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Citroën TA 11 BL
Unveiled at the 1934 Paris Motor Show, the Traction Avant was the first Citroën design revolution. Produced from 1934 to 1957, it has influenced manufacturers the world over, though Americans remained resolutely attached to rear drive. Citroën was the first manufacturer to control front traction technology and to popularize the use of it. A true technical revolution, Traction was the work of two larger-than-life characters guided by a common desire for innovation and originality; André Citroën and André Lefebvre. The first brought industrial resource and financiers, and the second technical skills.
Austin FX3 - London Taxi Cab
Long before Manganese Bronze started building London's cabs, the first of the famous line of taxis was Austin. Revealed at the London Motor Show in 1948, the FX3 came equipped with folding seats to accommodate five passengers, including a reserved space for luggage. This car also had a separation in the cockpit for the driver, a tight turning radius and a virtually indestructible engine.
Yellow Cab Model 06
This taxi is one of the pioneers of the famous Yellow Cab company, created by John Hertz. The color was chosen following a study conducted by the University of Chicago, which determined it was the most visible from afar. In 1925, Yellow Cab Co. - the largest manufacturer of taxis in the world - was sold to General Motors, which continued to build vehicles under the Yellow marque until 1929, before changing the name to General. The General was built on a light truck chassis with a body by Fisher Body Co.
Gaz Volga M21
The Gaz Volga was one of the most symbolic cars of the ex-Soviet Union. The first Gaz vehicles were produced in Gorki, Russia, in a factory created in 1929 by the Soviet government under the name ‘Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod' or ‘Machine Automobile of Gorky'. The Gaz line was reserved for members of the government and senior officials of the Communist party, while Lada and Moskvich were available to the mainstream market. But Gaz also provided the large Soviet metropolises with their taxi fleets. Yellow in Moscow and white in Saint Petersburg, the choice of the colors was interesting: could the yellow be a nod to Checker of New York despite the Cold War, or was visibility in the snow taken into account? But if the latter, why were they white in Saint Petersburg?
Tuk Tuk TT 350 SD
Intended for goods transport and launched in 1960, the Tuk Tuk quickly acquired popular status as the taxi of the city. The compact size was ideal for Bangkok, where it was able to sift through congested roads. Its accommodation was minimal, fitting only two passengers and a driver, but the basic package has proved successful, and this model of taxi is still used in Asia. The Tuk Tuk on show at the Salon was bought new in Thailand in 1989 by its current owner.
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