An associate in the States is restoring a 1947 Nuffield Oxford Taxicab which was built at the Wolseley plant at Ward End, Birmingham. Anything re info, pics, publications, spares, whereabouts of similar vehicles in UK and any info from former mechanics / owners / drivers with knowledge of the model etc would be greatly appreciated.
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Wow, and I thought I pretty well knew them all! I'm even a former Wolseley owner. Maybe the Wolseley Register can help. I guess your associate has Googled for what he can get already? Good luck...
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Thanks for that response Mike...
Just about exhausted the Google aspect and checked with the Wolseley Register with no joy.
The main problem re collating info is that although the model was built at the Wolseley plant it was in fact badged as a Nuffield Oxford Taxicab and had a 1802cc MG based 'industrial' power unit fitted. It was the first 'new' taxi cab to be built at the end of WW II and was actually marketed by Beardmore Motors as the main selling agents who later produced their own Beardmore cab. The Nuffield Oxford Taxicab was phased out around 1955 in favour of the more modern Austin FX3 cab.
For reference a pic of the relevant cab can be seen via accessing the Internet Movie Cars Database at www.imcdb.org Just enter the movie 'The man who knew too much' and the cab is the last of the group of photos displayed. Similarly if the film 'The Ladykillers' is entered the cab is also featured there.
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I remember those Beardmores. They were quite rare and had a nice curved radiator grille. Can't really recall the Nuffield Oxford though. All I can say is if the FX3, of which I have driven a couple of examples, was an improvement on it, it won't be a comfortable or rapid drive. But of course that isn't the point with that sort of old car.
I must say that little 1903 Peugeot on another thread yesterday is a real charmer, cute as a button as the cousins say. Rather have that than any taxi ever made. Pity it's so far out of my price range.
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Well fancy meeting you here, Lud!
I'm starting to dig around on this now - got me intrigued.
BTW, if anyone wants a low mileage 1963 Wolseley 16/60 which is basically very sound but been off the road for a long time I'll give them one! Honest! Even the Cambridge Oxford Owners' Club couldn't be bothered to get off their collective butt to return my email when I offered it to them.
Wasn't the little Peugeot designed by someone who went on to much greater things - one Ettore Bugatti? Blighty run still at the planning stage...
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Always interested in free motors mh... Where is yr Wolseley?
Did the 16/60 have a Farina body with fins, or was it the much better looking rounded thing with a longish boot? Farina I'm afraid... even so they were comfortable motors and made good minicabs in their day, although they weren't quick. Nice leather seats I seem to remember.
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15/60 had the fins. 16/60 was more rounded. Leather interior and wood dash. I remember helping my father put underlay under the carpet in his for that added touch of luxury.
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If this was a pretty standard cab design I'd have thought the London Hackney Drivers Association (or somesuch) would know about it. And would be prepared to talk about it.
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Lud, you will have email...
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I remember the Beardmores - horrid ugly things with a rubber body?
But this Wolseley sounds like the real thing - is that the one that had an iron railing round the roof for stowing trunks, and an open platform on the left of the driver with a strap to stop things falling off?
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Hi Cliff...
The roof rack may have been an optional extra but it did have the open stowage platform on the left. Re my earlier post....if you access www.imcdb.org and enter the film 'The ladykillers' or 'The man who knew too much' you will see the vehicle.
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Hi, Geordie1.
I've just stumbled across this thread, but in case it's still of any use, a year on... my Dad had one of those, as they say. I've found a little information on them, and have two family photos which might just conceivably be of use. Some of it brings back memories, although my memory is very fuzzy after 50 years (and I was still small when Dad sold it). Let me know if you're still on this forum and your associate is still working on the cab.
Regards, David
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BTW...
Pardon me if I mention that some of the comments above are a bit scrambled... ;-)
A good place to start on the history of the London Taxi Cab is the London Vintage Taxi Association:
www.lvta.co.uk/history.htm
Actually, it's only that I know and love the Beardmores, and they were the owner-driver's chariot of choice. Any cab made before Nissan-powered FX4s in the 80s is going to be... er... a very different driving experience from the modern (boring, in my opinion) "eurobox".
Regards, David
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The OP was last here in April - I'll e-mail him for you.
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Hi there David...
Many thanks for your response...somewhat of a pleasant surprise after so many months!
My pal in the States is in the final stages of the complete chassis up rebuild and any info / pics etc would be greatly appreciated. Drop me an email via moderator Rob and I will confer.
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I'll e-mail him your e-mail now.
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