I miss my taxi. For all of its impractical size and desire to be garage kept, and despite London taxis becoming less of a thing than an Uber these days, when I got a message from Ian in St Louis with a 1967 black cab for sale, my heart leapt. I’m not sure that a 50 year old cab in Dallas would be practical in the summer, but then again, neither am I.
For sale: 1967 Black Cab. Ian is a mechanic, and long time cab owner. He got this one in 1990 after it had done stints in London, Dublin, Horta (India!) and Rhode Island. Kept inside eve since, the cab is 90% rust free, which is great considering its providence. The body is in good shape, with a few dents and he’s removed much of the bondo which is a common feature in these vehicles.
The electrical system is all original and in good working order, despite being made by Lucas, the Prince of Darkness – eveything from the “For hire” light to the bunny ears works fine. The upholstery is free of rips and the floorboards intact – he’s even replaced one of the floor pans.
The BMC 2.2l diesel engine was running fine until there was a little pop which Ian feels is between 1 and 2 cylinders. The great thing about this car is that there are spare parts – which may include an extra transmission and cylinder head for the right buyer – someone who wants to keep the car original and offer it a good home.
If you want to know more about this car, please leave a comment and I’ll connect you with Ian. And if no-one snaps it up soon, I know what I’m going to ask for this Christmas. When asked for a price, the comment seemed to suggest somewhere between $4,000 and $5,000.