Just last month we reported on a London taxi that looked pretty in pink. The pink people mover was commissioned as a special order by an unnamed customer based in London. The picture of the TX4 taxi cab was news enough, but we've wondered ever since who would want a pink cab and for what would it be used? We've discovered that the car was ordered by London cabbie Carlos Oliviera, who apparently makes a good living shuttling participants of gay weddings around London.
Oliviera decided a unique color could give him an edge on the competition. "I got a bit of a ribbing from my mates and it was a bit of a shock for them when they saw it," Oliviera said. "They said they thought it took some guts to drive a vehicle like this but I am not frightened."
As we reported, Oliviera had to special order the bright pink TX4 from LTI Vehicles, the company that makes England's ubiquitous cabs. Mike McKenzie works in LTI's paint shop and was willing to accommodate the special paint purchase, but was somewhat taken aback at first. "We are sometimes asked to produce special colours but this one is the most outlandish," McKenzie said. "Having said that, we have had a lot of fun working on this one. It isn't exactly my choice, but my daughter loves it."
No word on whether the pink car has improved Oliviera's business, but he says it's popular with at least one demographic. "It's certainly rocking London and women think it's absolutely fantastic," he said.
PRESS RELEASE:
PINK CAB IS TURNING HEADS
A London cabbie who provides cabs for gay weddings told taxi manufacturers LTI Vehicles his new TX4 had to be pretty in pink.
The vehicle, finished by the company's paint shop team in eye-catching luminous pink, is among the latest vehicles to roll off the production line of the Holyhead Road-based manufacturer in Coventry.
It was ordered by London cabbie Carlos Oliviera after he spotted what he believes is a gap in the market, and his pink cab is already creating a huge buzz in the capital.
He said: "It's certainly rocking London and women think it's absolutely fantastic.
"The Fairway was a fantastic vehicle but the TX4 is great and is a superb drive. It's an effortless way of working."
With a registration plate of E10PER, Carlos has named his unique motor the Pink Eloper and hopes to attract some of the 4,000 gay couples who tie the knot in the capital every year.
London cabbie Carlos said: "I got a bit of a ribbing from my mates and it was a bit of a shock for them when they saw it.
"They said they thought it took some guts to drive a vehicle like this but I am not frightened. I know I will get stick."
The cab was painted by the paint shop team at LTI Vehicles, comprised of Mike McKenzie, Steve Everton, David Fry and Glynn Spencer.
Although the factory can produce vehicles of any colour, Mike was taken aback when he was asked to roll up his sleeves and mix such an eye-catching shade. He said: "We are sometimes asked to produce special colours but this one is the most outlandish.
"Having said that, we have had a lot of fun working on this one. It isn't exactly my choice, but my daughter loves it."
The pink cab is a rare, one-off special order for which the customer had to pay an additional charge, but LTI Vehicles already offers the famous taxi in twelve different colours.
The new model will be the most eye-catching of the new TX4 model produced since it was launched in October 2006 to worldwide acclaim.
For further information about LTI Vehicles and the TX4 visit www.lti.co.uk
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