This article covers the history of the London Austin taxi which was produced by Meccano Liverpool in three models from 1938 to 1979. London taxis are a British icon and unique in the world of taxis, with regulations anchored in British tradition. Some of these requirements include a maximum turning radius of 25 feet (7.62 meters), a glass partition between the driver and passengers, a taximeter, and enough headroom to sit in it with a top hat.
Later requirements included wheelchair accessibility, passenger doors that were at least 20.5 inches (75 cm) wide and could be opened 90 degrees, and a maximum total length of 16 feet 4 inches (5 meters). Austin was able to meet these demands and acquired a leading position in the taxi world.
I’ve always been intrigued by the the unique design and appearance of these taxis and am particularly amazed by the open luggage compartment next to the driver, which has existed since the early days of London taxis before WWII. This open luggage compartment was eventually closed off with a door in 1958 with the introduction of the Austin FX4 taxi.
Austin taxis plying on Shaftesbury Avenue as seen from Piccadilly Circus in the West End of London, circa 1949.
Image: Wikimedia
Austin 12/4 Low Loader London Taxi (1934–1948)
In 1906, the General Cab Company imported 500 Renault cabs into London. It was because of this sudden influx of cabs that the licensing authority decided that it would impose rules on their design. One of the conditions was a 25 foot turning circle. The next change occurred in 1907, when the fitting of taxi meters was made compulsory and the vehicles began to be known as “taxicabs”. The “cab” suffix was soon dropped and they were simply called “taxis”.
The regulations were revised in 1928 to encourage more manufacturers to start producing taxis. Will Overton, director of the car dealer Mann and Overton who had been selling cabs in London since 1906, approached Herbert Austin about modifying the 12/4 chassis so that it would comply with the London “Conditions of Fitness”. A chassis from a Austin 12/4 was modified with bodies from various coach-builders.
Because the overall height of the taxi was higher than the competition, it received the nickname “High Lot”, a design that afforded top hat wearing customers ample room. The Austin taxi soon began to outsell the Bearmore and Morris-Commercials versions. Building on its success, a new model, the “Low Loader” was introduced in 1934.
Brochure of the Austin Low Loading Taxi ‑Cab.
Image: Pinterest
The 1935 Austin 12/4 Low Loader London taxi cab body by Jones Bros. Note the landaulette style body that allows the rear of the roof to be folded down in good weather.
Images: Wikimedia and Flickr
London Austin taxi meter.
Image: Wikimedia
Dinky Toys 36G Taxi with Driver (1938–1950)
Meccano Liverpool reproduced the prewar Austin taxi with driver as model 36G, which was first advertised in the February 1938 issue of Meccano Magazine. It belongs to the Series 36 motor cars with drivers, but was only later added and advertised separately in Meccano Magazine. Cecil Gibson refers to model 36G in his book History of British Dinky Toys as “Smaller, and in my view nicer than the post-war 40H taxi.”
Dinky Toys 36G Taxi with Driver advertised in the February 1938 issue of Meccano Magazine
The Dinky 36G is indeed a very realistic reproduction of the real taxi in all aspects, including the landaulette style body that allows the rear of the roof to be folded down in good weather, so that passengers could admire the beauty of the city. The prewar 36G has a small open rear window like the real vehicle, while the postwar 36G has the rear window filled in. It was issued in green, dark blue and maroon, with some models produced in grey or yellow.
Prewar Dinky 36G Taxi with Driver with taxi sign on roof, silver colored radiator and headlights, smooth convex hubs with white rubber tires.
Image: EasyLiveAuction
Prewar Dinky 36G showing the nicely detailed open luggage compartment with driver on his seat, silver accented taxi meter, and raised door, roof and hood lines.
Image: EasyLiveAuction
Prewar Dinky 36G showing the landaulette style body that allows the rear of the roof to be folded down, the rear open window, spare wheel, license plate, raised door and roof lines, and sunken fuel cap.
Image: EasyLiveAuction
The Dinky 36G was reissued after the war until 1950, but only with the name “Taxi” and was always issued in a trade box of 6 units.
Dinky 36G Taxi with Driver in a prewar trade box of 6 units. Note the different colors.
Image: J K Diecast Models
Dinky 36G Taxi in a postwar trade box of 2. Note the postwar ridged hubs.
Image: Vectis Auctions
Austin Taxi FX3 (1948–1958)
After the war, Mann & Overton decided it needed a more up-to-date design. It was agreed that Austin would supply the engine and chassis, with a body been supplied by Carbodies in Coventry, although the body was actually designed by Austin’s chief body designer Jim Stanfield. In 1948, a new Austin Taxi called the FX3 appeared on the streets and soon became the market leader. Although in 1952 a diesel engine from Ferguson was available as an option, in 1954 Austin began offering their own 2.2 liter diesel engine as standard equipment. Also produced was the FL1, which was the same model but with the space for luggage next to the driver replaced by a bench seat, and no roof sign.
Austin FX3 London Cab advertisement circa 1949.
Image: Pinterest
Austin Taxi FX3 advertisement.
Image: automobile-catalog.com
Dinky Toys 40H Austin Taxi (1951–1962)
Although the Dinky 36G was reissued after the war and produced until 1950, the model’s outdated look was beginning to show. Meccano Liverpool therefore decided to introduce the more modern Austin FX3 taxi that had been in service since 1948, along with a driver, as Dinky 40H. And for the first time, this taxi model was given the name “Austin Taxi”.
Dinky 40H Austin Taxi, first advertised in the November 1951 issue of Meccano Magazine
The 40H appeared in an advertisement in the November 1951 issue of Meccano Magazine and was a very popular model in the 1950s, being released in a variety of colors. In 1954, it was renumbered to Dinky 254 and remained in catalogs until 1962 with a production run of 11 years.
Early models of the Dinky 40H Austin Taxi were issued in a trade box of 6, after which they received their individual box.
Image: Vectis Auctions
The Dinky 40H was included in catalogs from 1951. It appeared for the first time in color in the 1952 international color catalog, in which it was depicted in blue with a black interior.
Shown above are my first versions of the Austin Taxi. On the left, the dark blue model with with an unnumbered or “40H” base, and on the right, the violet blue variant with an unnumbered base that appeared in the 1952 catalog.
The early Austin Taxi models didn’t yet have a model number embossed on their base. According to Mike & Sue Richardson’s Great Book of Dinky Toys, the model number 40H was added to the base on 7 July 1952. The Dinky 40H debuted in yellow with a brown interior and driver in the 1953 and 1954 UK catalogs as shown above. The yellow version of the taxi is special because it was issued with both a brown and a black interior and driver.
Austin Taxi in yellow with brown interior, driver and base plate numbered 40H
Austin Taxi in yellow with black interior, driver and unnumbered base plate
A closer comparison of the yellow Austin Taxi with brown and black interiors
On 8 March 1955, the model number 40H was replaced by 254, which appeared in the 1955 UK catalog with a green body and yellow roof.
In the January 1956 issue of Meccano Magazine the two tone 254 Austin Taxi was advertised with the byline “Dinky Toys. Gayer than ever in 1956.”
Austin Taxi in yellow over green with black interior, driver and base plate numbered 40H or 254 as shown in the 1955–1958 catalogs
The final version of the Dinky 254 Austin Taxi was issued in black with a grey interior and a driver, more closely resembling the real Austin taxi. It also featured hollow aluminum hubs known as “spun” hubs, and unlike its predecessors, a taxi meter that was painted silver.
The final Dinky 254 Austin Taxi appeared in the 1950 UK catalog shown below.
In post No. 7 in the DTCA forum topic “40H and 254 Austin FX3 Taxi (1952–59)” I showed the base plates for all versions of the Austin Taxi. They are included below.
Base plates of the Austin Taxi in blue (L) and yellow ®
Base plates of the Austin Taxi in yellow on green
Base plate of the Austin Taxi in black
My collection of the primary variations of the Dinky Austin Taxi
Front view of the primary variations of the Dinky Austin Taxi
My collection of all variations of the Dinky Austin Taxi
Austin Taxi FX4 (1958–1982)
The Austin FX4 is a hackney carriage that was produced from 1958 to 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 only produced the FX4 for two years, until 1984, when London Taxis International took over the rights and continued producing it until 1997. In all, more than 75,000 FX4s were built.
Austin Taxi brochure.
Image: eBay
Over its lifetime the FX4 increasingly became regarded as a design classic and a visual icon of London recognized throughout the world, to the point where its eventual successors, the TX-series and the current LEVC TX, continue the FX4’s basic styling and overall aesthetic. In order to improve air quality, electric propulsion has been mandatory for taxis since 2018.
The first model of the Austin FX4 London taxi. The “rabbit ears” roof turn signals and the small rear lights predate the 1968 upgrade.
Image: motorious.com
The London 2009 view shown above includes a post 1968 Austin FX4 taxi with direction indicators on its front wings on the right, and another post 1968 model on the left, with prominent tailfins to accept the taillights and turn indicators on its rear.
Dinky Toys 284 London Taxi (1973–1979)
After the successful production of the Dinky 254 Austin Taxi ended in 1962, it wasn’t until 1973 that Meccano Liverpool started producing the new London Austin Taxi FX4 which had been in service since 1958. It was introduced in the April 1973 issue of Meccano Magazine as No. 284 London Taxi, equipped with opening passenger doors, windows, and a fully detailed interior and driver.
It was first listed in the 1973 UK Dinky catalog shown above and was released in two versions which are described below. It’s remarkable that Meccano Liverpool first produced the “private hire” 282 Austin 1800 taxi which was launched in 1967–1969, before releasing the “professional” London Austin Taxi, which had already been in service since 1958.
Type 1 Dinky 284 London Taxi finished in dark blue with grey interior and driver without cap, orange taxi sign on roof, jeweled headlights, Speedwheels and front white license plate with black registration number INJ 72L.
Rear view of the type 1 Dinky 284 London Taxi in its first type box with raised license plate at rear with black registration number INJ 72L and “410 Hackney” on a yellow background, Speedwheels and red painted tail lights.
Image: eBay
Type 2 Dinky 284 London Taxi finished in black with black taxi sign on the roof, grey interior, blue driver with cap, silver colored headlights, and chrome license plate sans registration number at front.
Rear view of the type 2 Dinky 284 London Taxi with smooth trunk lid, red painted tail lights and no license plate.
Image: eBay
