Highlights
- Great interior finish
- Star of the silver screen
- One owner from new
The Appeal
Who wouldn’t want to own a piece of London history, the taxi is the lifeblood of the city and there is a high probability that you have been inside of one in your lifetime.
Unlike other ‘normal’ black cabs this example is highly finished with red leather and wooden accents it would therefore make an ideal vehicle to use as a wedding vehicle. Speaking of weddings, this white taxi was once used on the Eastenders set so there’s every chance that you’ve seen this before.
The History and Paperwork
- This taxi rolled off the production line in 1999 and would be first registered for use on the roads on the 13th of August
- Within the first year, it would rack up 16,000 miles crisscrossing the capital
- Interestingly there is an invoice from London Taxis International from 2001 that itemises all of the options on this taxi
- Some of these include that carpet pack, the wood dash, upgraded stereo, and front/rear air conditioning
- All in the taxi cost a whopping £33,750 in 2001
- It would continue to serve the only owner well throughout its years as a taxi in the thick of it all
- It would also have a short spell on the silver screen and as a wedding car
- No one knows who has been in the back of this cab, but maybe there have been some famous faces throughout the years
- Within the history folder, there are a lot of old tests completed for the taxi's licence, a leaflet for Wedding Taxis, and the all-important V5 which shows no previous owners
- There are also some spare parts, including two spare headlights
- It is now time for you to add to this taxi’s history, it is such a unique car that you will have a whale of time owning it
The Interior
- Red leather interior
- Walnut finishes
- Lots of space for everyone
Many of us have probably sat inside a London taxi and whether it be for business or pleasure there is something special about the interior of a London taxi. Luckily this example is fitted with a sumptuous interior that is akin to that of luxury chauffeur driven limos.
If we start by focusing on the red leather seats we can see that they are all in very good condition, especially when you remember that the taxi itself has completed nearly 200,000 miles. The driver’s seat does more signs of use with a small split to a seam on the base, but other than this small area the leather has proved very hard wearing. The rear bench seat looks in good condition with only a few signs of use and the two jump seats on the bulkhead are in even better condition.
Looking down at the carpet we can see that the original over mat has been replaced in favour of a piece of proper carpet this lifts the cabin into the realms of luxury. The original carpet underneath the over mat does look in good condition with some areas that show more wear than others. If you raise your eyes towards the headliner, one of the sections has popped out but this could be an easy fix.
Whether you are sitting in the front or the rear there are a lot of buttons to press and play with and you can have endless fun working out what they all do.
There are a few areas on the interior that show some signs of wear and some slight gaps where the original taxi gear was fitted. Some of these areas include a small chip to the wood veneer next to the radio and there are a few holes in the dash where meter equipment would have once been. However, the rest of the interior condition surely makes up for these slight discrepancies.
The interior of this taxi is very plush and a great way to cart around your friends and family, or should you wish to use it as a working vehicle again people shouldn’t complain about how nice it is to be in.
The Exterior
- Iconic shape
- Spare new headlights
- Ready for work
The London taxi is probably one of the most recognisable figures on the UK roads, much like the Routemaster and red telephone box the London Taxi is a symbol synonymous with Britain. This taxi is presented in good condition with some areas looking better than others, but there doesn’t appear to be any nasty areas of damage that would spoil the iconic lines of this London cab.
If we start by looking at the paint, we can see quite clearly that it is not presented in the usual black, but rather Diamond White (a £222.98 option), this once again makes it a perfect wedding car, and it also complements the red interior very well. The paint in general is good, but there are a few areas that could do with some TLC.
The main issue with white vehicles is they show up rust spots a lot quicker than other colours, so you may be able to spot some minor areas of corrosion but nothing that should worry you just yet. There is also some slight etching to the paint on the bonnet where birds have left little presents.
The main issue with white vehicles is they show up rust spots a lot quicker than other colours, so you may be able to spot some minor areas of corrosion but nothing that should worry you just yet. There is also some slight etching to the paint on the bonnet where birds have left little presents.
Luckily the rest of the exterior is presented well, and with a bit of polish it would probably come up great. Although the headlights may show some slight signs of hazing over, you can swap these out with the brand new units that will be supplied with this taxi.
Overall, the exterior of this taxi is in good condition, with all the trim still in place and the optional chrome grille still shining in the light this taxi will look amazing sitting in your collection of quirky cars.
The Mechanics
- Reliable engine
- Five-speed manual
- New battery fitted
The TX1 was introduced in 1997 to replace the out of date Austin FX4, this meant that the powertrain got a complete overhaul, and as such it was now easy to drive around the street of the capital.
Fitted with a Nissan sourced inline-4 diesel engine, the TD27 would produce just shy of 100 horsepower which was more than enough for this type of vehicle. It would also meet more stringent Euro3 emissions standards that were to come into effect during the ‘00s.
Interestingly this taxi is fitted with a 5-speed manual box. At this time automatic gearboxes were a bit sloppy and unresponsive, a world away from the dual-clutch transmissions we know today, therefore a manual is preferred so that you are always in the right gear at the right time.
The steering lock on a London cab is amazing, it has an incredibly tiny turning circle. Demonstrated on the day it never ceases to amaze.
On the day of the photos, this taxi did start with a jump, but after this, it ran smoothly and drove to and from the location. The current owner did say that a new battery will be fitted by the time you collect it.
Summary
Wouldn’t you just love to own a piece of London’s history, if you enjoy quirky and different vehicles to drive around in, or if you are looking for a work vehicle, then this taxi is an amazing proposition.
We have already mentioned that the iconic looks are still in good condition and that the important interior is finished in the same way a luxury limousine would be. So, what is not to love about this vehicle.
It is time for you to add to this taxi's illustrious career.
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