2004 LTI TXII London Taxi

Chassis No. SCRLD16N24C155278
Name a UK based car company that has made tens of thousands of cars and is just as recognizably English as red phone box, tea and biscuits, and the monarchy? Jaguar, Bentley, Rolls-Royce all come to mind. Sure, those all fit the bill but how about LTI? London Taxis International. Founded in 1918 as Carbodies, the future taxi maker was involved in the typical, scrappy pre-war English automotive world building bodies for other manufacturers such as Alvis and MG. During WWII they put their expertise to use making bodies for military vehicles and aircraft parts.
In 1948 Carbodies signed an agreement to produce bodies for the new Austin FX3 London Taxi. Over 7,000 were made and beginning in 1958 the replacement, the famous Austin FX4 was introduced. A staple of the London street scene for more than 50 years, over 75,000 were built until production ceased in 1997. During FX4 production Carbodies had rebranded as LTI, London Taxis International.
LTI then created the TX series as its FX replacement, and it is still in use today. The car on offer, a 2004 TXII was built in Coventry, England. Unlike almost all other London Taxis, it was constructed as a left hand drive vehicle and sent directly to the United States as an official US import. LTI estimates that around 250 US-specification TXII and TX4 models were imported between 2002 and 2009. This TXII was never subjected to the daily grind of inner-city London traffic leading a sedate life in the US over the past 18 years, seeing only occasional use in Michigan by a real estate builder ferrying his clients to showcase properties. Accumulating just over 5,200 miles at the time of cataloging, it must be among the lowest mileage London taxicabs in existence, let alone in the US.
Notable features include a roof-mounted taxi fare light, twin fold-down rear jump seats with “London Executive Sedan” embroidery, cabin Plexiglas divider with two-way intercom system. The TXII featured an improved, integrated wheelchair ramp for easier wheelchair access. The party piece of the TXII is its fantastic turning radius with a full circle completed in less than 25 feet. Wheels are shod with special Dunlop SP Taxi 175 R16 tires and are likely original to this TXII.
With design by Sir Kenneth Henry Grange, the TXI and subsequent TXII, brought the iconic “London Taxi” silhouette into the modern era, updating its appearance without losing any of its distinctive character. This TXII is certainly a unique, attention-getting vehicle on this side of the pond and one that would be a charming conversation starter for any collection.