1959 Beardmore MKVII Paramount MKVII

For sale is a 1959 Beardmore Paramount Mk VII London Taxicab

I am listing this rare vehicle for a friend who does not know how to sell on Ebay marketplace.

This is vehicle number 380 of 656 such vehicles ever made. between 1954 and 1966. In its time. the Beardmore was considered the Rolls Royce of taxis and was made for reliability and easy serviceability. The “pre-war. 3-doors only body was the design at the time. Where the fourth door should be is a luggage well.

The first Beardmore taxis (a different model. the Mk 1) were built in 1919-1920. with the advertising slogan. “For Comfort and Speed. It's All You Need. ” By 1953. the models had evolved. and the company had a choice between a gas guzzler 6-cylinder and a more fuel efficient 4-cylinder engine they chose the 4-cylinder Ford Consul engine. The rear axle was the same type used on the Mk VII Jaguar. and the brakes were Lockheed hydraulic. also of the type supplied to Jaguar.

Beardmore's claim was that it was the lightest. most economical. purpose-built London taxi ever made. It was hand-built by craftsmen from the finest materials to ensure long life and be a sound investment. With the body being aluminum over seasoned ash. the vehicle is exceptionally light. further increasing fuel efficiency. This also has the effect of giving the steering an extremely light feel – as if it had power steering. even though it does not.

The first production model Mk VII was delivered in February. 1955. The last one made was sold in January. 1967. Production was limited to two taxis per week. with a profit of £50 per car.

History of this particular car

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-This 1959 taxi was originally purchased by a Mr. H. Shaw on July 31. 1959 and delivered on August 18. 1959

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- Vehicle number 380 of 656 ever manufactured

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- No data on when it was brought to the U. S.

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- It was owned by a gentleman in Orange County. California. who pampered it for many years. I purchased it from his wife sometime after he passed away

- Vehicle is Titled and currently registered in California. Registration is paid until June 2017

Engine

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1703 cc. 4 cylinder in-line Ford Mk 2 Consul engine water cooled. cast iron cylinder block. cast iron cylinder head with overhead valves. three-bearing crankshaft

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79. 37 mm x 76. 2 mm bore and stroke

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6. 8:1 compression ratio

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47 bhp 4. 00 rpm power

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74 lb/ft 2. 00 rpm torque

Transmission

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Manual. 3-speed plus reverse

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Column mounted shifter. mirror image (because of RHD) “3 on the tree” shift pattern

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Synchromesh on 2 nd and 3 rd gears only

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Recently rebuilt. single dry plate clutch. hydraulically operated

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Newly replaced clutch master. slave. and hose

Dimensions

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8 ft. 8 in wheelbase

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5 ft 10. 75 in height

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13 ft 10. 5 in length

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5 ft 6 in width

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4 ft 8. 75 in front track

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4 ft 8 in rear track

Running Gear

- Burman worm and nut

- Lockheed hydraulic brakes (same as on Jaguars at the time) on all four wheels. drums all around. mechanical parking brake on rear wheels all cylinders and brake lines replaced brake masters rebuilt

- I-section front axle beam

- Overhead worm drive rear axle

- Brand new Austone 175 r 16 tubeless radial tires including spare

- Longitudinal leaf springs and telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers

Electrical

- 12 v positive ground

- New battery

- All interior and exterior lights (including roof-mounted “For Hire” sign) work

Body

- Rust-free aluminum over seasoned ash (aluminum does not rust)! By comparison. the more common vintage Austin/Carbodies/LTI London taxis. being built out of steel. are rust collectors.

- Fiberglass outer front fenders (“wings”) and roof

- Chrome front grill needs a bit of welding at the very bottom but overall very good condition

- New chrome. convex. rectangular door/wing mirrors

Paint

- Looks very good and shiny for a driver but has some hairline cracks here and there will need respray to get it to top condition

Interior

- Upholstery in good condition – no rips or tears

- 2 rear-facing jump seats in the passenger compartment

Extras included with the vehicle

- Taxi meter (working)

- Coach key (for dzus fasteners on trunk and battery compartment)

- The Beardmore Guide. an owner's manual lovingly written in 2010 by two of the world's leading authorities on London Taxis

- Ford Consul engine shop manual

- Personalized California License Plate is for the buyer to keep.

Some spare parts:

- Front and rear brake linings with rivets

- Fan belt

- Radiator cap

- Front oil seals

- Rear hub seals

Road Feel

- Engine starts instantly even when cold

- Absolutely no smoke or oil burning

- Idles smooth

- Absolutely no hesitation or stalling

- Vehicle runs excellent feels smooth and very agile

- Steering radius is great very easy to park and maneuver in tight spaces

- Manual steering feels like power steering due to the lightweight nature of this vehicle

- Brakes are powerful no locking and no pulling

- All lights work

- Horn works

- Parking brake works

- Engine's temperature stays cool and stable even during heavy traffic

- All instruments work

- Very reliable vehicle. can be driven anywhere.

The Good:

- Rust free vehicle

- New brakes and hydraulics

- Engine recently tuned up

- New battery

- 5 new tires

- New valve cover gasket

- New oil pan gasket

- New rocker panel gasket

- One of the best original examples of the 650 made

- A true eye turner

The Bad

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One of the studs of left front wheel is broken (considering the size of the studs this vehicle uses. it should be safe to drive with only four for now). Broken piece is provided so it will be easy to get a replacement.

- Two minor leaks – not enough to produce visible oil spots in the garage floor Crankshaft front seal (easy replacement)

- Gearbox oil. from the upper side cover

- Paint has some hairline cracks here and there (does not affect the appearance of the whole car)

- Jack and lug wrench are missing

Miscellaneous

- Most parts easily found in the US or UK

- Model history and specifications taken from Bill Munro's A Century of London Taxis

- This auction may be terminated early. as the vehicle is being offered through other sales channels as well

NOTE:

The taximeter device was installed faced the wrong side just for the look. last week we corrected that and now is facing the driver and passenger's side as it should (easy reversal if the buyer wants it the other way)

MORE PHOTOS BELOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This 57 year old jewel drives excellent. looks nice and needs virtually nothing!!

I describe the vehicle as accurately as possible however there is no way possible to know everything about a vehicle that has been previously driven subjected to normal wear and tear. both cosmetically and mechanically. (Unable to run Carfax report due to vehicle age).

Must have the funds available before bidding.

Thanks for looking !!!!!!!!!

Terms of Sale:

Vehicle is sold as is. No warranty. Balance due within 7 days and payable in cash. cashiers check. or wire transfer. Wire transfer preferred. Note: Cashiers checks usually take longer to clear (California banks place up to 10 days hold on out of state cashiers checks due to fraud protection policies). Car will be released once funds clear in my account.

Shipping:

Buyer has to make all arrangements with the carrier. I don't provide shipping estimates but I can email you a list of carriers you can call to get shipping quotes.

Want to buy this car?