This highly customized London Taxi (Fairway Driver) has the revered, highly reliable Nissan 2.7-liter diesel OHV inline-four engine and 4-speed (3 + overdrive) automatic transmission. Producing 85 horsepower and 122 pound-feet of torque when new, these engines are famous for clocking half a million miles or more, with many surpassing the million mile mark with normal maintenance. Additionally, the car comes with front disc brakes and 10-inch drums in the rear. (Spares/parts are readily available from suppliers in England and France.)
After completing its useful life as a working black cab in England, a Polish gentleman purchased the vehicle and converted it from its original right-hand drive configuration to a left-hand setup suitable for Polish roads. Additionally, he replaced the factory-original interior with leather upholstery with wood accents, including wooden dashboard, partition, and champagne bar. The interior also boasts a small video monitor and dash-mounted CD stereo. Upon completion of all the customization, it was the premiere vehicle for his wedding taxi service.
I imported it to the US in 2021 and have had to do very little on the interior. When I received it, the dashboard was in disrepair, so I had it sanded, cleaned, and re-stained. The headliner sagged a bit but since I fixed that, it remains in excellent condition. The driver's seat has a slight wobble to it and could be tightened down.
The exterior is in fair condition; it is a real head-turner from about 20 feet, but upon closer inspection, the paint has a few issues. I've repainted the bonnet and right-side door panels, but some bubbles, cracking, and spider-webbing remain, especially on the bonnet and under the front left headlamp. (Photos show these imperfections.) The right front wing has an odd spiky texture to it, suggesting some underlying condition; it is no worse than when I first got the vehicle, however. The wheels and tires show well and are free of significant curb damage. The vehicle has a replacement Daimler grille and updated bumpers. There has been no collision-related body damage under my ownership; I cannot speak to anything before that.
The undercarriage and engine bay are free of damage, although insulation on the bonnet's underside is a bit ratty. No mechanical issues; the car runs very smoothly, accelerates well, and only yields a bit of smoke on cold start and under high load. An “Ahooga horn” adds to the car's fun spirit.
2 complete sets of keys come with the car.
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