1975 Vanden Plas 1500 1.5 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A quirky classic that attracts lots of admiring glances

Faults:

Nothing mechanical, however it had a rather rusty front valance, a common fault on Allegro and VP1500. When I removed the fog light, we found a stash of nuts from a mouse or similar that had set up home there!

The time clock died and it's replacement keeps sticking, no working fog lights, cigar lighter or rear window demister.

Ignition leads were a bit worn and timing was out, both rectified.

No key to lock the boot.

General Comments:

It's never going to win a drag race, but will happily cruise at 50-60mph. It has some very comfy seats, and on a hot day the full length folding sun roof is a boon.

It is bright white, and has a big chrome grille and bumper that attracts children and adults alike; many people have commented on how well it looks.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 28th April, 2010

1980 Vanden Plas 1500 1.5 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

It has character, and when it is running well, it's quite charming

Faults:

Car had been through a bit before we got it. I am owner No.10! If you saw "Britain's Worst Celebrity Driver" on Channel 5 last September, this was the very car the actor Brian Blessed drove from John o Groats to Lands End.

When we got it had a few problems, such as the CO reading was off the scale, the manifold was leaking, battery was shot, water was leaking into the boot, the headlining had been replaced with brown paper and an old sheet, and the carpets looked like they had been dragged around a muddy field, to name, but a few!

Since then the carbs have been rebuilt and the engine tuned, front and rear brakes stripped and replaced, every electrical part in the engine from the distributor to plug leads has been replaced, interior stripped, cleaned and replaced along with a replacement headlining, manifold and other rust areas welded, and my son has polished it to within an inch of its life!

General Comments:

Now we have it tuned as it should be, it is reasonably lively, but not especially fast. It cruises quite nicely - about 50mph.

You don't want to go much faster because of the comedy brakes, they stop you, eventually! At first we thought they weren't bedded in, but it passed the MOT with no comment on them, so it must just be us used to modern brakes.

Mpg isn't exciting, we reckon 27 if we are lucky. However if you put 5 gallons in, it seems to leak from the top of the tank and run over the floor, so we could do a bit more if I got that fixed.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 9th June, 2006

15th Jul 2006, 21:07

Hi I got a message to all vanden plas owners jaguar owns vanden plas now. jaguar put vanden plas as one of their luxury models on the 06 XJ lineup.

12th Jan 2007, 22:11

The VP 1500 (and Allegro) were no where near the sales success for BL the former AD016 variants were.

At that time the VP 1500 was considered a somewhat niche and peculiar 'ugly duckling' of a car.

I'm trying to remember British comedian Spike Milligan's name for the Allegro, All-aggro..?