 1870 as a family workshop founded by blacksmith Guillaume van den Plas and his three sons, Antoine, Henri, and Willy. The business initially made axles and then moved into horse-drawn carriage production. After relocating to Antwerp in 1884 and reopening a Brussels branch in 1890, it developed into a substantial coachbuilding operation serving automobile manufacturers and wealthy individual customers. By the early twentieth century, the Belgian concern worked with manufacturers including De Dion-Bouton, Berlier, Germain, and Packard. Around 1908 it reportedly employed roughly 400 people and produced several hundred special bodies annually, later expanding its workforce to more than 750. The Belgian operation continued until 1949, while its French branch ended production in 1934. The name appeared in Britain in 1906 on imported Métallurgique cars fitted with Belgian Vanden Plas bodies. A British company was established in 1913 by Warwick Wright under licence from the Belgian firm. During the First World War, its work shifted from automobile bodies to aircraft production, and the enterprise was subsequently acquired by The Aircraft Manufacturing Company. Vanden Plas (1917) Ltd. was incorporated in 1917, but the post-war return to coachbuilding was difficult and the company entered receivership in 1922. The Fox brothers acquired the British naming rights and goodwill in 1923, incorporating Vanden Plas (England) 1923 Limited and moving operations to Kingsbury in North London. The British company built a close relationship with Bentley. Between 1924 and Bentley's financial collapse in 1931, Vanden Plas produced bodies for more than 700 Bentley chassis. During the 1930s it broadened its customer base to include Alvis, Armstrong Siddeley, Daimler, Lagonda, Rolls-Royce, and Talbot, while adopting limited-batch production methods alongside bespoke work. The Second World War again interrupted automobile production. The company manufactured wooden structural components for the de Havilland Mosquito and later parts for the Vampire jet fighter. After 1945, Vanden Plas moved toward series-produced luxury automobiles. Austin engaged the company to produce a chauffeur-oriented version of its large Sheerline-based car, and Vanden Plas became an Austin subsidiary in 1946. It built the Austin A120 Princess and later the Princess range. From 1958, its responsibilities expanded to chassis assembly, and the company was treated as a motor manufacturer in its own right. In 1960, the model became known as the Vanden Plas Princess. Vanden Plas also began applying luxury equipment and trim to mass-produced British cars, creating upgraded versions of models such as the Austin A105 Westminster, the BMC 1100 and 1300, and the Allegro. Following Jaguar's acquisition of Daimler in 1960 and the creation of British Leyland, Vanden Plas became closely tied to Daimler limousine production. The Princess was replaced in 1968 by the Daimler DS420, assembled by Vanden Plas on a lengthened Jaguar Mark X platform. DS420 production continued at Kingsbury until the factory closed in November 1979. The Vanden Plas name was subsequently used for upmarket versions of Austin Rover models, including the Metro, Maestro, Montego, and Rover SD1 and SD3. Production and finishing activity shifted to Abingdon after the Kingsbury closure. Brand ownership and market usage later diverged. British Leyland retained the Vanden Plas name within the Rover side of its corporate structure. In North America, the name was used from 1982 to 2009 on Jaguar models that were marketed as Daimlers in other markets, including the top luxury version of the Jaguar XJ X350. In the United Kingdom, Jaguar could not continue using the Vanden Plas name after its separation from Rover, so comparable cars retained Daimler branding. The last British-market car to carry the name was a Vanden Plas version of the Rover 75 in the early twenty-first century. The name was also involved in later intellectual-property transactions connected with Nanjing Automobile's acquisition of former MG Rover assets. Its final documented automotive use was the Vanden Plas designation on the Jaguar XJ X350 in 2009.
History
Vanden Plas began in Brussels in 1870 as a family enterprise established by Guillaume van den Plas and his sons. It first made axles and then horse-drawn carriages, moving to Antwerp in 1884 and reopening a Brussels branch in 1890. As automobile production expanded, the Belgian business supplied bodies for several European and American manufacturers. Its French branch ended in 1934 and the Belgian operation remained active until 1949. The British connection began in 1906, when Métallurgique automobiles imported into Britain carried Belgian Vanden Plas coachwork. Warwick Wright established a British licensed operation in 1913. Wartime requirements redirected the company toward aircraft work, and the business was incorporated as Vanden Plas (1917) Ltd. Its post-war recovery was unsuccessful at first, leading to receivership in 1922. The Fox brothers acquired the British name and goodwill in 1923 and formed Vanden Plas (England) 1923 Limited at Kingsbury. During the 1920s, Vanden Plas became particularly associated with Bentley. It produced more than 700 bodies for Bentley chassis between 1924 and 1931. In the following decade it diversified into bodies for Alvis, Armstrong Siddeley, Daimler, Lagonda, Rolls-Royce, Talbot, and other marques. It also developed small-series production techniques while retaining bespoke coachbuilding. During the Second World War the factory made wooden structures for the de Havilland Mosquito and later components for the Vampire jet fighter. The post-war business was reshaped by its relationship with Austin. Austin wanted a large chauffeur-driven car and commissioned Vanden Plas to build the A120 Princess on the Sheerline platform. Vanden Plas became an Austin subsidiary in 1946. From 1958 it undertook chassis assembly, and Austin was removed from the model name, producing the Vanden Plas Princess designation from 1960. The company also became a source of luxury derivatives for British Motor Corporation and British Leyland. It added upgraded interiors, exterior details, and equipment to models including the Austin A105 Westminster, BMC 1100 and 1300, and the Allegro. This extended the brand beyond bespoke coachwork into badge engineering and premium versions of ordinary production cars. After Jaguar acquired Daimler in 1960 and British Leyland consolidated its operations, Vanden Plas was assigned an important role in Daimler limousine manufacture. Princess production ended in 1968 and the Daimler DS420 entered production, using a lengthened Jaguar Mark X platform. Vanden Plas assembled the DS420 at Kingsbury until the site closed in November 1979. The name continued as a luxury designation after the factory's closure. Austin Rover used it on high-specification versions of the Metro, Maestro, Montego, Rover SD1, and Rover SD3 from 1982 to 1989. In North America, Vanden Plas replaced Daimler branding on the highest Jaguar derivatives from 1982 through 2009, while British-market cars generally retained Daimler names because the Vanden Plas trademark remained within the Rover corporate sphere. The last United Kingdom model to use the name was a Rover 75 variant in the early 2000s. Following the break-up of the former MG Rover assets, Nanjing Automobile acquired rights to the Vanden Plas name outside North America along with other former British Leyland-related names. The marque's last documented use was the 2009 Jaguar XJ X350 Vanden Plas.
- 2009
Last documented Jaguar Vanden Plas
[1]The designation was last used for the top luxury version of the Jaguar XJ X350.
- 1982
Austin Rover and Jaguar applications expand
[1]The name was used on high-specification Austin Rover models and on North American Jaguar luxury derivatives.
- 1979
Kingsbury works closes
[1]The North London factory closed, ending the company's long-running Kingsbury production operation.
- 1968
Daimler DS420 replaces the Princess
[1]Vanden Plas began producing the DS420 limousine on a lengthened Jaguar Mark X platform.
- 1960
Princess adopts the Vanden Plas name
[1]The Austin Princess designation was replaced by Vanden Plas Princess as the company gained recognition as a motor manufacturer.
- 1946
Austin subsidiary formed
[1]Vanden Plas became part of Austin and began production of the Princess luxury car.
- 1924
Bentley coachwork partnership begins
[1]Vanden Plas began supplying bodies for Bentley chassis, ultimately completing more than 700 bodies before Bentley's 1931 failure.
- 1923
British name and goodwill acquired by the Fox brothers
[1]The Fox brothers incorporated Vanden Plas (England) 1923 Limited and moved operations to Kingsbury.
- 1913
British licensed company founded
[1]Warwick Wright established the first British Vanden Plas company under licence from the Belgian coachbuilder.
- 1906
Name appears on cars in Britain
[1]Imported Métallurgique cars introduced the Vanden Plas coachwork name to the British market.
Products and positioning
Coachbuilt and manufacturer-backed luxury automotive branding, combining bespoke bodywork, chauffeur-oriented limousines, upgraded interiors, and prestige trim with vehicles from British automobile groups.
Automobile coachbuilding
Bespoke coachwork
Vanden Plas originally supplied individually styled or limited-batch bodies for specialist and prestige automobile manufacturers. Its clients included Bentley, Alvis, Armstrong Siddeley, Daimler, Lagonda, Rolls-Royce, Talbot, and others. The business combined traditional craftsmanship with increasingly standardized small-series production during the 1930s.
Luxury saloon and limousine · 1946
Vanden Plas Princess
The Princess was Vanden Plas's principal post-war production automobile. Built on Austin Sheerline-related architecture, it was intended for chauffeur-driven use and offered large-car comfort and formal styling. It began as the Austin A120 Princess and became the Vanden Plas Princess in 1960.
Luxury limousine · 1968
Daimler DS420
The DS420 replaced the Princess in 1968 and was assembled by Vanden Plas on a lengthened Jaguar Mark X platform. It served as a formal Daimler limousine and represented the company's central production role within British Leyland's prestige-car portfolio until the Kingsbury works closed in 1979.
Upmarket compact car derivative · 1957
Vanden Plas 1100/1300
These models applied Vanden Plas's luxury positioning to BMC's compact 1100 and 1300 range. They used upgraded trim and equipment rather than being wholly bespoke automobiles, illustrating the brand's transition from independent coachbuilder to premium badge within a mass-production group.
Upmarket family car derivative · 1975
Vanden Plas Allegro
The Vanden Plas designation was applied to luxury versions of the Allegro range, including 1500, 1.5, and 1.7 variants during the second half of the 1970s. These cars emphasized richer interiors and equipment over the standard models.
Premium model derivatives · 1982
Austin Rover Vanden Plas models
From 1982 to 1989, Austin Rover used Vanden Plas for highly equipped versions of models such as the Metro, Maestro, Montego, Rover SD1, and Rover SD3. The designation preserved the marque's luxury associations while adapting them to smaller and more accessible vehicles.
Luxury Jaguar model designation · 1982
Jaguar Vanden Plas
In North America, Vanden Plas was used for top-level Jaguar models that carried Daimler branding in other markets. The designation remained associated with high-grade interiors and equipment and was last applied to the luxury version of the XJ X350 in 2009.
Brand decisions
2009
End the documented Jaguar XJ applicationGeneration changeBackground
The Vanden Plas name had continued in North America on luxury Jaguar models despite different branding arrangements in other markets.
Action taken
The top-luxury Jaguar XJ X350 was the last documented Jaguar model to use the Vanden Plas designation.
Aftermath
The name ceased to have a documented mainstream production-car application after 2009.
1982
Extend the name into premium badge engineeringStrategyBackground
After the end of traditional Kingsbury coachbuilding, British Leyland's successor Austin Rover retained the brand's luxury associations for higher-specification derivatives.
Action taken
Vanden Plas was applied to selected Metro, Maestro, Montego, Rover SD1, and Rover SD3 models, while North American Jaguar products also used the name instead of Daimler.
Aftermath
The marque survived primarily as a trim and model designation rather than as an independent coachbuilding operation.
1968
Replace the Princess with the Daimler DS420Generation changeBackground
Jaguar's ownership of Daimler and British Leyland's consolidation of its prestige marques created a larger role for Vanden Plas in formal limousine production.
Action taken
Production shifted from the Princess to the Daimler DS420, assembled on a lengthened Jaguar Mark X platform.
Aftermath
The DS420 became the company's principal production limousine until the Kingsbury factory closed in 1979.
1946
Join Austin's corporate structureM&ABackground
The post-war coachbuilding business needed a sustainable route back into automobile production, while Austin wanted a chauffeur-oriented luxury model based on its large Sheerline-related car.
Action taken
Vanden Plas became an Austin subsidiary and produced the A120 Princess.
Aftermath
The move transformed Vanden Plas from primarily a bespoke coachbuilder into a manufacturer and luxury brand within the emerging British Motor Corporation structure.
Sources1 sources
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