Call Sign Feb 08

Call Sign February 2008 Page 18
DaC’s Mohamed
M&O archivist Sue Hughes with Mo as
they look up the record of VNF 150
For most Dial-a-Cab drivers, their taxi
is a working vehicle they drive most
days and replace every few years.
Rarely do owners become so
attached or emotionally involved
with their vehicle that they heap
huge quantities of tender loving care
onto it or have the desire to restore it
to its former glory - especially fifty
years on! But regular readers will
recall Mohamed Abed-Alaziz (N09)
and his tussle with the AA, when
their patrolman damaged Mo’s cab
and he took them to court. In a
robustly presented case, he won the
day and with equal dedication and
unending enthusiasm, Mo told Call
Sign of his love affair with Victoria,
Manchester’s oldest and only surviving
FX3 taxi from 50 years ago…
“My story starts back in 1997 when I first set
eyes on an Austin FX3 taxi. I was so impressed
that I wanted immediately to own one. All
through the Knowledge, I dreamed of having
my badge and owning one of these rare and
historic vehicles.
It was 2001 when I first saw this lovely looking
cab on eBay. The vehicle was described as
starts and runs. I couldn’t sleep for thinking
about it, asking myself if it was the right time
to buy one. Although my wife wasn’t keen on
the idea, I went ahead and bought the taxi –
Victoria – and brought it home from Dorking.
I joined the London Vintage Taxi
Association (LVTA) and soon discovered that
I had a lot of work ahead of me. The Chairman
at the time was DaC’s Keith White (A16).
Everything on my FX3 was rusty except for the
chassis. I visited a fellow member of the club
and discovered that many parts were missing
from Victoria. Then began the hunt to find the
much sought after parts needed to restore her.
I remember one occasion finishing taxi
work on a Sunday at 2am and deciding to
head for Cornwall to pick up some parts - not
exactly round the corner! Parts were hunted
for with vigour in auto jumbles, shows, eBay,
magazines - and enthusiast Anthony
Blackman! Never discouraged, I was determined
to bring Victoria back to life. After all,
she’d clocked hundreds of thousands of miles.
When I bought her, the seller told me I’d
in FX3 Victory!
Manchester’s oldest cab returns thanks to Mo..
Proudly back to her original best - Victoria, Manchester’s FX3
have no problem getting registration documents
from the DVLA. I soon found out it was
far more complicated than that. It became a
lengthy battle with the DVLA to retain
Victoria’s identity by means of the original registration
number (VNF 150). It was important
to me, a part of her history. After all, Victoria
was the only surviving vehicle off the
Manchester rank where she began her career.
The body of the vehicle was supplied
direct from the Austin Motor Company -
Carbodies Ltd for the provincial market -
to Manchester (she ended her career in
Glasgow). The DVLA would not accept
supporting evidence - an article from the
Manchester Gazette, letters from the LVTA,
Lord Montague of Beaulieu, my local MP,
M&O, the Austin Motor Company, the
founder of the LVTA and the Manchester
Owner Drivers Association.
After all this support, numerous letters and
communications to retain Victoria's identity,
even accepting an age related number in the
interim - after 50 years they wanted to change
her identity - the battle continued. I sometimes
felt like giving up, but with full support and
dedication from one of the LVTA founders,
Derek Pearce, victory was eventually ours and
the DVLA decided to grant us Victoria’s original
registration! Since 1978, Derek Pearce has
played an important role in the London taxi’s
preservation and his assistance was invaluable.
At the same time, my work on Victoria
became complete. Taxis such as these are not
like any car, they have worked for a living.
They feed families and play a very important
role in people’s lives. Every nut, every bolt,
every part and every bit of work done on her
was like a vocation. She also took hours and
hours of welding and the ‘lady’ is now
absolutely rust free.
The result is a beautiful cab with a history
to be proud of. The cab had cost £975 from
new and is special because it was supplied
direct to Manchester. Most cabs begin their
working life in London and end their lives in
the provinces. This is the only surviving one
with a Manchester plate and that’s why it was
so important to preserve her identity.
If Victoria could talk, I am sure she would
have so many stories to tell. One, for example
involves an old penny that had dropped
between the toolbox and luggage compartment.
It remained there for many years. Who
dropped it? Maybe it was your grandfather!
I am now the proud owner of 3 historic taxis
and they have become a huge part of my life,
but part of the reason I decided to write this
story is to thank the people who contributed to
bringing Victoria back to her former glory, as
without that help she could not be as she was
before. It took time patience and persistence.
So I sincerely thank the following:
One of the LVTA’s founders, Derek Pearce;
Anthony Blackman who provided me with
guidance, parts and his knowledge for detail;
Bob McPhail for his help with parts and
advice: Danny Stephens for his marvellous
electrical and mechanical work; current LVTA
Chairman Doug Cheshire; Sue Hughes from
M&O’s archives dept; Lord Montague of
Beaulieu; George Simms of the Manchester
Taxi Owners and Drivers Association and Mal
Smith for parts and guidance…”
And from Call Sign, well done Mo. The
AA had no chance against you…!