Odd looking taxi - what is it?

[Peter C]

Just watching the Nilsen documentary on ITV and this came on:

I’ve never seen a London taxi with a front like that.

What is it?

[quicksilver]

It's an early 1970s Winchester Mark IV, one of the main rivals of the FX4 along with the Beardmore but neither were as successful.

[Peter C]

Just now, quicksilver said:

It's an early 1970s Winchester Mark IV, one of the main rivals of the FX4 along with the Beardmore but neither were as successful.

The upper part of the body has a hint of FX4 about it.

[High Jetter]

Living up to your name with a sub 4 minute reply there quicksilver. 

[Peter C]

I lived in central London from the age of 9 until approx 32 (I’m now 46) and don’t ever recall seeing such a vehicle.

[artdjones]

They only made fewer than 200 Winchester cabs of all types over 10 years.The FX4 sold about 2000 per year.So it wasn't at all common.

AROnline has an article about rivals to the FX4.

[SmokinWaffle]

 

What a curious little thing

[St.Jude]

A product of a curious time in car design where they couldn't make their minds up about using straight lines or curves.

[lisbon_road]

If you think that is odd looking, google JLR270D for the previous design of Winchester, which I simply cannot ever remember seeing.

More curves.  

[St.Jude]

1 hour ago, lisbon_road said:

If you think that is odd looking, google JLR270D for the previous design of Winchester, which I simply cannot ever remember seeing.

More curves.  

Ohhhhh yes I love that. Far prettier and better looking than the monstrosity above.

[Inspector Morose]

In their death throes they built this prototype in 1970.

 

Eventually MCW did something with the design (did they buy Winchester at some point I wonder) and we got the Metrocab.

[twosmoke300]

15 hours ago, artdjones said:

They only made fewer than 200 Winchester cabs of all types over 10 years.The FX4 sold about 2000 per year.So it wasn't at all common.

AROnline has an article about rivals to the FX4.

Thats an hour of my life ill never get back 

[High Jetter]

7 hours ago, sgtberbatov said:

Ohhhhh yes I love that. Far prettier and better looking than the monstrosity above.

Those curves remind me of Austin Devons etc. The grille on the 70's proto looks vaguely like Mk2 Cortina.

[Three Speed]

6 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

The grille on the 70's proto looks vaguely like Mk2 Cortina.

There’s a very good reason for that!

[busmansholiday]

8 hours ago, Inspector Morose said:

In their death throes they built this prototype in 1970.

 

Eventually MCW did something with the design (did they buy Winchester at some point I wonder) and we got the Metrocab.

Bloody hell, that brings back memories.

[flat4alfa]

9 hours ago, Inspector Morose said:

Eventually MCW did something with the design (did they buy Winchester at some point I wonder) and we got the Metrocab.

Weyman had been contracted to build the Winchesters since mid-sixties

Took them a long 17 years too!

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