FC Holden Sedan "Black and White Taxi Service Co-Operative" restoration

[fe350chev]

Here I have a late  FC Holden special Taxi (with document/registrations/taxi stickers[/color]

[fe350chev]

Engine: L464904 (originally)
FC225-18852-A
Trim 254-847
Paint 253-7773
253-5300 insert

It was originally 2 tone grey. Black and White Taxi Service Cooperative, was a smaller subsidiary company, set up for taxi owner/drivers who were given "b grade" licences after the government decided to issue them to ex servicemen from World War 2. Only 20 were issued which makes this a unique car (ie owner-driver), especially because I have the "b grade licence" docs from the original owner, Mr Stephen Horace Miller.

I went to have a look and the guy really wanted it gone, so I had a look, expecting a complete disappointment. But its better than my FE project, in terms of floor rust etc, and it is pretty much all there. The thing I like is it comes with a lot of history.

There will be a lot of history and research put on this page, as well as the build process.

I have always said I wanted a themed car, perhaps an old delivery car, but now Im excited (just a little bit ) to have the opportunity to get 2 cars, both my favourite (FE 1st and FC 2nd) back on the road.

So my plan is to continue to try and get my FE finished as a classic custom, but now I will probably do more customising and change colours etc to what I want, but bring the taxi back to original taxi specs etc, keeping it completely stock so that it can remain a part of history.

[fe350chev]

Here is a cool pic. This is the depot/service station from which my taxi worked from, within the Adelaide restricted taxi zone, which all B class licences were certified to service. Shell stopped using the Neptune name and called them Shell from 1959 (although it seems that perhaps independed stores did not change) but I am not sure about the taxi depot. If anyone has any info regarding the taxi company in Adelaide, pls let me know. Here is a pic of the paint style typical of an FC taxi. Mine had black diamonds over the white at the top of the doors and beneath the windscreen and late 1959 third generation paint, with fin extensions.

[Old_Mt_Isa_Boy]

Very cool photo. Does this mean you will have to have 2 project pages? That will keep you busy. Stroke of luck the car coming from near your partners old stamping ground.

Hope it all goes well.

Regards

Wayne B

[EffCee]

I thought that all taxis were based on business sedans, meaning the car body number should start with FC 217, not FC 225. Maybe Ken can provide some insight here?

In any case it seems to be a good start

Keith

[fe350chev]

He was an independent who bought and run his own small fleet, run from a rental property close to the city (verified by his neighbour). They bought a car, then painted them and run them exclusively from the Gouger Street depot as in the pic, with other ex servicemen.

Yeah Wayne, was lucky to grovel to the missus with some kind of purpose ha ha.

[fe-ambo]

But the great thing is, I was worried about what the missus would think

Forgiveness is easier to achieve than permission.  Luckily your wife is very understanding.

Having documentation makes this fantastic. I love theme cars.
Look forward to seeing progress photos.

Cheers
Paul

[Cykasm]

Ahh found the pictures.

Looks like you have a nice base to start with 

[fe350chev]

Paul, do u have the ambo in pic? I wonder how many ppl chucked up in the back lol

[fe-ambo]

Yes the ambulance is mine.  I don't think I want to know how many people have chucked up in the back. I also have a HR hearse and just acquired a 1942 Willy's Jeep. I still need a divi van and perhaps a fire engine, then I think  the collection would be complete.

Cheers
Paul

[fe350chev]

And a taxi. Hey are u in Radelaide? I am wanting someone to go to a library and see if they can find any info on "Black and White Taxi Service".

[fe-ambo]

I forgot to mention the RACV and taxi, the list goes on with theme cars. I would also need a bigger shed.

I am in Mount Gambier, not Adelaide so cant help you with your search. Hopefully one of the other members from this site might be able to help you out. I wonder if you contact the library they might have someone there who can do historical searches for you?

Cheers
Paul

[mcl1959]

Only the larger taxi companies used business sedans - as said, the smaller companies just bought specials and had them painted in their colours.
Ken

[fe350chev]

Thanks for the verification Ken, but the proof is in the whatever u call it   doco's of the time, as it proves he bought what he wanted and then converted them.

[fe350chev]

It was a long way for the guy to go each day, if he worked the restricted city area and lived down Hackham way. There wasn't any freeways back then!

[fe350chev]

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/47200325?searchTerm=%22neptune%20oil%22%20%22service%20station%22%20adelaide&searchLimits=l-title=The+Advertiser+%28Adelaide%2C...|titleid%3A44|||l-availability=y|||l-australian=y|||l-decade=194

Found closest dealer in 1940 was at Clovelly park. Cool advert for adelaide people.

[fe350chev]

Your not going to believe it. I took a stab in the dark with some names and receipts I have, rang ppl I didnt know and after numerous calls and trying to convince people I am not an axe murderer or scammer, I have tracked down the second owners  brother. The second owner died before finishing the FC. Turns out he has the original Taxi meter for this car (Brass, but would be a 1966 one,) which is a dollars and cents one. The original would have been in pounds. It also shows that it was a taxi for a fair length of time, cos decimal came out in 1966. The last time it was registered was 1973. He is willing to sell it to me and he cannot wait to see the car finished, but he will only part with the meter if I finish the car. He has other bits he said, hopefully the internally mounted period taxi sign. This also means it would have had to have a radio in it too.

Apparently the guy who bought it was doing up other cars, one he prioritised was a Monaro (obvious reason he wanted that done first) and he pretty much didnt do much with this one, except he obviously found a door and boot and a few bits he put on. It is cool how I have 2 other rego papers for different cars too, which means this guy had a small fleet by 1973, so he was heavily involved in the taxi game by looks of it.

[EffCee]

Well done on your find, you have been really lucky with this, particularly finding the taxi meter that came from the car!

Keith

[fe350chev]

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/47569082?searchTerm=%22181%20pirie%20street%22%20&searchLimits=l-availability=y|||l-australian=y

Took me ages, hours in fact but i found this in an online newspaper, a 1954 advert for Black and White Taxi's! This was the company headquarters where company cabs run from.

[FCRB26]

Just a question.

Are you still married or divorced?