If you need a taxi, Bournemouth has lots to pick from
Bournemouth, Dorset, Summer 1984
Taxi! There’s certainly a good selection here, outside Bournemouth station under the watchful gaze of the parked private cars opposite – such as a Mini, pre- 1981 facelift Ford Granada MkII and Triumph 2000/2500/2.5 MkII saloon. The hire vehicles waiting for summer tourists at the Dorset resort’s main rail hub begin with a 1979 Morris Marina MkIII 1700L estate in glorious Sandglow shadowed by a 1975 Ford Cortina MkIII 1.6, before we get to a ‘proper’ taxi – an Austin FX4 cab.
We’re back in Marina territory again with the white MkI estate; that body-coloured grille panel denotes a 1.8. The black sills and front valance suggest the seaside climate has not been kind to it. Nestling behind it is a Granada MkI-shape four-door Ford Consul, with the model’s successor – a Granada MkII – directly behind.
Capacious load-luggers
The stylish Peugeot 504 estate beyond it should, as one of the most capacious load-luggers of its era, be able to cope with whatever luggage any passengers could possibly throw at it. Then we move into Vauxhall territory with a somewhat long-in-the-tooth Viscount keeping company with a Victor FE saloon.
Another Austin FX4 is shielding the rest of the row, although there’s an early Toyota Space Cruiser bringing up the rear. Bournemouth taxi drivers were fond of them for party transport. A red Vauxhall Cavalier MkII taxi is waiting to join the line while, in the distant car park, is the unmistakable shape of a Leyland Sherpa minibus.
Under council rules,
