A 1929 Morris London cab that is thought to be the sole survivor of its type is expected to make £25-30,000 when it crosses the block at Historics’ 9 March sale.
Nicknamed ‘Uncle Lima’, the machine is based on an export model known as the Empire Oxford. It spent a decade earning fares in the capital, before being converted into a tractor to assist the war effort.
While performing routine duties, the tractor’s hay rake unearthed scrap metal that was immediately used as ballast.
Unfortunately, the ‘ballast’ was actually the remnants of two unexploded mortars and an anti-tank rocket. Something that only became apparent after the war, when the machine was prepared for sale.
Following its lucky escape and restoration, ‘Uncle Lima’ made its first public appearance at the 1975 London to Brighton Commercial Vehicle Run and has been in constant use since.
The car has also appeared in Bill Munroe’s A Century of London Taxis and in a 1933 magazine advert.
