DaC driver Ron Colman (J09), one of the original founders of the London Metrocab Club, had invested £30,000 in the new TTT. Then rumours circulating in the trade suggested that the Metrocab had ceased production, leaving Ron and others like him, in limbo. Written the day before Christmas, these were Ron's views of the events as they unfolded to him...

On Wednesday 20th December 2000, I had phone calls from several people who knew me, especially from the time when I and a few others had formed the London Metrocab Club. They wanted me to check out the rumour of Hooper Metrocab going out of business. The rumours were varied, ranging from the company 'going bust', to full and total receivership. To make matters worse, Hooper staff were not answering office phones in London or Tamworth. Therefore, no one appeared to really know what was going on and the various stories that were being banded about were beginning to run amok, causing worry and concern to all interested parties.
   So I phoned various companies and individuals who ALL appeared to have heard the rumours - although nothing concrete. Knowing what this trade is like for 'rumour-mongering', it was important to try to establish as quickly as possible what actually WAS happening...

Freelance Journalist...!
I didn't believe that I would get accurate or truthful information from within our industry, so on the pretence of being a freelance journalist, I phoned the second largest distributor of the Metrocab and spoke with their Managing Director. He confirmed that the Hooper Metrocab Company had suspended all operations until the New Year and that all their staff had been sent home a day earlier than expected. He also added that the company had NOT gone into liquidation or bankruptcy - they had suspended operations and were in talks with possible buyers.
   He was very quick to add that he was merely the 'landlord' of the offices used by Hooper Metrocab in his section of London to sell their vehicles, a phrase which suggested to me that although his company were only too pleased for all and sundry to get the impression that his company were almost 'tied-in' with Hooper, now that there appeared to be a serious problem, he wanted to 'keep his distance' - talk about having your cake and eating it!
   Speaking further, he implied that one of the possibilities of this suspension was because the Public Carriage Office were not allowing sufficient new drivers to

get through, which meant that projected sales of the Metrocab were being affected by the absence of buyers. Personally, I do not accept this factor as being responsible because the manufacturers of the LTI TX1 are not complaining and they do not appear to have any undue operational troubles, even with the recently well-publicised recall.
   Metrocab fleet owners and owner drivers, especially where the new TTT Turbo (which I had just bought myself) are concerned, must all be worried and shocked over the news because it currently affects warranties and probably spare  parts. Even more importantly, it unquestionably will have a dramatic effect on potential customers' interest and future sales.
   Whilst the MD at the other end of the phone line was somewhat restricted with any accurate reasons for the ceasing of operations, at least I felt that he was possibly nearer to the truth than anything I had heard from anyone else. After all, he had invested a great deal of time and money over the years in the Metrocab. He added that his source of information from within the company had also indicated that there were apparently three interested parties who were in talks with Hooper Metrocab and who could be keen to buy the company.
   After my phone discussion, I attempted to contact any of the individuals whom I had met when buying my new TTT taxi, but found their mobile numbers either suspended or just not answered.
I finally telephoned Hooper Metrocab at Tamworth and spoke with a senior member of the Security Guard who politely informed me that because of TV camera crews and other reporters assembled outside their factory gates, coupled with all them rumours flying about, the company had given him a press notice to put up on the gates.
   He read it to me. It intimated that as of 12 noon on Wednesday 20th December 2000, Hooper Metrocab had suspended all operations for 'restructuring' until further notice. It had not gone bankrupt and was in talks with three organisations that were interested in it. He also confirmed that the 250 strong work-force had all been sent home. Obviously, being an outside security company, he knew nothing further.

Thoughts of the Early Days...
Although I was one of the many people who would be involved with this matter merely because I had invested in a new vehicle, my immediate thoughts were for the factory workers who, just like the Vauxhall workers at Luton, had been given their Xmas box of "no jobs" just prior to the holiday itself. What a lovely way of saying "thank you for all your hard work and confidence!" At least in their case, they probably heard something. WE, the poor buyers on the other hand, had been told nothing having to rely only on rumours - and one can well imagine what these were.
I can recall that when the Metrocab was launched, rumours had spread within the first two weeks of the company's imminent downfall. Even though there was a period of 'ups and downs' -  most of them due to bad management - the vehicle still survived and over the years there have been countless numbers of owner-drivers, including myself, who consider the vehicle as being the only one for them. It's attributes are many, thus the reason for our interest.
   It was the first cab to be fitted with central locking and it was this particular facility which probably saved the-then Mountview Chairman's son from injury when he was attacked in London a few years back. Our loyalty to the cab has obviously played a major role in the continuation of its production.
   As it stands at the present time, WE as owners, irrespective of being a company or individual,
can do nothing about the position other than wait and pray that some organisation will become
interested, invest their money and then be prepared to wait a period for their profit return.
   Ironically, the new TTT Metro with its Toyota engine and gearbox, is unquestionably the finest vehicle to be brought out by the company to date. That sentiment has been national and it is such a crying shame that with the introduction of this fine piece of technology, the company itself
should now be in such a delicate position.
   At the time of writing, a team of Administrators are inside Metrocab sorting out a buyer. Let's hope that until such time that the company is 'picked-up' by a buyer or further investment is effected, that we owners will not experience our vehicle breaking-down, being involved in a major crash, or be subject to having to seek and pay for a part which would otherwise have been covered by the warranty.

Ron Colman (J09)