MUNCLE MIKES · CASTING GUIDE
Cockney CabFront fenders and rear panels tell the story
Cockney Cab has the upright cabin of a London taxi and an engine that looks anything but ready for a quiet fare. To sort its early versions, turn from that exposed engine to the small body details at each end.
The front fender is a useful starting point
Howard Rees designed the London-taxi-based Cockney Cab for 1971. It was made in the United States and Hong Kong. Both have black interiors; US glazing is clear and Hong Kong glazing is blue.
The Hong Kong front fender dips beneath the headlights. Ask for a low front view if that area is hidden in a photograph. Color and country lettering help, but the shape provides another detail to compare.
Turn the taxi around
The Hong Kong rear has grooved boot detail, while the US version has a license-plate feature. Rear-window shapes also differ, though they are a less decisive clue. These details are easier to judge in a straight rear view than at an angle.
The Union Jack sticker belongs at the rear. Check whether it is worn, missing or replaced, and say which condition you can actually establish. A tidy reproduction sticker does not make the rest of the car unrestored.
A tall roof leaves plenty of exposed edges
Look along the roof corners, window surrounds and running boards for chips or repairs. Check the wheels from both sides so a bent axle does not disappear behind the tall body.
Mexican CIPSA production is also documented. An unusual finish alone is not enough to assign a loose example to it; that identification needs its own supporting details.
Compare current loose examples by the actual body, base and sticker condition.
