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Mr.choppers (talk | contribs) I see no indication of factory hearses being built |
m not necessary |
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{{Short description|Motor vehicle model used as a London taxi}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2017}}
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{{Infobox automobile
| image = File:1976 Austin FX4 (8961264289).jpg
|caption = A 1976 Austin FX4 in [[Lunteren]], The [[Netherlands]]
| name = Austin FX4
| manufacturer = [[British Motor Corporation]] (1958–1968)<br />[[British Leyland]] (1968–1982)<br />[[Carbodies]]/[[London Taxis International|LTI]] (1982–1997)
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=== Fairway ===
In February 1989, the Fairway was introduced.<ref name="Adams" /> It was fitted with a 2,664 cc [[Nissan TD engine#TD27|Nissan TD27]] diesel engine, although in the beginning, buyers could also opt for the old, 2.5-liter Land Rover diesel unit.<ref name=AC89.49>{{cite magazine | magazine = [[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar & Motor]] | title = Road Test: Fairway 2.7 Silver | url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240404023009/https://live.staticflickr.com/3597/3462696647_5640ae097a_b.jpg | page = 49 | ref = A4799 | date = 1989-02-15 | volume = 179 | number = 7 (4799) }}</ref> The new engine made the FX4 a faster and more reliable cab. It had full wheelchair accessibility, in line with a new law that came into force in January 1989. The Fairway enabled LTI to sell to overseas markets, as well as move into provincial UK markets they had not been able to tackle. Much of this increase in sales was due to local authorities insisting on wheelchair accessible cabs being used in their areas.
=== Fairway Driver ===
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==End of an era==
[[File:Blois London Cabs 3.jpg|thumb|FX4 with successor models. From left to right: a TX1 facelifted by its owner, a TX1 and
[[Transport for London]] (TfL), who had taken over control of the [[Public Carriage Office]], ruled that by 2006 all taxis licensed in London should comply with Euro 3 exhaust emission regulations. The Fairway, and for that matter its replacement the TX1, used the same Nissan engine which complied with Euro 2. Most proprietors were reluctant to get rid of their very reliable and economical Fairways. In the face of pressure from the trade, TfL allowed different conversions systems to be developed that could be fitted to the Nissan engine to make it comply. These were the STT Emtec Clean Cab turbocharger system and the Van Aaken [[exhaust gas recirculation]] system. Only 80 Austin and Rover-engined cabs remained on the road, which made it uneconomical to develop conversions for them so they were granted an exemption. Although some owners of older Fairways got rid of them, many owners opted to spend almost £2,000 having their cabs converted. They did this rather than buy a new or second-hand TXII, which was considered to be very unreliable. In late 2009, only six of the earlier Rover or Austin-engined cabs remained in service on-street, most having covered more than a million miles each.
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=== FL2 ===
[[File:1965 Austin FL2 Hire Car.jpg|thumb|1965 FL2, note the extra brightwork]]
The Austin FL2 Hire Car was the limousine version of the FX4. Introduced at the same time as the FX4, it was aimed at the private hire, limousine and funeral trade and this market was the main reason why the petrol engine was offered in the vehicle. It had forward-facing occasional seats
The FL2 was relaunched in 1982 as the FL2 London Limousine, based on the FX4R. Air conditioning was offered as well as a wider range of luxury interior options, including a cocktail cabinet and custom sound systems. Three stretch versions were built, with four doors and an 18-inch extension between the front and rear doors. A six-door version of the FX4S was also built. The FL2 designation was dropped around 1987, but limousine versions of the Fairway were ordered, the most prominent being that belonging to the [[George Tupou V|Crown Prince of Tonga]].
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