Airflow Taxi
I always loved the Chrysler Airflow; this is a 1935, made in Portgual by Rex Toys. It's 4-1/2 inches long.
My collection of taxicab memorabilia - click on each photo to view it.
I always loved the Chrysler Airflow; this is a 1935, made in Portgual by Rex Toys. It's 4-1/2 inches long.
A metal toy with the marking "Barclay", made in the U.S. These show up occasionally at flea markets. It's three inches long. Mine's in tough shape, but mint-condition ones command some very serious prices.
Some people have recreation rooms where they can display their collections. I don't. So I figured, if you're going to be sitting there anyway, why not have something to see? And so my taxi collection is almost entirely stuffed into the bathroom, which is finished in the appropriate shade of yellow, with checkerboard trim.
What I wouldn't have given for one of these when I was driving. It's a 1957 Chevrolet, made by Jada Toys, and is part of a series of "Battle Machine" toy cars. It's 3-1/2 inches long. The license plate reads T1BCKL3, an obvious pun on the Travis Bickle character in the movie "Taxi Driver."
Another Beetle taxi by Vitesse, in different trim. This time the license plate properly reads "Rio de Janeiro."
Badges from Nepean, Ontario show up frequently at flea markets, and I have three of them. These were what drivers used to get as licenses.
In 1971, Nepean went from a bronze-colored shield to this pointed chrome one.
A Toronto taxi driver's license badge from 1967. I briefly dated its owner and he gave it to me as a gift.
I know nothing about this badge other than it was neat enough for me to buy it. It says "W. L. Branch Cab 1," and the cab -- which looks like a 1948 Dodge -- just has "Taxi" written on the door.
I admired this for several years at Hershey and finally shelled out the $70 for it. It says "Yellow Cab Safe Driver" and the number one.
The bottom reads, "Ian Logan's Carlectables, designed and distributed by Ian Logan Ltd., made in England for Keller Charles of Philadelphia." Beyond that, I have no idea if it's anything more than a fancy tin box!
I think I bought this at a flea market. It's a ceramic 1950 Chevrolet, but there are no markings on it. It's four inches long.
Along the lines of a Limoges box, with a hinge that opens it up. It's 3-1/2 inches long and is definitely hand-painted, but there are no markings of any sort on the bottom or inside.
A Checker cab, four inches long. According to the markings, it's made in China, and is "Number Sixteen In A Series Of Vintage Vehicles From Ertl."
The back of this lighter reads, "Broadway 6-5000". It's made in Japan and the company name is Kupper. I bought this in Hershey and I think I paid $50 for it.
I bought this at a Target store in Pennsylvania. When you press the button, it makes the sound of a car crash, and then says, "Where to?"
A vehicle information plate from a Checker. These cars were built in Kalamazoo, but there wasn't any shipping available to Canada. I drove a few taxis for the country's sole importer; when he had enough orders, he'd send a van of drivers to Michigan, and they'd drive them back. I was scheduled to go on the next run, but before enough orders came in, Checker folded.
A little plastic Checker, about 1-1/2 inches long. If memory serves, this was a toy in a Kinder Surprise egg.
A left-hand-drive 1939 Chevrolet, badged as an Australian taxi, made in England. The bottom says "Days Gone - Model Manufactured by Lledo PLC Enfield." It's 3-1/2 inches long.
Another 1939 Chevrolet by Lledo under the "Days Gone" imprint, made in England. Very surprisingly, the license plate is from Alberta, and there's a CDN tag on the trunk.
A 1995 Chevrolet Caprice, made by Johnny Lightning in China. It's surprising well-detailed. The rates, which are normally on the door, have been stuck onto the back windows.
A 1995 Chevrolet Caprice, running in the colors of Checker Cab. It's by Road Champs and is 5 inches long.
A Corgi Chevrolet Caprice Classic, five and a half inches long. The rooflight reads "Think TWA", while a bumper sticker on the trunk says, "Don't Tailgate." The fare is 75 cents for the first 1/7 mile, 10 cents each extra 1/7 mile. The car is made in Great Britain. It had a whip antenna on the front fender at one time, but it's broken off.
A New York City Chevrolet Caprice, made by Golden in China. It's three inches long.
A Road Champs Chevrolet Caprice, part of a set of various cab company markings. This one's a generic New York City model.
A Chevrolet Impala taxi, made by Majorette in France. I have yet to figure out why a car with California license plates would be carrying an advertisement for the Bronx Zoo.
A 2000 Chevrolet Impala, made in China by Road Champs. It's 4-1/2 inches long and the front doors and trunk open. A sticker on the trunk warns that "School's Open." It also appears to have a manual stick shift on the floor.
A 2000 Chevrolet Impala, made by Maisto, with opening hood. It doesn't have a meter, but it does have a complicated console that looks like it might contain a police scanner. I suspect that the company put a different light on top and also sold it as a cop car.
A "Metro Taxi," otherwise unmarked except that it's made in China. The doors and trunk open.
Somebody better call Maaco. This unusual 1966 Chevrolet taxi is made in Israel; the marking on the bottom says "Cragstan Detroit Senior." It's 4-1/2 inches long and the trunk opens.
A child's toy molded in flexible plastic, made in Thailand. It was probably part of a set, as it's got a hitch that lets you join several together, like a train.
The Chrysler 300, as envisioned by Dub. It's made in China by Jada Toys and is three inches long.
1948 Chrysler Windsor Taxi, made by Solido in France. It's about five inches long.
A little plastic Citroen, about an inch long. Tiny writing on the bottom reveals it's from China and appears to be made by "Unrise."
One of a series of cars, packaged in retro-style boxes, made a few years ago for sale in gift shops. The company's based in Virginia but the car is made in China. It's 4-1/2 inches long.
A Corgi Mercedes-Benz 240D. There's no date, but it's made in England, and is six inches long.
