TAXI FANS HAIL UK’S BIGGEST BLACK CAB SALE
100-strong collection causes a stir among experts and fans, as pressure mounts to find new owners
Britain’s largest collection of black cabs is available to buy. And some of the 100-plus vehicles – with delivery mileage only – have never had a fare-paying customer. The Liverpool-based collection, which is thought to be worth about £250,000, has been hidden away for nearly 30 years. It was the pride and joy of a city taxi master who had made the black cab fleet his life – and when the local council banned them, he simply laid them all up. This stunning news has surprised leading enthusiasts’ group, The London Vintage Taxi Association, because most members were completely unaware of the stash.
One member who has visited the site could barely contain his excitement: ‘The experts are dumbfounded. It’s a unique situation. It’s like opening up ancient tombs in Egypt.’
‘It’s our intention that all cars sold will remain in the hands of enthusiasts’
Britain’s largest collection of black cabs is available to buy – featuring more than 100 vehicles, including some with only delivery mileage.
The Liverpool-based collection, thought to be worth around £250,000, was hidden away for nearly 30 years.
The collection was owned by a Liverpool taxi master who had made the black cab fleet his life. When the local council banned them, he simply laid the collection up.
This stunning news has sparked interest within the leading taxi enthusiasts’ association, The London Vintage Taxi Association (LVTA). Mixed feelings have surfaced among members because opportunities to buy really good vehicles are now rare, and the spares situation is in flux, with Leacy being the main holder of remaining spares. LVTA members are equally anxious to see these classic vehicles go to good homes.
The Austin FX4 came with mainly diesel engines, firstly Austins, then Rovers in the 1980s and finally the much-upgraded Fairway with a Nissan engine to end of production, with front disc brakes, much improved electrics and driver comfort, plus wheelchair access.
Mark Kenwright, who is managing the sale, says: ‘It’s our intention that all cars sold will remain in the hands of serious enthusiasts. These cabs have been part of a great Liverpool cab tradition and they should continue to be cherished, as their original owner has done. We also have a huge store of spares, and we want them to support all enthusiasts who are part of the cab preservation business.’
An LVTA spokesman says: ‘It appears there’s no hurry to dispose the collection. He’s not breaking cars, there are a lot of them in first class condition, and his storage sites are secure and seem to be long term. The experts are dumbfounded. It’s a unique situation – it’s like opening up ancient tombs in Egypt.’
An LVTA member who’s visited the site adds: ‘ What we’ve got here being offered for sale is a stock of parts that quite frankly, we probably could never have expected to come across. What we’ve discovered is effectively a working cab garage that has become stuck in a timewarp. It’s all here.’