Austin Taxi (Dinky Toys 254)
| Past Exhibit |
|---|
Austin Taxi (Dinky Toys 254).jpg) Austin Taxi 40h / 254, 1954 catalogue image (i)
|
 |
| location: |
| Arch Two , Area 25 The Legend of Hornby |
A yellow diecast Austin Taxi (Dinky Toys 40h / 254).
The model was manufactured from 1952-1962, and portrayed the Austin FX3 London Taxicab (1948-58).
The Austin FX3
The classic instantly-recognisable London Taxicab was the later Austin FX4, launched in 1958.
The FX3 was the FX4's immediate predecessor, built by Carbodies of Coventry on an Austin chassis. Both cars were specially custom-designed for the particular requirements of London cabbies, but where the FX4 was slightly reminiscent in its curved of a larger, beefed-up Mini, the FX3 had a much older look, with a shield-shaped radiator grille that could almost be mistaken for the front of a Chicago roadster.
Over twelve thousand FX3s were produced between 1948 and 1958, with full production starting in 1949. The FX and FX2 were prototypes that didn't go into production, the FX3 being the successful version.
.jpg){kind=link}