Austin FX4 For Sale

One day, as with all good things, I am going to sell my Austin FX4 Black Cab. [edit – it’s sold, but here’s another Austin FX4 for sale]. Now is not the time, as the Texas weather hits 30 degrees Centigrade, I am still clinging to the underside of it, cooling my back on the 9pm concrete in the garage.

Last night I silently wrestled with the prop shaft, and ultimately pinned its flanges to the ground, writhing in sweat but victorious.

Tonight, exhausted but hopped up on Girl Scout Cookies, I spent an hour just lying there, looking up at it as if it were the star map viewed from deep in the heart of Texas. Like some ancient druid, high on the as yet uninvented high fructose corn syrup, I glare into the void, looking for things that aren’t there.

Tonight, I found one such thing. There’s an odd bolt sticking out by the side of what I’m guessing is a diesel bleed valve, hidden at the bottom of the engine. The bolt looks like it’s for mounting yet more stealth equipment, but I haven’t the foggiest what it could be.

I also found an unexpected thing – a random pipe leading from somewhere around the exhaust side of the engine. My best guess is that it’s an engine breather pipe, though the idea of just spluttering out random hydrocarbons at the underside of the engine seems unpleasant. Mind you, this was built in an era in which cigarettes were still considered to be life-extending, dander raising, and charisma building.

It is a great place to hide away from the pressures of the day. I haven’t had a drink for almost 4 weeks, and I’m enjoying my mini-breaks – my staycations in the garage.

I’m not ready for my taxi honeymoon to end just yet, though one day I will sell the little minx. [edit – I sold it, and I miss it. And now when I hear of others for sale, I get a little too excited]