1997 Carbodies Fairway Driver Taxi - 13 Miles From New

The Fairway Taxi, also known as the FX4, is quintessentially British, instantly recognisable and undeniably iconic having graced the streets of London for nearly 40 years. Produced by Carbodies Ltd, now known as the London Taxi Company, between 1958 and 1997, the Fairway is instantly recognizable with its distinctive design, high roofline and boxy shape. Over time, just like the London Routemaster bus, red telephone boxes and red post boxes, the Fairway has become a symbol of London culture, renowned for its spacious interior, durability, and reliability.

When the Fairway was eventually phased out of production, it left a serious pair of shoes to fill, however, not surprisingly, its successor, the TX1, was well thought out and retained many of the Fairway's classic design cues whilst introducing modern technology and improvements in safety and efficiency. Many Fairway Taxis remained in service for decades, serving the citizens of London without complaint, however, the particular Taxi Cab on offer here has lead a rather different life…

R80 CAB is one of the very last Fairway taxis produced and was first registered on 23rd September 1997, only a few days before the very last one rolled off the line, was registered R1 PFX on 1st October 1997 and presented to the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.

This special taxi has been owned and registered from new by its one and only keeper and cherished as part of a small private Collection. Having covered just 12 miles from new, it is in running, driving, time warp condition and as one would expect, it smells, looks and drives as if brand new. It's totally standard and is fitted with the Nissan TD27 2.7-litre diesel engine paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission and overdrive with full wheelchair accessibility, in line with a law that came into force in January 1989.

Upon delivery back in 1997, R80 CAB was mothballed alongside R90 CAB, an extremely early example of the TX1 - the Fairway's successor, with both being professionally stored under dust covers in temperature controlled units at significant cost. They were only ever woken from slumber once a year to be recommissioned with new oils, filters, fuel, run up to temperature and gently exercised. With the exception of the above consumables, everything on the vehicle is original, including the intact LTI protective wrappings from the factory. All the usual attributes associated with a London black cab are present and in working order including the famous orange ‘Taxi’ light adorning the roof. The TX1 was licensed in 1997 and fitted with a fare meter ready for the streets of London, however, that was also not going to be its fate as it joined its older sister in immediate retirement where it has remained for 27 years.

R80 CAB is simply unrepeatable. It's surely the lowest mileage Fairway taxi in existence, in addition to being a one-owner registered vehicle, in ‘as new’ condition and retaining all the original documentation, service book, handbook, keys - even the original sales brochure.

This remarkable, end of production Fairway, in common with its stable mate, the very early production TX1, would look at home in any Collection, museum or London-themed environment and with both on offer at very reasonable estimates, it would be great to see this pair stick together.