I remember as a kid,i took a very old datsun taxi with my mum from bedok north to Bedok south,meter only $1.50 when we reach...i think flag down was at $1.20
Anyone can remember the fare structure back in the early 80s? maybe bro like Pool.TCL & Rotary Tan can remember?
Or just share here anything to do with the taxi from the past....
My dad who was a cabby b4 told me he was driving a morris minor taxi back in the 70s,rental only $10/day :)
saw this photo in the net,I think should be early 80s
memories.....think Pool drove this corona cab b4 right?
but i'm not sure wat co.it belongs to? Green & white

my dad told me he used to queue at paya lebar airport,surcharge at 40cents...
they also need to place some deposit with the airport on a mthly basis b4 they're allow to queue there
reason being there're far too many overcharging cases during those days...deposit will be gone if any cabby get caught doing it
he always say times have changed,now we have 747s & A380 coming down changi almost every other mins
they have only those propeller jets & the most boeing 707 coming down every few hrs!
707s was like a goldmine to them,cabbies flocking to paya lebar airport from coffeeshops once they got info a 707 is touching down
Ya, i still remember when i was a young kid, my grandmother use to take me out on a cab ride to visit friends in those morris minor. Nostalgia man.
Also i remember - those days TD never set the meter on, set PER HEAD prices to destinations. Pirate Taxis also existed in the early 70s.
then in the 70s - those datsun rolls out.
aha, also don't forget those taxis those days are quite relax leh, they implemented car pooling fare in ulu areas like, Changi air base ( current airport), AETI,Selarang camp on a weekend to get army boys out. No ECP and the very crowded bus is No 1 and No 2 and only way is changi road. Very lucrative business then sweeping floor. Those days in the early 70s even if you sweep floor you only work like shit because many are poor.
in the 80s - knn datsun still around and later you can find Aircon type with aircon flag down price and the non-aircondition type fare.
i started with a corona w/o power steering . that time crowns were the king , really envied those who can drive them hahaha.
its a handicap to drive the corona coz when u see a pax on the other side , by the time do a U turn , some one will come and sup the pax liao. i rem i picked 4 huge ang mo from pan pac to ap , the back was sinking down , go up benjamin sheares , the engine like wanna explode. best part is poor 4 ang mohs squeezing inside ... funny sight!
start fare was $2.40 and booking all times was $3.20 but my corona has no MDT so my street experience were mostly learned from those days.
i loved those Comfort Opel Astra Station Wagons in the early-mid 90s
Remember the first flag down at 40c and they charged extra 10c for the 3rd and 4th pax and for every piece of bags in the boot way back in the 60s ad 70s.
Originally posted by Clivebenss:Remember the first flag down at 40c and they charged extra 10c for the 3rd and 4th pax and for every piece of bags in the boot way back in the 60s ad 70s.
fwah that must be a long time ago. 40 cents flag down? 1960s? i rem when i was a kid , meter was $1 for non air con and $1.20 for aircon. they got 2 taxi top , white is no aircon , blue is aircon.
Originally posted by Tio Call Liao:fwah that must be a long time ago. 40 cents flag down? 1960s? i rem when i was a kid , meter was $1 for non air con and $1.20 for aircon. they got 2 taxi top , white is no aircon , blue is aircon.
Up to 1973, then it was 60c, all no air con and only the yellow top.
It belong to Singapore Airport Bus Service . SABS

And this SABS , they later merge with Singapore Commuters , SBS to formed a new Taxi company called CITYCAB .
Originally posted by Clivebenss:Up to 1973, then it was 60c, all no air con and only the yellow top.
During the 80's , Aircon taxis came in , but some old drivers still prefer non aircon .
So how do we commuters recognised those with and without Aircons ?
With aircon taxis , their roof top is Blue Taxi cover .
Without aircon taxis , their roof top is White taxi cover .
Originally posted by Poolman:
During the 80's , Aircon taxis came in , but some old drivers still prefer non aircon .So how do we commuters recognised those with and without Aircons ?
With aircon taxis , their roof top is Blue Taxi cover .
Without aircon taxis , their roof top is White taxi cover .
But at time some elderly drivers will tell you it's too cold and wind down the windows.
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Originally posted by Recruit Roadster:Up to mid 90’s,I remember there are still a few mazda626 and Nissan bluebird taxis.
i dun remember any mazdas ever in our industry ,
Bluebirds yes ...our pioneer .
Originally posted by Recruit Roadster:It is Opel Omega and not Opel Astra. It is a very stable car and powerful also alot of engine problem.
thanks for the correction
i remember the datsun from the early 80s,it's light blue with "NTUC Comfort" livery.
anyone with old taxis picture pls share with us here....tks
only NTUC , no comfort .
I still remember the taxi meter would make a distinctive "ting tong" sound after some distance travelled.
I love the light blue colour of the comfort coronas ![]()
and the interiors ! Dark blue
Originally posted by *=Optimus=*:I still remember the taxi meter would make a distinctive "ting tong" sound after some distance travelled.
no , there is speed device ting tong sound .
last time taxi better front plus driver 3 person liao...
Originally posted by Poolman:
no , there is speed device ting tong sound .
haha macham intial D like that ting tong means over 160km/h liao...... :P
does anyone know whether we can still take a ride on these old taxis like corona on pulau ubin and wat is e starting fare like?
Last time go in CBD , taxi must fill with 4 person , 3 person cannot go in , will be fined .
Last time CBD is buy coupon one , $2 one piece , whole day .
Got one cisco with Eagle Eye standing opposite CK Tang and watch your coupon .
Each day has got one different colour .
Can be transferable .