Publisher Description

London has had taxis since the early 1900s, but the characteristic "black cab" first appeared in the 1940s. No visitor to London can truly say they have experienced Britain's capital until they have ridden in one. Black cabs are a familiar sight in many large cities across the UK and are gradually becoming an international vehicle. There is no law that says London's taxis must be black – in fact from Edwardian times when motor cabs first appeared, they could be found in many different colours. They are still seen in many different colours to this day. This book tells the story of these special vehicles, from before the time when they first appeared, up to the present day and why and how they came to have their distinctive layout.

Author Biography

Bill Munro spent most of his working life driving a London taxi. The opportunity to contribute to a cab trade newspaper gave him a break in writing and he published his first book in 1998. Bill has written fifteen books many specialising on the history of London taxis. He lives in Surrey.

Table of Contents

AcknowledgmentsWhy the Name "Black Cabs"?Introduction1 Before there were "Black Cabs"2 The First "Black Cabs"3 The Rise of the Austin FX44 The Dominance of the Austin FX45 The Creation of LTI and the Arrival of MCW's Metrocab6 The Fairway, more Metrocabs & the Asquith7 The LTI TX-Series and the LEVC TXeAppendix: The Public Carriage OfficeFurther Reading

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