Minichamps 1:18 1989 Fairway FX4 London Taxi

Taxis have been an integral part of the London scene since the days of horsedrawn carriages. The specifications of London's taxis have been regulated since the days when concern for passenger safety led to the development of Conditions of Fitness in 1679. These rules and regulations, modified over the years are strictly enforced by the Public Carriage Office, a division of the Metropolitan Police.

The first motorized taxi,the 1897 Bersey, was powered by an electric motor that because of the peculiar noise it made was called the Hummingbird. Starting in 1903 with the French built Prunel, taxis were poered by internal combustion engines. Foreign and domestic onpanies from Vauvhall to Renault built taxis to the Conditions of Fitness, but after 1930, all licensed taxis have been British built by various manufacturers including Morris, Beardmore, Winchester and Austin. The most familiar of these are the Austin FX3 and FX4 introduced in 1948 by Carbodies Ltd..

This model represents the FX4 which made its debut in 1959 and received a major upgrade in 1984 when Carbodies became London Taxis International (LTI). The drivetrain now included a 2.7 liter Nissan engine and transmission and was renamed the Fairway. It kept its trademark suicide doors and the required 25 foot turning radius. The FX4 also was given a fourth door for access to the baggage compartment next to the driver. The trunk is small and contains only a spare, safety equipment and handicap access ramp. This particuar model is the Bronze... the classic black taxi. There are Silver and Gold versions that offer upgrades in color and luxury appointments. With the strict regulations imposed on London Taxis, the average lifespan in service is about 10 years and well over 100000 miles. After that, this taxi would likely be moved to other cities with less stringent requirements or retired and sold for civilian use.

Minichamps has nailed the look of this quintessential London Taxi. The paint is mooth and even. Only the rear doors operate on this model and the hinge system is an inticate telescoping affair that allows a full range of motion and tight shutlines. The hood opens on arc hinges but will not allow the hood to stay open. The model is fully glazed save, oddly, for the baggage storage door. Chrome is relegated to the grill frame and headlight bezels. All other trim is painted. The lenses are all plastic and are nicely done. The roof light lens has the word "Taxi" bracketed by two tiny handicap symbols. Two soft plastic whip antennas are included for mounting on the roof and right front fender. The tires are generic, the suspension is non-working and the undercarriage is mostly molded in but contains a reasonable amount of detail. The interior is nicely done as far as the accuracy of the seating, upholstery, dash and meter. The roof is unfinished and the console and side panels are a bit plasticy in texture. The engine bay is a simple affair and also has a plastic look to it. It could stand a a bit more detailing and more paint detailing just to give it a more realistic look.

This model is very nicely done for its pricepoint. I picked mine up for GBP 17.99 which, were it not for the weak dollar, would be pretty darned cheap. Considering that a model like this will have limited collector interest outside of the UK, there's a reasonable amount of content here for the money and it makes a nice presentation on the shelf. 3 1/2 stars for this guy.

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