Carbodies FX4 Fairway (1989-97) Engine 2664 Nissan TD27
Registration Number L 959 HUW
CARBODIES SET
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The FX4 was designed by Austin in collaboration with Mann Overton (a taxi dealership) and Carbodies (coachbuilder) from an original design by Eric Bailey of Austin and Jake Donaldson of Carbodies. The first FX4 registration VLW 431 was delivered July 1958. At launch the FX4 was fitted with a 2.2ltr Austin diesel unit with a Borg Warner automatic transmission. In 1961 a manual from the Austin Gipsy was made available as an option and in 1962 a Austin 2.2ltr petrol engine. However the vast majority were supplied with the standard option.
In 1968 the cars were modified receiving with modified rear wings to accept tail lights and turn indicators from the BMC 1100 and front indicators below the head lights
In 1971 the 2178cc diesel unit was replaced by a bored out 2.5ltr and the model became known as the FX4D
Originally the cars were fitted with chrome bumpers and over riders in 1979 the bumper remained chrome but the over riders were replaced by rubber mouldings.
In 1982 Carbodies (Coventry) who had manufactured the taxi for many years took over the intelectual property rights. And began to produce them under their own name, the Austin engine was no longer available due to emission regulations resulting in the plant being to India. Carbodies began using the 2268cc Land Rover engine and the new model was designated FX4R. During this period power steering and improved brakes were developed. Due to reliability issues some owners replaced the Land Rover unit with a Perkins/Mazda 2977cc engine another solution was adapting the old chassis and suspension and fitting the newly produced 2.5 diesel engines made by the plant exported to India. This solution of using refurbished chassis and suspension resulted in these Taxi's being registered with a Q rather than the current annual letter. They were therefore known as the FX4Q, minus power steering and were a great deal cheaper than the FX4R. Although produced by Carbodies they were sold by the dealer under the name of Rebuilt Cabs Co. Ltd.
In 1984 LTI (London Taxis International) was formed by parent company Maganese Bronze owners of both Carbodies and Mann Overton. LTI replaced the 2.25 FX4R Land Rover unit with a 2.5 Land Rover diesel re designating the Taxi FX4S. The FX4 continued to evolve until its replacement in 1997 by the LTI TXI
There were officially two body styles the standard four door cab and a two door funeral version.
Also the FL2 was a private hire version, lacking the roof mounted Taxi sign, which could be ordered with upmarket trim and air conditioning for the likes of Hotels to use as a courtesy vehicle and some were sold to private owners, which have included HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and celebrity Stephen Fry
Shot at the Wedgewood Visitors Centre, POPS Bus Rally 19:05:2013 Ref: 91-460
