Oxford 1/76 British L Eyland Princess - Reynard Metallic

When the British Leyland Princess was launched in the 1970s, you either loved it or hated it.  Its exterior design with its peculiar wedge shape led to its nickname ‘The Wedge’. Its lifespan as a four door family saloon car lasted from 1975 to 1981, during which time it was branded as an Austin and a Morris, with the only key differences being in their bonnet, radiator grille and headlamp designs. Despite its love hate relationship with the motoring public, it was popular with sales of just under 225,000 cars overall.

This release appears in one of the most seen colour schemes of its time – a russet brown shade with contrasting black ‘vinyl’ roof and silver and black external trim. It is registered SAK 562S from 1977.  The interior seating is beige with internal fittings moulded in darker brown beige. The front grille is black with silver detail, including the word Princess and a red coronet.

Despite its yes/no image, it represents one of the key family car moments from British Leyland in their 1970s British motoring timeline.