NEW TAXIS FOR OLD.
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How Old Two-c)lindered Taxicabs of Renault Make are Rejuvenated to Comply with the Latest Regulations of Scotland Yard.
MHOUSANDS of owners of two
cylindered Renault taxicabs have been badly hit by the Scotland Yard regulations which came into operation last September, whereby all taxicabs in the hletropolitan area are required to undergo an engine test.. We do not for a moment suggest that the authorities -were not wise in erecting some barrier against the employment of vehicles under-engined and often in a bad state of repair.
The public was becoming increasingly discontented with the low speed of many cabs, for the busy man who travels by this type of conveyance does so not so much for comfort as for speed, and it is in the interests of the taximen themselves to provide vehicles satisfactory in this respect, for otherwise, if travel by other conveyances, such as buses, will transport an individual to his destination in practically the same time as the cab, then the cheaper means will almost certainly be adopted. Long before the police regulations came into force, W. U. Dorman and Co., Ltd., of Stafford, had been experimenting in the "production of a combined. power unit and transmission gearing which could be adopted on the Renault vehicle where the condition of the rest of the chassis warranted the expense incurred, with the result that there is now quite a number of "Dorman reengined " cabs, as they are termed, running on the streets. of London.
To the owner-driver, particularly, the proposition presents many attractive features, for if the body and the chassis, with the exception of the engine and gearbox, are in comparatively good order, by installing the Dorman unit a very satisfactory vehicle can be turned out at something like a quarter of the cost of a new cab. This is an important consideration, for in most cases it would take the owner-driver a long period to make a living and at the same time put enough by for the purchase of a new
cab, even on the hire-purchase system.
In the case of proprietors whose old Renault cabs require complete reconstruction, this can be effected through Vislok, Ltd., 1, St Bride's House, Salisbury Square, London, E.C.4, who are sole concessionnaires for the "Doiman Re-engined " taxicabs. They are in the position to supply either the reconstructed unit—.that is to say, the engine complete with clutch, gearbox, radiator, bonnet and dash—or they can offer completely reconstructed taxicabs, which are, of course, all of the old Renault type.
In making the alteration, the following series of operations is carried through :- (1) After removing the body, the chassis is entirely stripped and reassembled, certain reinforcements being provided where necessary to give greater strength.
(2) A Dorman four,cylindered 4.M.V. 11 h.p. engine is fitted in place of the old two-cylindered model of Renault construction.
(3) Formed as a unit with this engine. is the three-speed-and-reverse gearbox, and, as part of the arrangement, a new cardan shaft connects this gearbox to the existing back axle.
The cabs so converted are completely overhauled as to bodywork and put into such a state of repair as will easily pass the strict requirements of Scotland Yard. New mudguards and tyree are fitted, also a scuttle dash, so that when the vehicles are turned out from the shop they are, in appearance, quite equal to new, and practically so with regard to their mechanical condition.
In the ease of the reconstructed units, cash terms must he paid, hat the complete vehicle, where the old Renault is not Supplied by an ovinerafriyar. can be obtained on hire-purchase tellies on
similar lines to those adopted by' the makers of new cabs. . • e • .
Vislok, Ltd., are convinced that the life of their reconstructed cabs is in every way as • long as that of new vehicles, and their experience with those already running on the London streets shows them to be:economical and entirely iatisfactory in -every way: This we have 'ourselves confirmed by chat
ting with several drivers, who have had nothing but praise for the way in which the converted vehicles perform.
The whole proposition has been accepted by Scotland Yard, which has expressed its satisfaction at the way in which the work has been done, and appreciates that it is a satisfactory soludon of an extremely difficult problem, for it is a serious thing to refuse to licence a type of vehicle which may be the only means of livelihood of some thousands of drivers.
JRaference to our illustrations will show that the appearance of the vehicle is most satisfactory. The radiator is nicely shaped, and it is indeed difficult to realize that these smart vehicles are the erstwhile Renaults which have been on active service for so many years.