1979 Austin

FAIRWAY FX4 Other

4 - Cyl.

Automatic

FX4DR37497X

Diesel

1987 FX4S Plus - (titled as 1979 FX4D) Veggie Taxi! Red w/black top. Newer engine installed is Nissan 2.7 diesel common in Fairways and Nissan Terrano, installed before 2003 but after 1991 as that was the first year of that style of engine. The mileage listed represents the total mileage of the vehicle for the original and new engine. New radiator, battery, air filter, oil filter, and Elsbett kit installed in 2007. This taxi runs on diesel, biodiesel, or vegetable oil at 28 MPG. Typical extensive rust, dings, and scratches. Wheelchair ramp and spare included, UK registration E789LUC. Photos available. Minor electrical quirks. Some extra parts like air and oil filters, US radio adapter, and new Lucas horn/turn signal arm will be included. Original UK taxi meter included. This is the ONLY London Taxi in the US (or anywhere for that matter) with this Elsbett vegetable oil modification. Please feel free to ask me questions. This is a very special vehicle and the more you know, the better. It is a London Taxi Cab, classified as an Austin but actually manufactured by London Taxi International (LTI). It is titled as a 1979 FX4D, but my research, and the wheelchair ramp, identify the taxi as a 1987 FX4S Plus. The title is clear and it has been titled in New York and Florida. It believe it was imported into the US between 2003-2006. I found a grocery receipt stuck in the seat dated December 2002. I purchased the taxi in early 2007 to convert to run on vegetable oil. It was being used in New York City for TV and movies I installed an Elsbett kit so it now runs on diesel, biodiesel, waste vegetable oil WVO, and straight vegetable oil SVO. You can mix any of these fuels in any combination in the single tank system. I have been collecting waste oil from Mexican and Chinese restaurants, filtering it, and using it as fuel. I rarely have to take it to the gas station. So if you hate rising fuel prices, you'll love the taxi. I love this taxi, it gets great looks out on the road. The steering wheel is British style on the right side. I am selling it because I am moving onto other projects and I live in hot Florida and it doesn't have AC. These taxis don't come with AC but a kit can be installed. But it has a great heater! Tires are in good condition, spare included with jack. The taxi starts and run, but at this time it needs a new micro pump $25 at your local auto parts store) and could use a new battery. As such, you should expect to transport or tow the vehicle, not drive it away. It drives comfortably at 55 but doesn't want to go more than 65 as it was designed for city use, not the open road. It has a truly amazing turning radius of 25 feet, turns on a dime like no other vehicle. This is part of the design so that it can make a U-turn on a small London street. It has power locks for the back doors behind the partition which is controlled from the front. The rear windows and driver's window are manually operated. The front passenger side window is a power window operated from the driver's position. Parts for the engine are mostly Nissan so replacements aren't tough to get in the US. Other parts are easily obtained from the UK as these taxis are still widely in use abroad. It is an older classic kind of car so please look at the photos to see the imperfections, dents, dings, rust, and scratches. It does need body work for the rust and dents. I'll try to list all the things that are quirky on it that have not been perfected. One rear passenger door does not fully open because of a dent. The black top is weathered and degrading with age. The radio/cassette deck is aftermarket for US frequencies, but you'll want to replace the radio and speakers. I have been using a radio boom box along with my satellite radio service (not included) which has worked great for me. With a proper charge on the battery, and the micro pump I mentioned above, it will start easily. There are some quirks with the electrical system which causes the turning signals an headlights to work when they want to and sometimes causes a slow drain when the car is turned off. I have installed a kill switch on the battery which has solved the drain issue, but the lights are still quirky. I have been simply using the fuse box as an on/off switch for the headlamps. I bought this vehicle in 2007 in New York City and drove it down to North Carolina where the Elsbett kit was installed and replaced the radiator. I then drove it to South Florida running entirely on vegetable oil. Everyone waves hello when they see the taxi coming and going. More about the veggie oil modification: Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Vegetable oil is thicker than regular diesel, so fuel intake line from the tank to the front of the car was replaced with a thicker line. A small pump was installed at the base of this line to push the fuel forward (that's the micro pump that needs to be replaced). The glow plugs were replaced with longer, hotter glow plugs. The WVO must be heated and there are two new items in my taxi that do this. We added a second fuel filter (standard Volkswagen filter) with a heating element, while keeping the original filer intact. The heating element heats the oil that has been sitting in the filter when car starts. After the engine warms, a heat exchanger hooked to the radiator coolant takes over the job of heating the veggie oil and a sensor stops the heating element on the second fuel filter. I have included a photo that details these modifications. I have over $7000 in this vehicle, and there is NO RESERVE. YES, this taxi needs lots of cosmetic work. YES, this taxi will need minor mechanical work. YES, you should plan to tow or transport this vehicle from my driveway and budget accordingly. YES, you will enjoy this vehicle once you've given it some tender loving care. About the registration: The title is clear. I have it registered in Florida, and before that it was registered in New York. It is listed as a 1979 FX4D, but all of my research indicates that this is a newer vehicle, an 1987 FX4S Plus with the wheelchair modification. It also has a much newer Fairway taxi engine (by Nissan). The H registration plates on the vehicle are accurate as that they match a red taxi registration, but are not the UK original registration plates. I had them made after I bought the taxi just for cosmetic purposes. It has been insured with Hagerty Insurance as they specialize in older collectible cars. I am selling this vehicle locally for $5000 so I reserve the right to end the auction before time expires. I know you have questions, so feel free to ask. I am happy to answer whatever might be on your mind about this unique vehicle. Happy bidding, and good luck!