London Taxis

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The London Taxi is surely one of the most instantly recognisable motor vehicles in the world, as much a part of London as Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, Tower Bridge and Trafalgar Square. This guide features the specifics of some of the classic London Cabs:

Austin FX3

Produced 1948-58. FX3 (petrol) 1948-58; FX3D (diesel) 1950-58

Specification 1948 (petrol)

Engine: 2,199cc, 4-cylinder ohv.
Transmission: 4-speed manual.
Wheels and Tyres: Disc-type wheels with six securing studs; 5.75x16 Super Taxi Dunlop tyres.
Brakes: Girling mechanical.
Turning Circle: 7.62 metres (25ft).
Maximum Speed: 96km/h (60mph).
Dimensions: Wheelbase, 2.81m, track, front and rear, 1.42m; overall length, 4.401m; overall width, 1.715m; height 1.797m
No. Produced: 7,267 examples
Bodybuilder: Carbodies

Beardmore Paramount Mk7

Produced 1955-67
Beardmore Mk 7 (diesel) 1958-67

Specification1955 (petrol)

Engine: 1,508cc, 4-cylinder ohv (Ford Consul)
Transmission: 3-speed manual, column change.
Wheels and Tyres: Pressed-steel wheels with Dunlop 5.75x16 tyres.
Brakes: Lockheed hydraulic.
Turning Circle: 7.62 metres (25ft).
Dimensions: Wheelbase, 2.642m, track (front) 1.441m, (rear) 1.432m; overall length, 4.228m; overall width, 1.743m; height 1.829m
No Produced: 656 examples
Bodybuilders: Windovers, with later examples by Weymann.

Austin FX4 (& Fairway)

Produced 1958-97. FX4 (diesel) 1958; FX4 (petrol) from 1962; FX4R from 1982; FX4S from 1985; FX4S Plus from 1987; Fairway from 1988; LT1 Carbodies Fairway from 1992.

Specification 1958 (diesel)
Engine: 2,178cc, 4-cylinder ohv, diesel (Austin)
Transmission: 3-speed automatic (Borg-Warner).
Wheels and Tyres: Disc-type wheels with 5.75x16 Super Taxi Cord tubeless Dunlop tyres.
Brakes: 4-wheel hydraulic.
Turning Circle: 7.62 metres (25ft)
Maximum Speed: 96km/h (60mph).
Dimensions: Wheelbase, 2.81m, track, front and rear, 1,42m; overall length, 4.566m; overall width, 1.743m; height 1.765m.
No. Produced: approx. 77,000 examples (FX4/Fairway)
Bodybuilder: Carbodies.

Winchester

Produced 1963-72. Series 1 (diesel) 1963-64, Mk2 1964-66; MkIII 1967-68, Mk IV 1968-72

Specification Mk IV

Engine: 1.6 litre petrol (Ford).
Transmission: 4-speed manual.
Wheels and Tyres: 14-inch wheels and tyres.
Brakes: Drum.
Turning Circle: 7.62 metres (25ft).
Maximum Speed: 105km/h (65mph).
Dimensions: Wheelbase, 2.69m, track, front and rear, 1.64m; overall length, 4.36m; overall width, 1.72m; height 1.83m.

No. Produced: approx 50 examples.
Bodybuilders: Wincanton Engineering.

Metrocab

Produced 1987-99. Metrocab Series 2 from 1995; Series 3 from 1998.

Specification

Engine: 2,496cc, 4-cylinder ohv, diesel (Ford).
Transmission: 4-speed automatic.
Wheels and Tyres: 5JX16 pressed-steel wheels with 175R 16 radial ply tyres.
Brakes: Dual-circuit hydraulic to all four wheels.
Turning Circle: 7.7 metres (25ft).
Maximum Speed: 129km/h (80mph).
Dimensions: Wheelbase, 2.90m, track (front) 1.45m, (rear) 1.47m; overall length, 4.505m; overall width, 1.44m; height 1.755m
No. Produced: 4283 to end 1996.
Bodybuilder: MCW (S1 and 1995 model year S2s). Hoopers (post 1995 S2 and S3).

LT1 TX1

Produced 1997-on.

Bronze, Silver and Royale.

Specification 1997

Engine: Nissan 2.7-litre
Transmission: 5-speed manual, 3-speed automatic.
Wheels and Tyres: 5Jx 16 pressed-steel wheels with 175R 16 radial ply tyres.
Brakes: Dual-circuit hydraulic to all four wheels.
Turning Circle: 7.7 metres (25ft).
Maximum Speed: 145km'h (90mph).
Dimensions: Wheelbase, 2.9m, track (front) 1.45m, (rear) 1.47m; overall length, 4.505m; overall width, 1.44m; height 1.755m
No. Produced: 60 a week in 1997, increasing to 70-80 a week in 1999.
Bodybuilder: Carbodies (LT1).