top of page
Dublo Dinky Toys
067 Austin Taxi
Dublo Dinky 067 Austin Taxi

Issued 1959-1966   1:76 scale   OO/HO gauge

No collection of diecast toys would be complete without a taxi and Dinky based their Dublo model on the Austin London Taxi, the FX3, which dated from 1948 to 1958. Rather surprisingly, they coloured the model in blue and cream which contrasted with the universal colour of black for the real vehicles.

 

The Taxi model was a departure from the previous Dublo construction and followed the method of larger Dinky Toys in having a separate body and cast base riveted together. The base section included the interior of the model and the driver, and provided the holders for the axles and it was always painted matt black with the only addition sometimes being a touch of pink on the face of the driver. Underneath 'Dublo Dinky Toys Austin Taxi Made in England' was included in the casting.

 

In addition to the bright blue & cream colour of the body, the taxi had silver trim added to the centre of the grille, the headlights, front and rear bumpers, the front number plate, and sometimes even on the little radiator cab above the grille. On the roof a 'Taxi' decal was fitted to the roof sign.

 

Two types of wheels were used on the Taxi, treaded grey plastic at first, and later treaded black plastic. It is claimed that models with smooth grey plastic wheels exist but their authenticity has not been established.

The Taxi was sold in the bright yellow type 1 Dublo box with the model pictured on two sides, and later in a red & yellow one without illustrations.

 

In February 1964 Meccano, makers of Dublo, was rescued from financial collapse by Tri-ang who continued production of the Austin Taxi but it was finally withdrawn in 1966.

Finding examples of the Austin Taxi is not difficult although the variation with black wheels in the later box is scarce.

Dublo Dinky 067 Austin Taxi
Dublo Dinky 067 Austin Taxi

Dublo 067 Taxi variation 1: treaded grey plastic wheels

Dublo Dinky Toys 067 Austin Taxi

All variations were painted two-tone blue & cream with black interior & base

1. GREY treaded plastic wheels

2. BLACK treaded plastic wheels

Yellow picture box or plain red/yellow box

Dublo Dinky 067 Austin Taxi
Dublo Dinky 067 Austin Taxi

Dublo 067 London Taxi variation 2: Black plastic wheels

The real Austin FX3 London Taxi

Nicholas Martin Diecast
Benbros, Morestone & Budgie Vintage Toys
Britains Lilliput Vehicles   Kemlows Sentry Box   Dublo Dinky Toys

Abbreviations used on Nicholas Martin Diecast

   

  • umw - unpainted metal wheels

  • pmw - painted metal wheels

  • pw    - plastic wheels

  • gpw  - grey plastic wheels

  • spw  - silver plastic wheels

  • bpw  - black plastic wheels

  • sp     - silver plastic

  • um    - unpainted metal

  • id.     - maker's identification

  • w/wo - with or without

 

 Most images on model pages will enlarge with a click

bottom of page