The second generation Gloria went into production on September 1962, and went on sale in Japan in early 1963.
The first generation Gloria, the BLSIP-1, was essentially an ALSID Prince Skyline with a larger engine and more luxurious equipment, but for the S40 series the Gloria was now a completely different vehicle to the Skyline. The old Skyline, on which the original Gloria was based, would continue in production, in a mildly updated form, until the end of 1963. For 1964 the new Skyline would become considerably smaller than it's predecessor, whilst the 1963 Gloria would go in the other direction and become substantially larger.
The S40 Gloria is a highly distinctive vehicle, it is one of the very few cars in to world that looks nothing like anything else on the road. From certain angles there is a passing resemblance to an R series Chrysler Valiant, and the rear roof line has a bit of a Mercedes 220 look to it, but overall the car is quite unique. It is hard to appreciate the complexity of the curves, particularly those on the bonnet and guards, until you see one in the flesh. It could never be called pretty, but it is certainly dramatic.
Initially it was available only as a 4 cylinder Deluxe model, which carried on using the pushrod 1862cc engine from the previous Gloria BLSIP-3. Prince engine designations from this era are quite confusing, but officially the engine was called the G-2, though it was previously called the GB4 in the BLSIP-3, and is sometimes referred to as being an FG4B-40 as well. In June 1963 an all new overhead cam 6 cylinder engine was fitted to the Gloria to make the S41-1 models.
This new engine gave the Gloria the most sophisticated engine ever fitted to a Japanese car. The new G-7 was a 1988cc square engine, with a bore and stroke of 75mm x 75mm. This engine produced 105hp at 5200rpm. In May 1964 a bored out version of this engine was fitted to the new luxury Grand Gloria model, this engine, the G-11 was a 2494cc version of the G-7 that produced 130hp. From September 1963 onwards the G-2 engine had it's compression ratio dropped from 8.5:1 to 8:1 in an effort to amke the car run better on lower quality fuels that were still in use throughout Asia at the time. This dropped the power from 94hp to 91hp. A similar thing happened to the G-7 in May 1965, when it's compression ratio went from 8.8:1 down to 8.3:1, causing a power drop from 105hp to 100hp.
Prince Motors built factory prepared Gloria 6 race cars in 1964, and campaigned them with limited success. Vastly more successful was their next race car, the Skyline GT. This car was the new little Skyline 1500 with a dramatically stretched front which was fitted with the Gloria's G-7 engine.
The Gloria had a fairly bewildering variety of model variations, though they are fairly easy to tell apart. Basically, if the cart has the wide strip halfway up the doors it is an upper spec model, and if not it is a standard model. A six cylinder version will have a "6" somewhere on the side of the car, and a four cylinder will have no number. The car was marketed in parts of Europe as the PMC-Mikado Gloria 6. Sales brochures referred to the car this way, but the badges still said Prince.
You will often hear the story that the G-7 engine was a copy of a Mercedes Benz engine from that era, though there is no truth to that story. It was nothing more than a myth no doubt conjured up by someone to ignorant to believe that a Japanese car maker in the early 1960s could design an engine as technologically advanced as the G-7. The valve cover looks roughly similar to a 1960s Mercedes 6, but there the similarities end. The Mercedes doesn't even have it's manifolds on the same side.
The S40-1 series Gloria continued in production until August 1964, when it was replaced by the very mildly updated 1965 model S41-2 series Gloria.
The first version of the second generation Gloria sedan was initially available only in deLuxe trim, and only with a four cylinder engine. Car has a wide strip running halfway up the height of the doors. Badges located on the side of the car at the rear say "Gloria Deluxe". Car has a running writing style "Prince" badge in the lower right corner of the grille, and on the right side of the boot lid. Has a long shallow chrome fin that runs down the centre of the bonnet.
The six cylinder version of the Gloria Deluxe. Trim and equipment are all basically the same as the S40D-1, except side badges say "Gloria Super 6". Car has a running writing style "Prince 6" badge in the lower right corner of the grille, and on the right side of the boot lid. Has a long shallow chrome fin that runs down the centre of the bonnet.
The standard version of the Gloria 6 cylinder. This more basic version does not have the wide strip along the middle of the doors. Side badges are located on the front guards and say "Gloria 6". Car has a running writing style "Prince 6" badge in the lower right corner of the grille, and on the right side of the boot lid. Has a long shallow chrome fin that runs down the centre of the bonnet.
The 1964 model change version is essentially the same as the previous S40D-1 model, except for a minor change to it's engine. The compression ratio of the 4 cylinder engine has been lowered from 8.5:1 to 8:1 to allow it to run better on lower quality fuels, which also drops it's output by about 3hp. Car has a wide strip running halfway up the height of the doors. Badges located on the side of the car at the rear say "Gloria Deluxe". Car has a running writing style "Prince" badge in the lower right corner of the grille, and on the right side of the boot lid. Has a long shallow chrome fin that runs down the centre of the bonnet.
A standard model 4 cylinder was introduced for the first time for 1964, previously only a Deluxe version of the 4 cylinder was available. This car has a similar trim level as the standard 6 cylinder model. Side badge is mounted to the front guard and says "Gloria". Does not have the long shallow chrome fin that runs down the centre of the bonnet of the above models. Has no badge in the grille, but instead has "PRINCE" in individual chrome letters on the front of the bonnet. As with the S40D-2, it has the lower compression version of the 4 cylinder engine.
Top of the line model. External trim is the same as the S41D-1, but also has stainless steel sill covers. Has a different grille, with a series of tiny rectangles. No Grille badge. Side badges are mounted towards the rear of the car and say "Grand Gloria". Interior is more luxurious and has power windows. Engine is a larger 2.5 liter version of the 2 litre 6 used in the other 6 cylinder cars.
This car has a similar trim level as the S41S-1 sedan. Side badge is mounted to the front guard and says "Gloria 6 Wagon". Does not have the long shallow chrome fin that runs down the centre of the bonnet of the above models. Has no badge in the grille, but instead has "PRINCE" in individual chrome letters on the front of the bonnet. Intended as a semi-commercial van type vehicle, it has horizontal bars inside the side rear windows to protect them from being damaged by moving cargo. It does not have the wide strip along the middle of the doors. Has smaller diameter hubcaps than the others in the Gloria range.
The Deluxe passenger version of the V43A-1 Van. Trim and equipment are similar to that of the S41D-1 sedan. Car has a running writing style "Prince 6" badge in the lower right corner of the grille, and a large "Prince" badge in the middle of the tailgate, just above the number plate recess. Has a long shallow chrome fin that runs down the centre of the bonnet. Has the wide strip running half way up the height of the doors. Side badge says "Gloria 6 Estate", and is mounted to the front doors.
Length - 4650mm
Width - 1695mm
Height - 1480mm
Wheelbase - 2680mm
Weight - 1320kg
Top speed - 155kph
Transmission - 4 speed column change
OHC 6 Cylinder
Model - G-7
Capacity - 1988cc
Bore & Stroke 75x75mm
Power - 105hp@5200rpm
Torque - 16.3kg/m@3600rpm
Compression - 8.8 : 1
OHC 6 Cylinder
Model - G-11
Capacity - 2494cc
Bore & Stroke 84x75mm
Power - 130hp@5200rpm
Torque - 20kg/m@3200rpm
Compression - 8.8 : 1
OHV 4 Cylinder
Model - G-2
Capacity - 1862cc
Bore & Stroke 84x84mm
Power - 94hp@4800rpm
Torque - 14.9kg/m@3200rpm
Compression - 8.5 : 1
Designed with
Mobirise