UXX 293
"I purchased UXX 293 in February 1988. It had been off the road for
over twenty years and when I found it, all the wings had been thrown in the back and the
For Hire sign was missing. I decided to restore one or two pieces at a time rather than
strip the whole vehicle straight away and end up with a pile of junk!
My first job was to remove and strip the boot. Then small holes were welded
where extra lights had been fitted. These were then ground and filled and the boot primed.
The front wings were rotten at their rear end. New metal was welded in and a
new corner plate and tie bar made and that was then welded on. In addition, the tops of
the wings where they meet the flanges around the support arm, had rotted away. A new plate
had to be made and then welded on. Many hours were spent stripping, filling and rubbing
down. After priming, they were all stored.
All three doors were rotten at the bottom (the FX3 only had three doors). The
frames were repaired by cutting out and welding in one or two 6-inch sections at a time. I
made new bottom skins for the off-side doors which were then welded onto a new door skin
which had been found hanging up on a cab garage wall where it had been for twenty five
years! This was fitted, rubbed down and primed and then put away ready for refitting.
Most of the inner edges of the rear wings were replaced where they bolt onto
the shell and new holes drilled. The front end of the off-side wing was beyond repair, so
this was then cut off and another end welded on from a scrap wing.
The bonnet cowling and inner wings were removed and stripped of paint,
however, no repairs were necessary, so they were just rubbed down and primed.
THE ENGINE
The engine had a lot of back pressure. When I stripped it, two liners were
cracked and one piston went up and down minus its skirt. These were all renewed, the head
skimmed with new valves and seals fitted. The injectors, starter and dynamo were
completely overhauled. New rear shoes were fitted and an FX4 fuel tank was adapted to
replace the original tank which was way beyond repair. The chassis was then sprayed black
and the engine painted green. |
The
interior was badly gutted but I found a roll of head lining which was then stitched and
fitted. I also bought a roll of leather cloth and re-trimmed the entire interior. In
addition, I had to make a couple of panels from plywood which were then covered in hessian
and leather cloth.
Next the shell was stripped, some welding was carried out on the wheel
arches, the body panel seams filled and the shell itself, primed. I sprayed the shell
gloss black at a local garage who then kindly transported the cab back home for me. I
rubbed it all down with 1000 wet and dry and T-cutted and polished it. All the chrome was
then re-chromed and I re-covered all the floor traps and footwells that I had shaped from
a sheet of fluted alloy. A complete drivers partition and luggage bars were also made. All
the parts removed earlier were then refitted and in January 1998 she proudly passed her
first MOT test in twenty years! Since then, I have covered thousands of miles attending
rallies.
THE HISTORY OF UXX 293
A total of 7267 FX3’s were made but only about 150 still survive
world-wide. They had 2.2 BMC diesel engines which were then fitted to the FX4’s when
they arrived in September 1958. In the early 70’s, the 2.2 engine was bored out to a
2.5.
I have only a little history of my FX3 and would love to learn more. Cooks
Garage at Ivor Place owned it until 1961. In 1969, it ceased to become a London taxi and
was used as private transport until 1980 when it was sold to an enthusiast in Portsmouth
who intended restoring it, but gave it up as a bad job. Another enthusiast bought it in
1982 and stored it as it was until 1988 when I bought it.
However, at some time in it’s life, UXX 293 became a radio taxi. Could
it have been on Lords? Were you the owner or do you know who it may have been? If you have
any photos or documentation, please get in touch with Call Sign and leave your phone
number. I’ll get straight back to you and will re-imburse any costs."
Editor’s note: In the August issue, Keith White gave an incorrect address for the
LVTA Membership Secretary. It should have read: Steve Dimmock, LVTA, 51 Ferndale Cres.
Cowley, Uxbridge. Middx. UB8 2AY |
