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www.leylandprincess.co.uk PRINCESS PRODUCTION LINE
As production of the Austin-Morris1100-1300 range was phased
out and its replacement, the Allegro, would be built at Longbridge, it was
decided to make use of the production facilities at Cowley in Oxford to build
the new 18-22 Series. The 18-22 Series/Princess/Ambassador was built along
the same line as the Maxi.
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The
huge British Federal press, which punched out the 18-22 floors from a single
sheet of steel. This was the biggest single pressing machine of its kind at
the time.
The
bodies are spot welded together in massive jigs, the front wings form part of
the structure of the car and are spot welded onto the inner wings, note the
men spot welding, a job that computers and robots do today. Once the structure
of the body is complete, it becomes the ‘body in white’. It then passes
through the paint booths and emerges in the final assembly area.
The track splits into two so that Wolseley and later
HLS models can have the vinyl roof fitted. The vinyl is stretched on to a
frame and the underside is spray coated with adhesive, it is then taken to
the car where it is laid over and trimmed. The vinyl-roofed car then rejoins
the main track…
…where
all the mechanical, electrical and trim fittings are added. The picture shows
the body about to be lowered onto the engine/transmission and rear suspension
assemblies.
Further
along the track, the drive shafts, front hub assemblies, brakes and steering
components are added.
Princess 2 and Maxi
2, still in production in 1980. |
