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‘The Austin A105 is an excellent car and given a flick-switch overdrive control, floor gear-lever, and stiffer suspension it would constitute a vehicle very close to our ideal for fast motoring of the family as distinct from the sporting variety’ concluded a Motor Sport test of February 1958. The “Long Boot” A95 Westminster and its twin carburettor A105 stablemate made their bows in late 1956 and quickly gained a name for themselves as “business class” transport that was smart, well-appointed but never flamboyant. The new flagship Westminster made its public debut at the 1958 Motor Show, and Vanden Plas went on to produce a run of 500, each helping to maintain the A105’s profile before they were replaced by the A99 “Farina” in April 1959. The Kingsbury works converted the Austin in a mere fortnight and Lord was so impressed that he observed ‘ You want to make some of these’. The story of the A105 VDP commenced when the coachbuilder received a request from Leonard Lord, the chairman of BMC, to create for him a specially trimmed Westminster. In short, Liam Dover is the proud owner of an ultra-exclusive 1958 Vanden Plas version. But everyone loves them - young and old’.Īs any classic enthusiast already knows, there is no such car as an ‘ordinary’A105, the Austin that wowed all suburbia with its fog and spot lamps and whitewall tyres, but this particular model features a walnut veneered dashboard, pile carpets, elaborately trimmed seats and wool headlining. Or have never heard of an A105 Vanden Plas and are shocked.