Tuesday, 3 November 2009

Classic London Taxis: LT1 TX1, Metrocab, Winchester

London Taxis


What is your favourite London Taxi?


Classic London Taxis


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


Classic 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


Classic Car Prints


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)


Classic 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


Classic 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


Classic 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


Classic 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).


Thank you for reading my guide and I hope you found it interesting!

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