Advertising Last completed movie pages 1936 Austin 12/4 Taxi Low-Loader - Rickets BodyClass: Cars, Sedan — Model origin: 
![[*]](/res/star.png){kind=small}
Background vehicle
Comments about this vehicle| Author | Message |
|---|---|
|
◊ 2009-08-11 15:22 |
This appears from the radiator to be Austin 12/4 based, but it's a very unfamiliar body - the brightwork round the windscreen is unusual, and so are the apparently sloped back and the rear side window. Comments? [Edit] Morris-Commercial G2? -- Last edit: 2009-08-11 16:24:05 |
|
◊ 2009-08-11 17:19 |
I think you're correct with Austin 12. The radiator looks more curved (Austin-like) than the Morris-Commercial radiator. Possibly a taxi based on an Austin 12 Harley (although I've never seen evidence of one)? /vehicle_82366-Austin-12-Harley-1927.html |
|
◊ 2009-08-11 22:35 |
I'm still not happy, though. True, there was a slope-back Austin taxi, but it had the later Austin grille (like the Cambridge etc.). I don't think Austin ever converted existing saloons; taxis were designed from the chassis up, due to the requirements of the Public Carriage Office. I'm still inclined to think of a later Morris-Commercial G2. |
|
◊ 2009-08-12 11:29 |
I still think the radiator looks more like the Austin version with the inner opening curved at the top. The Morris-commercial opening was rectangular with the top of the opening being straight, but with some reflections it could look curved, so its not possible to be definite here. However there are a number of details that look strange. The windscreen as you said, chris40, for one. I think it does not match the 1920 or 1930 periods at all. In fact to me it looks very like its based on the Austin FX3 with the corner radii! There do not appear to be any windscreen wipers fitted which is true of the early Morris-Commercials until 1932 but the windscreen shape is completely wrong for a G2. Everything to me points to it being a poor reconstruction of a 1930s London taxi, but why anyone should attempt it, I don't know. As you say the taxis were all custom built for the taxi market and to me this looks very like its saloon based. The movie is being screened again currently. I will see if I can watch it to get a better idea. |
|
◊ 2009-08-12 17:04 |
Found it. .gif ":)") 1932 Austin 12/4 Taxi probably 'DGW271' It has the windscreen and third window glass and is in the same burgundy colour... ![[Image: fronttaxi.3284.jpg]](http://pics.imcdb.org/0is232/fronttaxi.3284.jpg) ![[Image: reartaxi.1143.jpg]](http://pics.imcdb.org/0is232/reartaxi.1143.jpg) ![[Image: taxir.3121.jpg]](http://pics.imcdb.org/0is136/taxir.3121.jpg) Source: http://www.premiercarriage.co.uk/transport/vintage-cars-1/1932-austin-taxi/ |
|
◊ 2009-08-12 20:07 |
Oh well done, Sunbar!  This must always have been a rare taxi, I imagine. |
|
◊ 2009-08-12 20:19 |
Not so rare probably as DGW276 also appears on IMCDb! /vehicle_55623-Austin-12-4.html It looks to have the same windscreen with radiused corners. The pictures are not clear for the rear but I suspect it has the conventional landau bars so not the third glass? edit: I'm thinking the Eye of the Needle taxi is possibly "over-restored" for the wedding market with the extra windows? -- Last edit: 2009-08-12 20:23:52 |
|
◊ 2009-08-12 22:19 |
You could well be right about the over-restoration; that would also account for the brightwork round the screen. DGW 276 looks much more conventional ... which is odd for a German Edgar Wallace film! |
|
◊ 2009-10-18 01:00 |
The identity of the taxicab ( DGW 271) which appeared in the Eye of the Needle. The cab is in fact a 1936 Austin 12/4 with a Rickets body. This is as your contributors suggest, a very rare cab indeed and I believe that there is only one other in existance. At the time of the filming the cab was owned by a Mr Bernie Austin, but I have known this cab since the early 1960's when it was owned by Chris Baker-Duly who lived in Wembley (west London) At that time it was painted green (the original colour), it then appeared in Yellow, and now its Maroon (as in the Eye of the Needle). Trust this is of some help. Best regards. Jim Stringer (Vice President - The Vintage Austin Register & Editor of The Vintage Austin Magazine) |
|
◊ 2017-03-05 21:36 |
/vehicle_1010265-Austin.html |
Add a comment Advertising Advertising
