New Taxi by Nuffield
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GOOD news to all operators of ancient taxicabs is -the information that the Nuffield Organisation has produced a new cab known as the Oxford. This machine was designed and built by Wolseley Motors, Ltd., Birmingham, a company that has had much experience in the building of saloon cars and many body-building refinements are to be found in this new vehicle.
The prototype was built before the war, and during the past few years has run over 100,000 miles in London under the operation of Beardmore Motors, Ltd., Grove Park, London, N.W.9, which company is acting as London distributor for the Oxford. During these initial trials h has given a satisfactory performance, the fuel consumption, for instance, averaging 19 to 20 m.p.g. It has now gone into production, although the body has been redesigned in many of its features.
The rear seat which is upholstered in leather and has•Dunlopillo cushions, is wide, deep, and comfortable. A feature which impressed us was the compara
ttvely large rear window, which, combined with the light-coloured fabric, lining of the body, gives a bright atmosphere in the passengers' compartment.
The drivers' compartment also is well arranged and visibility is good. All windows, including, the driver's on the off side, are spring-balanced. The driver has a hand-operated dip-switch on the steering column.
Over the windscreen is a "For Hire" sign, which lights up when the flag on the meter is up and is extinguished when the cab is occupied and the flag down. The Bell Punch Co., Ltd., makes the meter.
The chassis frame is of sturdy construction, in which the cruciform centre members are dropped to form a deep cantilever section. With a capacity of 1,802.5 c.c., the four-cylindered o,h.v. engine has an R.A.C. rating of 13.93 h.p. The lubrication system is on the drysump principle, the oil tank being carried in the air stream immediately below the radiator. The split-skirt pistons are in aluminium alloy and the combustion .chhmbers are hemispherical.
The Gifting brakes fitted are eneehiut' ically operated and during deceleration a spring mechanism reduces the load on the rear brakes and _increases the load on the front brakes.
The gearbox provides four forward speeds, With syncing:mesh on second, third; and top: Semi-elliptic springs, in conjunction with Luvax shock absorbers, provide the suspension system. A point concerning the rear springs is that they have Silentbloc mountings. The wheels are of the artillery type, and a spare is carried in a compartment at the rear, the door to this compartment being hinged on the off side and held open by a catch.
The price of the Oxford taxi is £780, upon which purchase tax is calculated at £217 8s. 4d.