In old movies, (post-WWII) there will often be a DeSoto cab, almost always yellow with red fenders. They look like there is extra room (stretch) in the back for p***angers, and what looks like a moon/sun roof. Are they stock cars, or were they modified for cab duty? I don't think they were modified for the movies. thanks.
I believe they were the same bodies as the Chrysler that Tom Bosley drove on Happy Days. They had jump seats that folded into the front seat backs and had a roof rack to store luggage.They were factory models but I don't know the exact model name/number.
taxi;s had heavy duty springs, clutches, and front brakes. They could be ordered as the standard sedan or a version of the suburban mentioned above. The skyview was pretty much a NYC folding rear roof feature or a plexi roof panel Tourists could gawk at the sky s****ers. These were built or completed at a place on Long Island. The log wheelbase cars were used because NYC had a requirement thet 5 p***engers be carried behind the driver in regulated livery fleets. So inorder to get a medallion (approved by the city) you had to carry 5. GM nor Ford had a platform to support this off the shelf. GM tried to make one after WWII with a stretch chevy body on a heavy duty ch***is but they never made a profit on them so they discontinued the car. Cab companies did't like them because the needed more maintanence than the De Sotos. Checker built cars were purpose built to meet the NYC 5 p***enger requirement so were longer to start with. The 5 seats usually consisted of the full back seat plus two folding jump seats.
My Father owned a fleet of taxis in the late 40s and he used Plymouths...The ride of comfort for the p***engers were much better than Ford or Chev ..The taxi companys in Columbus,Ohio used standard DeSotos...just a little higher priced Plymouth..
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