Gallery : Princess Countryman

If a hatcback would have improved the versatility of the Princess, just think what an estate version could have offered.


1973 and there is already serious consideration being given to producing an ADO71 "Countryman"... well, serious enough to warrant this styling sketch.
1973 and there is already serious consideration being given to producing an ADO71 “Countryman”… well, serious enough to warrant this styling sketch.

The UK Press called loudly for this car, but because of lack of funds in the company and the fact that the Government were calling the shots in terms of investment, it never happened. The front wheel drive platform and compact suspension would have allowed for a huge boot. This picture (originally published in Motor magazine, 1977) makes an interesting comparison with the "official" sketch shown above.
The UK Press called loudly for this car, but because of lack of funds in the company and the fact that the Government were calling the shots in terms of investment, it never happened. The front wheel drive platform and compact suspension would have allowed for a huge boot. This picture (originally published in Motor magazine, 1977) makes an interesting comparison with the “official” sketch shown above.

Picture supplied by Chris Collin

Keith Adams

6 Comments

  1. i think i prefer the top sketch, but with a different light cluster, did it miss out, most certainly yes, this, Allegro SD1 (concept) and Marina Estate, Mini, and various others in the line up might have been over kill, but variety is the spice of life

  2. The SD1 Estate was the true missed opportunity. Particularly in light of the 2.0 and TD variants that came later.

  3. If the company couldn’t afford both a saloon & an estate, they should have built the hatch from the offset.

  4. Based on the sheer size of the boot in the later Ambassador, a Princess estate would have been a Volvo 240 killer – it would have been huge!

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