Carbodies#Carbodies' MGs
{{Short description|English car manufacturing company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{for|the successor company|London EV Company}}
{{for|information on its parent company from 1973 to 2012|Manganese Bronze Holdings}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Carbodies
| logo =
| former_name = London Taxis International
The London Taxi Company
| type = Private
| traded_as =
| industry = Automotive
| fate = In liquidation
| predecessor =
| successor = London EV Company
| founded = 1919
| founder = Robert Jones
| defunct = 2013
| hq_location_city = Coventry
| hq_location_country = England
| products ={{ubl
|Car bodies (1919–1971)
|Assembly of Austin taxi bodies (1948– )
|Complete Taxis (1982–2013)
}}
| owner = {{ubl
|Robert Jones (1919–1954)
|BSA Group (1954–1973)
|{{nowrap|Manganese Bronze Holdings (1973–2013)}}
}}
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year =
| parent =
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20090201151651/http://www.lti.co.uk/ www.lti.co.uk (archived snapshot)]
}}
Carbodies was a taxi design and manufacturing company based in Coventry, England. In its latter years it also traded as London Taxis International and The London Taxi Company.
It operated a coachbuilding business on Holyhead Road, Coventry. After half a century making short runs of limited demand bodies for major manufacturers it was obliged to replace these now moribund activities and in 1971 took from its former customer and supplier of taxi chassis, Austin, the manufacture of complete London taxicabs. Two years later was bought by Manganese Bronze Holdings.
Rebranded as The London Taxi Company in October 2010, it was placed in administration in October 2012, with certain assets purchased by Geely to form what is now the London EV Company.
History
The origins of The London Taxi Company can be traced to 1919, when Robert 'Bobby' Jones, a former general manager at coachbuilder Hollick & 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.David Thoms, Tom Donnelly, The Motor Car Industry in Coventry since the 1890s Croom-Helm 1985 {{ISBN|0-7099-2456-9}}
=1919–1954=
==Standardised Coachwork==
File:Hillman Minx sports tourer manufactured 1934 1185 cc.JPG sports tourer 1934]]
File:Hilman 1947.jpg drophead coupé 1947]]
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 MG 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. In 1943, Carbodies also became a limited company at this time, with Bobby Jones as governing director and his son, Ernest Jones managing director.[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company//00382553 Companies House extract company no 382553] Companies House
==Taxicabs, Convertibles, Daimlers and other Postwar Vehicles==
After the war, Carbodies negotiated with London taxi dealer Mann & Overton and Austin to make bodies for the Austin FX3 taxi, introduced in 1948, as well as finishing and delivering the complete vehicles. More than 7,000 FX3s, mainly destined for London, were produced over 10 years. 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.
=BSA ownership (1954–1973)=
In 1954, Bobby Jones sold Carbodies to the BSA Group, who put it under the control of its prestige car company, Daimler. Although it was intended for Carbodies to become the manufacturing plant for Daimler steel bodies, this was never fulfilled. It 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 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.BSA assemble taxis The Times, Wednesday, 12 May 1971; p. 18; Issue 58170; col F
=Manganese Bronze ownership (1973–2013)=
In 1973, Carbodies was included in the sale of BSA to Manganese Bronze Holdings.MBH to buy taxi group The Times, Wednesday, 11 April 1984; p. 20; Issue 61803; col F 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.
In 1982 Carbodies took responsibility for the complete manufacture of the FX4 taxicab, after British Leyland lost interest in it.Manganese Bronze boosted by exports The Times, Tuesday, 14 February 1984; p. 20; Issue 61757; col D 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. Pending the development of a new model, the FX4 was further developed and became the LTI Fairway.{{fact|date=June 2020}}
==Rebranded as London Taxis International==
In 1992 the company was rebranded London Taxis International with three divisions: LTI Carbodies, LTI Mann & Overton and London Taxi Finance.{{fact|date=June 2020}}
In 1997, a new model of taxicab, the TX1 was introduced as a successor to the FX4. Further development resulted in the launch in 2002 of the TXII, powered by a Ford Dura Torq 2.4-litre diesel engine and featuring an integral fold-down ramp for wheelchair users. It also has an intermediate step and swivel-out seat for passengers with moderate walking difficulties. For people with hearing problems it has an induction loop incorporated in the intercom system.{{fact|date=June 2020}}
In 2007 the TXII was replaced by the TX4. This series established LTI Vehicles as a worldwide supplier of London-type taxis.{{fact|date=June 2020}}
In October 2010 the London Taxis International was rebranded as The London Taxi Company. A joint venture with Chinese car maker Geely, who already held a 20% interest in the company through its Manganese Bronze shareholding, was formed to build a factory in Shanghai to manufacture London taxis for the export market and to supply components to the home factory in Coventry.[https://www.smh.com.au/business/london-taxi-parts-to-be-made-in-china-20100321-qnl8.html London taxi parts to be made in China] Sydney Morning Herald 21 March 2010[https://www.goauto.com.au/news/general-news/london-taxi-eyes-australian-market/2012-10-01/22254.html London Taxi eyes Australian market] Go Auto 1 October 2012 In 2010 the Mann & Overton trading name was dropped.{{fact|date=June 2020}}
==Administration==
{{see also|Manganese Bronze Holdings|London EV Company}}
In October 2012, following a suspension of sales due to the discovery of a serious flaw with vehicle steering components and having failed in an attempt to obtain new financing, the company was placed in voluntary administration.[https://www.bbc.com/news/business-20031436 Manganese Bronze to call in administrators] BBC News 22 October 2012{{cite news|last1=Lynch|first1=Russell|title=Manganese Bronze calls in administrators after crisis|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/manganese-bronze-calls-in-administrators-after-crisis-8222051.html|access-date=3 January 2018|publisher=Independent|date=22 October 2012}} The quite recently specified faulty steering components had been sourced from Geely supplier, Gang Yang in China.[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-20349949 Manganese Bronze taxi steering fault solution found] BBC News 15 November 2012Black cab fix on the way ‘within weeks’. The Times, Friday, 16 November 2012; pg. 59; Issue 70732
In February 2013, certain assets of The London Taxi Company were purchased from administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers by Geely.[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-21290935 Coventry taxi maker LTI sold to Chinese firm Geely for £11.4 million] BBC News 1 February 2013[https://web.archive.org/web/20171115235701/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-manganesebronze/chinas-geely-buys-black-cab-maker-manganese-bronze-idUKBRE9100BW20130201 China's Geely buys black cab maker Manganese Bronze] Reuters 1 February 2013 It continued to trade as The London Taxi Company until rebranded as the London EV Company in September 2017 developing electric commercial vehicles at a new plant near Coventry, the first into production being an electric taxicab - the LEVC TX.[https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/business/manufacturing/london-taxi-company-change-name-13314474 London Taxi Company to change its name after 69 years] Coventry Telegraph 12 July 2017
Gallery
=Carbodies' MGs=
They provided most bodies for the separate chassis cars
MHV MG 14-28 sports 1924.jpg|MG 14/28
MHV MG 14-40 saloon 1927.jpg|MG 14/40
MHV MG 18-80 Mark II coupe 1930.jpg|MG 18/80 Mark II Coupé
MG M-type 1929.jpg|MG M-type
MG C type front left.jpg|MG C-type
MG D-Type 1932.jpg|MG D-type
MG F2, Bj. 1932, Heck (2008-06-28) ret.jpg|MG F2
MHV MG J2 1933.jpg|MG J2
MG K1.jpg|MG K1
MHV MG L2 1933.jpg|MG L2
MG NB Magnette Airline Coupe.jpg|MG Magnette
'Airline' Coupé
110 ans de l'automobile au Grand Palais - MG Midget TA 'Airline' Coupé - 1936 - 010.jpg|MG Midget TA
'Airline' Coupé
File:MGA (5140646534).jpg|1956 MG AB.M.C. Claim 53 Per Cent. Ignore Strike. The Times, Tuesday, Jul 24, 1956; pg. 8; Issue 53591
=Carbodies' prewar sports bodies=
=Carbodies' postwar drophead coupés and estate cars=
1954 Ford Zephyr Mk I conv front.jpg|Ford Zephyr convertible
Ford_Consul_MkI_convertible_rear.jpg|Ford Consul convertible
Ford_Consul_204E_Convertible_rear.jpg|Ford Consul MkII convertible
Ford_Zephyr_206E_Convertible_front.jpg|Ford Zephyr MkII convertible
Alvis TA14 Carbodies DHC 1947 front.jpg|Alvis TA 14 drophead coupé
Austin A40 Somerset convertible ca 1954.jpg|Austin Somerset drophead coupé
Triumph 2000 Estate.jpg|Triumph 2000 Estate
Singer Vogue Estate License plate 1965.jpg|Singer Vogue Estate
Humber Hawk Series I Estate rear.jpg|Humber Hawk Estate
Humber Super Snipe Series V Estate front.jpg|Humber Super Snipe Estate
=Carbodies' Daimlers=
Daimler 1954.jpg|Daimler Conquest drophead coupé
1957 Daimler Conquest (Mark II) Century drophead coupe (2011-03-23) 01.jpg|Daimler Conquest Century Roadster Drophead Coupé 1955-1957
Daimler.JPG|Daimler Majestic
Daimler_7181HP_020510_CPS.jpg|Daimler Majestic Major
Daimler Conquest Century Drophead Coupe.jpg|Daimler Conquest Century Drophead Coupé
=Carbodies' taxis, hire cars and commercial vehicles=
Austin_K8_Three-Way_front.jpg|Austin K8
1957 Austin FX3.JPG|Austin taxicab FX3
London_Taxi_4.jpg|Carbodies taxicab FX4
1962 Austin FX4 London taxi.jpg|Austin FX4 1962
1965 Austin FL2 Hire Car.jpg|1965 Austin FL2 Hire Car
=LTI taxis=
1985 Austin FX4Q London taxi.jpg|1985 Austin FX4Q taxi
Carbodies Fairway in Guinness livery.jpg|1990 Fairway in Guinness livery
1995 Carbodies Fairway 95.jpg|1995 Fairway 95 London taxi
Wetzikon - Bahnhofstrasse - Wildbach 2010-07-01 12-24-20 ShiftN savagely cropped.jpg|TXII in Switzerland
2005 LTI TXII Silver Automatic 2.4 Front.jpg|TXII in United Kingdom
SHB786K - London Cab TX4 in Singapore, SMRT owned front view.jpg|TX4 in Singapore
See also
References
- Bill Munro, Carbodies: The Complete Story, Crowood, UK 1998, {{ISBN|978-1-86126-127-4}}
- London Taxi Company press releases
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category multi|Carbodies Coachwork|LTI vehicles}}
- [http://www.lvta.co.uk/ London Vintage Taxi Association]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20131105053341/http://fairwayownersclub.com/ Owners Club and Forum.]
{{Coachbuilders of the United Kingdom}}{{Automotive industry in the United Kingdom}}
Category:Coachbuilders of the United Kingdom
Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Coventry
Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom
Category:Taxis of the United Kingdom
Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1919
Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 2013
Category:1919 establishments in England
Category:2013 disestablishments in England