Vanden Plas is more generally known as a top-end luxury model designation for cars from subsidiaries from BMC (later British Leyland) and the Rover Group. Initially a coachbuilder for multiple marques, Vanden Plas became a subsidiary of the Austin Motor Company in 1946 and produced Austin's A120 Princess. Austin became part of BMC (along with Vanden Plas) and, in 1960, recognised Vanden Plas as a motor manufacturer in its own right by dropping Austin from the name. The Princess became the Vanden Plas Princess. Production of Princess limousines ended in 1968 when they were replaced with Daimler DS420 limousines. Vanden Plan also created modified and luxury versions of many of the BMC cars such as the 1100/1300 range and the Allegro (known as the Vanden Plas 1500, 1.5 & 1.7 from 1975 to 1980). Eventually the Vanden Plas factory in North London closed in 1979.