I’ve been wondering when this would happen, or where. Of course, most cities wouldn’t allow it, with regulations about the maximum age of taxis. But apparently Santa Barbara is the exception, unless there are others out there. SoCalMetro caught the Lowrider Cab Co. 1964 Impala taxi at the curb. I guess they do have rules about it being a four door, though.
I wish that I had known about them the one time that I went to Santa Barbara, for a friend’s wedding. In an ideal world, their city taxi regulations will allow hydraulics, because I for one would love to experience a ’64 Impala taxi that hops. I have no interest in owning such a car, but as a one-time experience, it would be hilarious.
Those rentals I keep shooting and the old Packard I put on the cohort last week are licensed and inspected passenger hire cars as was the Austin 16 so 74 years old and still working for the 39 Packard and 39 Austin
Great car,why does every TV badass have a 64 Impala?Skodas seem the most popular taxis in the UK
Dude, that is hella tight!! Here is the perfect song for this six fouh!
I notice there is some rust bulge on the fender and I wonder how long ago this Impala was restored? Going to assume some modifications have been made for it to be a more successful taxi. The font is a bit hard to read, but who cares, you are rolling in style!
Looks like it would be more at home a little further south
as long as it is a specialty occasion kind of thing it’s good but wouldn’t want to see companies running a series of old cars into the ground….that’s what they make Priuses for lol.
I seem to recall NYC made an exception to the age limit for the last Checkers. I wonder if that still stands and a lowrider Checker Marathon could get accepted as a New York taxi…
Why has this not been on the TV show Psych! It is supposed to be set in Santa Barbra!
All my friends love the lowrider…
Although I must point out that the whitewalls are different widths on the front and the back.
The Car’s website, http://lowridercab.com/
The Cholo cab company came into my mind.
Reminds me of Dooby’s Taxiola from Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
I say we turn ALL 64 Chebbys into taxis. Were they ever good for anything besides carrying people around in the back seat? 🙂 Anticipating Zackman’s wrath, I will propose a convertible exemption.
Taxis, maybe. Lowriders? Sacrilege, I say!!
As of 2010 in San Rafael, CA, there was a gentleman rocking a ’79 Checker Marathon cab…I saw him at the Whole Foods parking lot and went to rap with him; no, he wasn’t an ironic collector; yes, it was a working cab; asked if I could take some pics and he said something to the extent of “I’d have to start the meter for that.” Classic.
For many years the old Santa Ynez, CA airport used a fleet of 1958 Chevrolets as taxis:
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2009/07/12/sia-flashback-new-life-for-old-fords-and-suddenly-its-1958/
Just came across this photo in Google Images! Thanks for the shout out! Next time your in Santa Barbara hit us up for a lift in the 64′ Impala. Lowrider Cab | Santa Barbara Taxi Cab.
Hah! He must have been inspired by toys of his youth! Its even a hardtop Impala, not a Biscayne four door!!! Maybe colorblindness prevented complete accuracy in mimicking an iconic diecast car?