I saw this today on the back of a tow truck going down Dale Mabry. It must be from the late 1950's and was, perhaps, being taken somewhere to be restored. There are no cabs like this commissioned on any local fleets, so I'm sure it must be a collector's prize. Those cars were sturdy and gas was a dime a gallon.
What a cab driver will do to make a living is beyond what most people can handle or comprehend. One thing we do is go into very bad areas of town and pretend it is normal. At least I still think it is normal. Like the Pakistani store owner who sells smokes, beer, lotto tickets and blunts to the people who walk in his door while all the time hoping he doesn't get shot, you begin to think this is normal. I got this call about 4 in the morning today. Things got a little weird. Not to bad, but not what I was expecting. It was the Downtowner Motel, one of Tampa's swankier joints. Its the kind of place that has "weekly rentals" and calls them apartments; imaine what kind of crowd that will draw. The dude was on the balcony and very anxious to get going, a clear sign that someone wants to buy drugs. I guess his buzz has worn off and he needs to get more. He and some chic with sunken cheeks and a glazed stare get in the backseat. They seem to have a bunch of nervous ene...
I think one (or both) of the brothers at Tampa Yellow Cab bought this a few years back.
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