Carbodies
Encyclopedia
Carbodies LImited is a British company based at Holyhead Road, Coventry. It started business as a coachbuilder
, and now, as The London Taxi Company
is best known for its production of London taxicabs.
and Alvis Cars
. The scale of a new contract to build bodies for the MG M-Type Midget
meant that they needed larger premises and in 1928, they moved to a larger site on Holyhead Road, where they remain to this day. In the 1930s, they supplied bodies for Rover, Invicta
and Railton
, but by far their biggest and most important customer in that decade was the Rootes Group.
During World War II
the company made bodies for military vehicles. They also acquired press tools through the Lend-Lease
scheme, which enabled them to make aircraft components. Carbodies also became a limited company at this time, with Bobby Jones as governing director and his son, Ernest Jones managing director.
to make bodies for the Austin FX3
taxi as well as finishing and delivering the complete vehicles. They also developed a system for turning modern all-steel saloon cars into convertibles. This work was carried out on the early unit construction Hillman Minx
, the Austin Somerset and Hereford
, the Ford Mk1 Consul
and Zephyr
and, later the Mk2 Ford Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac.
In 1954, Bobby Jones sold Carbodies to the BSA group
, who put it under the control of their prestige car company, Daimler
. Although it was intended for Carbodies to become the manufacturing plant for Daimler steel bodies, this was never fulfilled. They did, however convert the Conquest
saloon into a drophead
, using the same methods they used on Fords and Austin and also made a drophead coupe body for the Daimler Conquest Roadster and made bodies for the Daimler Majestic
and Majestic Major
saloons.
Under BSA, manufacturing facilities were extended and more plant installed. In 1958, Carbodies began manufacturing the body and carrying out the assembly, finishing and delivery of the most important vehicle in their history, the Austin FX4 taxi
. Carbodies also supplied prototype bodies and tooling, projects including the Jaguar E-type
bonnet and panels for Triumph, Ariel
and BSA motorcycles and scooters.
Further contracts undertaken during the 1960s and early 1970s were the conversion of Humber Hawk
and Super Snipe
, Singer Vogue
and Triumph 2000
saloons into estate cars
, but gradually, as contract work on private cars and commercial vehicles fell away, the FX4 taxi would become more important for the company.
In the 1970s, Carbodies tried to make a new taxi of their own, the FX5, but it was abandoned in 1979 because the development costs were too high. 1982 saw Carbodies take responsibility for the complete manufacture of the FX4 taxicab, when British Leyland had finally lost interest in it. By this time, the FX4 was the company's only product, despite attempts to introduce new lines, such as a Ford Cortina MkV convertible and the Range Rover
Unitruck. A new model of taxi, the CR6, based on a Range Rover bodyshell was abandoned after almost five years of development.
In 1984, the London taxicab dealer Mann & Overton was bought by Manganese Bronze Holdings Plc. This acquisition resulted in the formation of London Taxis International, comprising LTI Carbodies, LTI Mann and Overton and London Taxi Finance.
In 1997, a new model of taxicab, the TX1
was introduced. This was updated as the TXII
in 2002, and in 2007 as the present model, the TX4
. This series has established LTI Vehicles as a worldwide supplier of London-type taxis.
In 1998 the name Carbodies Limited was dropped and the company was renamed LTI Limited and re-branded to The London Taxi Company in Nov 2010. In recent times The London Taxi Company set up a partnership with Chinese car maker Geely Automotive, building a factory in Shanghai to manufacture London taxis for the export market and to supply components to the home factory in Coventry. In 2010 the name Mann and Overton was dropped and the dealership now also trades as The London Taxi Company.
Coachbuilder
A coachbuilder is a manufacturer of bodies for carriages or automobiles.The trade dates back several centuries. Rippon was active in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, Barker founded in 1710 by an officer in Queen Anne's Guards, Brewster a relative newcomer , formed in 1810. Others in Britain included...
, and now, as The London Taxi Company
Manganese Bronze Holdings
Manganese Bronze Holdings PLC is an engineering company based in Coventry, England. Since the sale of its components division in 2003 the company has only one operating division—LTI Limited, trading as The London Taxi Company—which manufactures and retails London Black Taxis.The London...
is best known for its production of London taxicabs.
History
The business began in 1919, when Robert 'Bobby' Jones, a former general manager at coachbuilder Hollick and Pratt took over the coachbuilding operations of his then employer, timber merchants Gooderhams and set up in business in premises acquired from Thomas Pass in West Orchard, Coventry.Standardised Coachwork
Rather than make bespoke bodies to individual designs, Carbodies set out to produce coachwork to a number of standardised designs for car companies that did not have their own coachbuilding facilities. Their first major customers during the 1920s were MGMG (car)
The MG Car Company is a former British sports car manufacturer founded in the 1920s by Cecil Kimber. Best known for its two-seat open sports cars, MG also produced saloons and coupés....
and Alvis Cars
Alvis Cars
Alvis Car and Engineering Company Ltd was a British manufacturing company that existed in Coventry, England from 19191967. In addition to automobiles designed for the civilian market, the company also produced racing cars, aircraft engines, armoured cars and other armoured fighting vehicles, the...
. The scale of a new contract to build bodies for the MG M-Type Midget
MG M-type
The MG M-type was produced by the MG Car company from April 1929 to 1932. It was sometimes referred to as the 8/33. Launched at the 1928 London Motor Show when the sales of the larger MG saloons was faultering because of the economic climate, the small car brought MG ownership to a new sector of...
meant that they needed larger premises and in 1928, they moved to a larger site on Holyhead Road, where they remain to this day. In the 1930s, they supplied bodies for Rover, Invicta
Invicta (car)
Invicta is a British automobile manufacturer. The brand has been available intermittently through successive decades. Initially, the manufacturer was based in Cobham, Surrey, England from 1925 to 1933, then in Chelsea, London, England from 1933 to 1938 and finally in Virginia Water, Surrey, England...
and Railton
Railton (car)
Railton was a British car maker based in Cobham, Surrey between 1933 and 1940. There was an attempt to revive the marque by a new company between 1989 and 1994 in Alcester, Warwickshire....
, but by far their biggest and most important customer in that decade was the Rootes Group.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the company made bodies for military vehicles. They also acquired press tools through the Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease was the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, Free France, and other Allied nations with materiel between 1941 and 1945. It was signed into law on March 11, 1941, a year and a half after the outbreak of war in Europe in...
scheme, which enabled them to make aircraft components. Carbodies also became a limited company at this time, with Bobby Jones as governing director and his son, Ernest Jones managing director.
Taxicabs, Convertibles, Daimlers and other Postwar Vehicles
After the war Carbodies negotiated with London taxi dealer Mann and Overton and AustinAustin Motor Company
The Austin Motor Company was a British manufacturer of automobiles. The company was founded in 1905 and merged in 1952 into the British Motor Corporation Ltd. The marque Austin was used until 1987...
to make bodies for the Austin FX3
Austin FX3
The Austin FX3 was a taxicab designed to comply with the Metropolitan Police Conditions of Fitness for London taxicabs, but was used in other towns and cities in the United Kingdom...
taxi as well as finishing and delivering the complete vehicles. They also developed a system for turning modern all-steel saloon cars into convertibles. This work was carried out on the early unit construction Hillman Minx
Hillman Minx
The Hillman Minx was a series of middle-sized family cars produced under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group between 1932 and 1970...
, the Austin Somerset and Hereford
Austin A70
The Austin A70 Hampshire and later Austin A70 Hereford are large cars which were produced by the Austin Motor Company of Britain from 1948 until 1954...
, the Ford Mk1 Consul
Ford Consul
The Ford Consul is a car manufactured by Ford in Britain.Between 1951 and 1962 the Consul was the four-cylinder base model of the three-model Ford Zephyr range, comprising Consul, Zephyr and Zephyr Zodiac...
and Zephyr
Ford Zephyr
The Ford Zephyr was a car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United Kingdom. Between 1950 and 1972, it was sold as a more powerful six-cylinder saloon to complement the four-cylinder Ford Consul: from 1962 the Zephyr itself was offered in both four- and six-cylinder versions.The Zephyr...
and, later the Mk2 Ford Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac.
In 1954, Bobby Jones sold Carbodies to the BSA group
Birmingham Small Arms Company
This article is not about Gamo subsidiary BSA Guns Limited of Armoury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B11 2PP or BSA Company or its successors....
, who put it under the control of their prestige car company, Daimler
Daimler Motor Company
The Daimler Motor Company Limited was an independent British motor vehicle manufacturer founded in London by H J Lawson in 1896, which set up its manufacturing base in Coventry. The right to the use of the name Daimler had been purchased simultaneously from Gottlieb Daimler and Daimler Motoren...
. Although it was intended for Carbodies to become the manufacturing plant for Daimler steel bodies, this was never fulfilled. They did, however convert the Conquest
Daimler Conquest
The Daimler Conquest was made in the following models:*Daimler Conquest Saloon , *Daimler Conquest Roadster , *Daimler Conquest Century Saloon ,...
saloon into a drophead
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
, using the same methods they used on Fords and Austin and also made a drophead coupe body for the Daimler Conquest Roadster and made bodies for the Daimler Majestic
Daimler Majestic
The Daimler Majestic 101 was launched by the Daimler Motor Company of Coventry in July 1958 and was in production until 1962. The six cylinder, four door saloon, with new three speed Borg Warner automatic transmission, power steering and four-wheel disc brakes, vacuum-servo assisted, was very...
and Majestic Major
Daimler Majestic Major
The Daimler Majestic Major was a large executive saloon made by Daimler in Coventry between 1959 and 1968, using a 4,561 cc V8 engine and offered as a much more powerful supplement to their then current Daimler Majestic....
saloons.
Under BSA, manufacturing facilities were extended and more plant installed. In 1958, Carbodies began manufacturing the body and carrying out the assembly, finishing and delivery of the most important vehicle in their history, the Austin FX4 taxi
Austin FX4
The FX4 is the classic Black Cab. While the majority are black, there is in fact no requirement for them, or indeed any other make of London taxi to be black. Over the years, the FX4 has been sold under a number of different makers' names.-Design and launch:...
. Carbodies also supplied prototype bodies and tooling, projects including the Jaguar E-type
Jaguar E-type
The Jaguar E-Type or XK-E is a British automobile, manufactured by Jaguar between 1961 and 1975. Its combination of good looks, high performance, and competitive pricing established the marque as an icon of 1960s motoring...
bonnet and panels for Triumph, Ariel
Ariel Motorcycles
Ariel Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer based in Bournbrook, Birmingham. It was one of the leading innovators in British motorcycling, and was part of the Ariel marque. The company was sold to BSA in 1944 and the name was discontinued in 1970...
and BSA motorcycles and scooters.
Further contracts undertaken during the 1960s and early 1970s were the conversion of Humber Hawk
Humber Hawk
The Humber Hawk was a large four-cylinder saloon produced by the British-based Humber car company, part of the Rootes Group.-Humber Hawk Mk I & II:...
and Super Snipe
Humber Super Snipe
The Humber Super Snipe was a car produced by the British-based Humber car company, part of the Rootes Group, from 1938 to 1967.-Pre-war Super Snipe:...
, Singer Vogue
Singer Vogue
The Singer Vogue name has been applied to two generations of motor cars from the British manufacturer the Rootes Group , using the Singer marque....
and Triumph 2000
Triumph 2000
The Triumph 2000 is a mid-sized, rear wheel drive automobile which was produced in Coventry by the Triumph Motor Company between 1963 and 1977. Larger-engined models, known as the Triumph 2.5 PI and Triumph 2500 were also produced.-Engine:...
saloons into estate cars
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
, but gradually, as contract work on private cars and commercial vehicles fell away, the FX4 taxi would become more important for the company.
Manganese Bronze Holdings Plc and London Taxis International
In 1971 Carbodies bought the FX4 chassis assembly line from British Leyland's Adderley Park, Birmingham factory and moved it to Coventry, making them complete manufacturers of the FX4, in actuality if not in name. Two years later, Carbodies was bought, along with parent company BSA by Manganese Bronze Holdings.In the 1970s, Carbodies tried to make a new taxi of their own, the FX5, but it was abandoned in 1979 because the development costs were too high. 1982 saw Carbodies take responsibility for the complete manufacture of the FX4 taxicab, when British Leyland had finally lost interest in it. By this time, the FX4 was the company's only product, despite attempts to introduce new lines, such as a Ford Cortina MkV convertible and the Range Rover
Range Rover
The Range Rover is a large luxury four-wheel drive sport utility vehicle produced by British car maker Land Rover. The model, launched in 1970, is now in its third generation...
Unitruck. A new model of taxi, the CR6, based on a Range Rover bodyshell was abandoned after almost five years of development.
In 1984, the London taxicab dealer Mann & Overton was bought by Manganese Bronze Holdings Plc. This acquisition resulted in the formation of London Taxis International, comprising LTI Carbodies, LTI Mann and Overton and London Taxi Finance.
In 1997, a new model of taxicab, the TX1
TX1
This is about the taxi in London. For the camera see Canon PowerShot TX-1. For the video game, see TX-1 .TX1 is a Hackney carriage introduced by London Taxis International in 1997 and designed to replace the aging Austin FX4...
was introduced. This was updated as the TXII
TXII
The TXII is a hackney carriage manufactured by LTI. It is the second model following the modernisation and re-design of the London taxi which began with the TX1...
in 2002, and in 2007 as the present model, the TX4
TX4
The TX4 is a purpose built taxicab manufactured by Manganese Bronze Holdings / LTC The London Taxi Company, formerly LTI London Taxis International. It is the latest in a long line of purpose-built taxis manufactured by LTC...
. This series has established LTI Vehicles as a worldwide supplier of London-type taxis.
In 1998 the name Carbodies Limited was dropped and the company was renamed LTI Limited and re-branded to The London Taxi Company in Nov 2010. In recent times The London Taxi Company set up a partnership with Chinese car maker Geely Automotive, building a factory in Shanghai to manufacture London taxis for the export market and to supply components to the home factory in Coventry. In 2010 the name Mann and Overton was dropped and the dealership now also trades as The London Taxi Company.