Oxford NAT005 1:148 Austin Low Loader Taxi Green

Oxford NAT005 1:148 Austin Low Loader Taxi Green

The Austin name was first linked to taxi manufacture in the 1920s when dealers Mann and Overton jointly sponsored a new London taxi cab.  It was 1934 before the Low Loader appeared and because of its reasonable price and reliability, it became a great hit with cabbies of the day. This was long before the signature black of the London cab scene, so the LL was decorated in various colour schemes, depending on the fleet owner.

The latest 1:148 release appears in one of those authentic liveries, which you have seen on the larger scale versions of this model, both 1:43 and 1:76, already in the Oxford range.  The Oxford tooling has also created the option for an open roof, which looks splendid here in black against the green body, in turn revealing the high level of interior detail.  In addition to the upper body section, the window frames, front grille, running board and the chassis are also black.  Note the detailed spoked wheels finished in black with a yellow line down each spoke.  The green body also has fine yellow coach lines along the side passenger section and round the rear wheel arch down to the rear bumper. The interior features dark green seating and door panels. The rear floor is black but the front floor has a silver finish, with tan wood effect dashboard, black steering wheel and black controls.  Registered CGJ 605, our taxi has further final minute details to boast about – a blue and  white For Hire sign on the open front near side section and a silver ashtray set into the green side panels of the passenger area.  Hop aboard!