The Birch diesel taxi.An interesting story unfolded. As a result of this website, in 2004 I was contacted by Bill Munro (a writer and an historian) who was researching for a book he was then writing "A Century of London Taxis" (now published - see below) and an article entitled "For Hire" in the February/March 2004 edition of Triumph World magazine (No.54). He kindly sent me details of what was destined to become the first purpose built London taxi with a diesel engine.
All the following information has been provided by Bill Munro. Except where noted, all photographs and advertisements have been kindly provided by Derek Pearce and Bill Munro.
The story, that is more detailed in Bill's book and the magazine article, is as follows:
John Birch of Birch Brothers (bus/coach and taxi operators based in Kentish Town, North London) operated a fleet of Austin taxis. In 1951 John Birch was engaged in replacing his pre-war cabs with the petrol engined Austin FX3s when he came across the Ferguson tractor diesel engine (which was a conversion from the Vanguard petrol engine). Realising the performance advantages of diesel (the Austin petrol engines gave only 18mpg) he contacted Standard and eventually bought a considerable number of the Ferguson engines to convert his Austin FX3 fleet to diesel.
But John Birch also felt (Bill believes since he can find no correspondence to clarify) that the FX3 was too old fashioned; the FX3 having three doors, cart springs, pre-war styling and rod operated brakes So he went back to Standard and asked them to supply a chassis for a new type of cab to be powered by the Ferguson diesel engine. The chassis for the vehicle (which was a modified Standard Vanguard), was duly delivered to Birch Brothers in December 1953 and immediately passed to Park Royal Vehicles for the bodywork.
Austin did not develop their own diesel engine for use in the FX3 until late 1954 and so this establishes the Birch vehicle (SJJ 111) to be the first purpose built London taxi with a diesel engine.
The Birch diesel taxi.
And
this is the very taxi for which my father, Alfred Hill, designed the bodywork!
Not only was it the first diesel powered London taxi, but it was also the first cab with four doors to be licensed in London. The layout was unconventional, in that three passengers sat on the rear seat and the fourth sat alongside the driver facing rearwards. This required the luggage compartment, hitherto more usually placed next to the driver, to be consigned to a rear compartment accessed by a full height nearside door. Other unusual features for the time was the absence of a nearside front door and a roof mounted 'For Hire' sign. Despite the strange layout, a Commercial Vehicle Test carried out by Modern Transport magazine seemingly praised the 'Bold Design of the Birch Taxicab' for its 'improved appearance, comfort and economy'.
The only known picture of the
Birch Taxi in service (Photo: Owen Woodliffe)
Modern Transport Magazine article on the Birch Taxi
Although there was an aim to put the vehicle into production, sadly only the one prototype was built (PRV Body No. B38707 Ed.). Standard changed to unit construction and that was at least one reason for its unfortunate abandonment. Another reason was the eventual arrival of the Austin FX4 that was a more modern vehicle, despite some arguable faults.
Being a prototype for evaluation purposes the Birch taxi was only intended to operate for six months. Despite this it stayed in service for four years, following its license by the PCO in December '55, after which it became the inspector's vehicle based at Birch Bros. Henlow Camp garage.
The advertisement for the Birch diesel conversion of the
FX3.
Click Here for the full advertisement text of page 2
This is currently the only known photograph of the Ferguson four cylinder diesel engine mounted in
the Birch converted FX3 (from my father's archive)!
An excellent book by Bill Munro entitled "A Century of London Taxis";
Currently out-of-print but click the image to access Bill Munro's website or the text to search Google.
The Unofficial Austin Rover Web Resource article "Pretenders to the Crown" has a piece on the Birch Taxi! It is just above half way down the page.
The Unofficial Austin Rover Web Resource
Visit the London Taxi Web Site! It contains a note about the Birch Taxi!
The London Taxi - Taxicab History
Visit the London Vintage Taxi Association Web Site!
The London Vintage Taxi Association
Read these excellent articles about Birch Brothers!
Birch Brothers History by Peter Gould
