MEET THE OWNER - PATRICK BRADLEY AND HIS AUSTIN MONTEGO VANDEN PLAS AUTOMATIC

The story commences on Facebook where recently Patrick received a message asking if he would be interested in buying a Montego. Of course, as the proud owner of a Maestro Advantage, Mr. Bradley was naturally curious, even before he learned it was one of only two Vanden Plas Automatics on the road. As he explains, the vendor had “owned it from new. He ran a Jaguar dealership near London and treated himself to a top-of-the-range Montego”.

Naturally Patrick had to buy the most exclusive member of the LM11 family. When the Austin-Rover division of British Leyland unveiled the Montego in 1984, it not only succeeded the Morris Ital, the more expensive versions replaced the Austin Ambassador. In addition, the flagship VDP had to appeal to the sort of smooth-talking motorist in the market for a Ford Sierra Ghia in metallic gold.

And so, to further those Austin-Rover conquest sales, the copywriters went to work. In their view, the Montego VDP reflected a name with “coachbuilding excellence as part of its heritage”. If that were not enough to appeal to the prospective owner’s social aspirations, there was also “soft honeycomb Raschelle trim”.

Over-the-top sales brochures aside, the Vanden Plas was very well-appointed with power-assisted steering, electric front windows, central locking, a tilt/slide sunroof, a remote control fuel filler cap and a three-band electronic radio/stereo cassette player. The cabin was tastefully decorated, and Patrick’s Montego has the opulence of leather upholstery, giving it the air of a directorial office.

The Vanden Plas also had the distinction of being the stellar model at the press launch staged at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes. It was a major event starring Michael Rodd and Les Dawson. Ken Clayton, the Austin Rover Group’s Manager in charge of launch planning and special events, has written a fascinating account of how one of the great comic’s routines about the Montego enraged AR’s managing director Harold Musgrove: “if Les said that again, he’d be on the next plane home” - I was there : Austin Montego dealer and fleet launch - AROnline

Nearly 40 years later, Patrick appreciates the VDP’s style and performance – “It is very smooth and pulls well with the 2.0 EFI engine”. But, above all, the handsome metallic red Vanden Plas is a vivid reminder of mid-1980s executive dreams – when the keys to a top-of-the-range Montego symbolised corporate success. After all, “The VP monogram worked into the coachline and the wheel trims clearly denote this is a car of special status”.

With thanks to: Patrick Bradley.