Purchase Date:
August 2022
Running?
Non Running
The Austin FX4 is a hackney carriage (taxicab) that was produced from 1958 until 1997. It was sold by Austin from 1958 until 1982, when Carbodies, who had been producing the FX4 for Austin, took over the intellectual rights to the car. Carbodies continued production until 1984 when London Taxis International took over rights and continued producing it until 1997. In all, more than 75,000 FX4s were built.
I am now the proud owner, one of 75,000, of my own 1977 British taxi! It’s not running, but, for its age in fair shape. What’s the story on this? How did it end up at Jason and Jack’s garage?
The back story, at least as much of it as I can piece together, is fairly interesting. At some point in the 90’s a party was happening in New York City in which they wanted to have an English Taxi, AKA, Hackney Carriage. From what I’ve been told, the drivetrain had to be disconnected and they also removed the radiator (fear of fluids), drained all the oil, and took it to this party.
Afterward, it was sold to a guy in New York who purchased it and stored it in his warehouse. I suppose he just thought it was cool and maybe one day he’ll get it driving again. Well, after 30 years of sitting, 2022 rolls around and he is selling this warehouse, where the taxi continued to sit. He posted it online and gentlemen in Pennsylvania purchased it, hauling it from NY to PA with the intent to make it driveable.
The 1977 Austin FX4 had no title, so his first project was to obtain a title and ensure he could register it. After a few months, he was able to get a Vermont title and transfer it into Pennsylvania, so it had a perfect Pennsylvania title.
It sat. It sat some more. He wasn’t able to find anyone that could help work on it. It turned into a big heavy car, sometimes rolling out his garage and parking in the driveway so people passing by could take pictures. Soon, he determined, that the project isn’t for him and he listed it.
When I saw the listing, instantly, I said COOL. This would look perfect with the Rovers and fit the overall theme of our garage. But, his price was a bit steep, albeit, he spent over $1,000 on the title work alone. We had a few calls and landed on a price we both agreed on, better yet, he would deliver it to our building.
Now it sits in our garage but I fully have plans to do something with it. The car is equipped with a little four-cylinder diesel engine, most of which seems complete and the parts disconnected are in the car. The seating area in the rear is perfect, someone refreshed it at some point for sure. All the windows go up and the overall rust, while present, is manageable. Better yet, I have a title.
This 1977 Austin FX4 Hackney Carriage British taxi is available for rent, for a prop for photos, etc. I plan to tow it to events, British-themed, of course, park it, and let folks have a hoot getting photos. My hope is, that the revenue that generates will be part of the “project budget” to get it running again.
More photos and videos will be posted soon.
