The story of London Taxis really begins in 1919 when Robert 'Bobby' Jones started building bodies for the fast-growing motor industry on behalf of timber merchants Gooderham and Company of Coventry, England. He quickly took over this side of the business for himself with a silent partner. Trading under the mane "Carbodies', the firm built bodies for Crouch, Alvis and MG, as well as adapting their standard bodies for bespoke jobs, for Bobby would not turn away work.

By 1921 he had moved into his own premises and in the harsh economic climate of those years survived by a combination of hard work and determination, buying out his partner on the way, becoming sole proprietor and bringing his son, Ernst, into the business. I the 1930's the company built bodies on a contract basis for the newly-formed Rootes Group and for Railton, specializing in sports bodies and drophead coupes.

Like many other companies, Carbodies spent 1935-45 on war work where their expertise was suited to making specialist military vehicles and aircraft components. Under the Lease-Lend scheme they obtained heavy presses and Pratt and Whitney Keller die machines, and gained expertise in using Kirksite, an alloy used fir die making which although softer than steel, was ideal for the short run work that suited Carbodies so well.

Post war, they survived by making all manner of vehicle, but soon evolved a system to convert all steel saloon cars into drophead coupes. From 1954, ownership by the giant BSA Group led to one of the most diverse periods in Carbodies' history. Most importantly, in 1947 they began a long association with London Taxis, and following their acquisition by Manganese Bronze Holding in 1973, concentrated solely on taxi manufacture, leading up to the new TX1 which was unveiled at the 1997 London Motor Show.

Although Carbodies are now best known for the classic FX4 London Taxi, there can be few companies that can boast such a diverse and interesting history that has influenced so many products for so many other companies.

Now the next chapter of London Taxi history is being written. London Taxis model TXII, comes to the United States and Canadian taxi and livery markets though the management and taxi industry expertise of London Fleet.

To find out more about the History of Carbodies please refer to the book Carbodies : The Complete Story by Bill Munro.