In 1956, BMC wanted a new corporate look for their range of vehicles. They approached Italian styling house Pinin Farina (now known as Pininfarina) to come up with a design concept. The first outcome was the Austin A40 of 1958. This was matched by the Wolseley 15/60, and the age of badge-engineering had begun. The same basic design of the A40 was subtly changed and sold under the Austin, MG Morris and Riley name plates. In 1959, the six cylinder versions came to replace the pre-Farina Westminster range. This outgoing range of BMC cars had included the Austin A105 Westminster Van den Plas deluxe version sold in 1958 /59. Successful sales of this car proved that there was a demand for a big luxury saloon. The Vanden Plas division of the company had also been successfully producing the Princess Limousine and Saloon since 1947.

In 1959, the new Austin Westminster range replaced the pre-Farina range and included a top of the range luxury saloon. This car was originally to be a Wolseley, but these could only be sold through Morris distributors. By using the Vanden Plas name (acquired by Austin in 1946), Austin dealers could also be used for distribution. After the showing at Earls Court in 1959, Vanden Plas was registered as car manufacturers. The luxurious Vanden Plas Princess was mechanically identical to the Austin A99 and the Wolseley 6/99. The fully built cars were sent from Cowley without any trim to Vanden Plas' Kingsbury works. Here they were fitted with Vanden Plas' high quality of trim. Only the best materials were used, such as Wilton carpeting, Connolly leather and West of England headlining cloth. The finished cars were then sent directly to the dealers.

In 1962 the entire Westminster range received a facelift primarily to increase power output and interior specification. The Princess MkII also benefited from these changes, and some items of interior trim were improved by Vanden Plas - picnic trays were included for the rear passengers, and the dashboard layout was slightly redesigned. The Princess 3-litre was discontinued in June 1964, and replaced in August by the Princess 4lR. The Princess R was manufactured until May 1968, when it became one of the first casualties under the newly formed Leyland.

Pinin Farina (Pininfarina) are responsible for such classics as …. & modern classics such as… Other notable work for British manufacturers include the like-it-or-hate-it but very expensive Rolls Royce Camarge of the 1980's.

Visually, the Vanden Plas Princess 4-litre R looks very similar to the following cars:

Vanden Plas Princess 3-litre and 3-litre MkII

Predecessors to the 4lR sharing the same Pinin Farina design. The car shares the same front-end styling and name, the interiors are very similar, but rear end treatment differs greatly in the 4-litre R, as well as a new engine for the 4lR.

Austin A99 Westminster and A110 Westminster (MkI & MkII)

The basic body shape of the BMC Pinin Farina six-cylinder range began here - at a glance all Farina bodied cars will look similar. All had the same BMC C-series 3 litre motor, same rear and only differing grilles and interiors. The 4lR rear, front-end and interior finish is different.

Wolseley 6/99 and 6/110 (MkI & MkII)

The same as the Austin A99 & A110, but more luxurious version of the Farina 6 with the changed front-end and interior specification. Not as luxurious as the Princess 3-litre.