THE EVOLUTION OF JAMAICAN TAXIS - JAMAICAS GREATEST ERA

[@718yardman]

These Guys are Gold.... Just pure gold..

[@WilliamMartin-ql1yb]

I am amazed that the gentlemen did not touch one of greatest workhorse in the taxi industry, the Ford Cortina.

[@kareemsquest]

He would have touched more on that vehicle but we were focusing on taxis mostly

[@WilliamMartin-ql1yb]

@@kareemsquest They were between the Morris Oxford and the Lada.

[@robertcamble3543]

​@@kareemsquestAustin Cambridge ,Morris Oxford ,Wolseley, M.G,& Riley . These cars were the main cars used as taxis Many people forget about the legendary Peugeot 405 that were used as taxis also . These cars were just as good as the b.m.c cars as taxis also .there's also the ones that looks like the Austin Cambridge . I think that was the 404. These cars are indestructible.

[@davidbrown9854]

Yes, they also had the Peugeot 504, and they forgot to mention the Volvo 144& 244​@robertcamble3543

[@OTEA-vu6ek]

Love how them mention the Ford Escort

[@cooldiva5104]

I love this content. These gentlemen are a classic as the cars themselves. What a treasure to be able to speak with them and gain valuable knowledge! Great job again Kareem!

[@kareemsquest]

it was great talking to them

[@authore.lloydkelly-reading2044]

Now I'm beginning to feel very old because I can relate to so much of this. Wow! Thanks.

[@pectonhjones1855]

Starrrr!!!!! these gentleman makes me old (aka ole fut). We would drive from Lyndhurst RD and Beechwood Ave up to Bruce's. I remember the British/European cars,,I was gone when Lada came in.

[@wellok5778]

You should do an episode on fast cars of the day. Triumph 2500TC - now that was a powerhouse.

[@robertcamble3543]

And the 2000 GXL Cortina & 3000 Capri & Ford Escort ✌️✌️✌️

[@leonadams5036]

Bruce's Patties, used to go there for lunch, patties, red peas soup

[@rasbenjimassop7456]

Very good memories flowing in. My first car was a Morris Minor. When I was old enough to understand, my father had a Prefect, then on to Austin Cambridge, Austin Westminster, then Holden, then Valiant. That was his last before he passed, by then I was into Mini Coopers (to this day a favorite). Races a Mini at Vernam, Drax Hall, Freeport. Switched to buying Japanese, Corolla, Supra. I'm an old man now, and we're still a Toyota family. One Love Still 🇯🇲 Jamaica

[@JAHLIGHTONE]

I remember one morning My Bredren Indian Chief and I went to Lucea from Montego Bay to pick up a couple and take them to the Airport in Kingston. We left Mobay about 5 AM and we picked them up in Lucea, and drove back through Mobay. When we got to in the vicinity of Moneague Teachers College, a tire blew out. We changed the tire and got back on the road. We made it to Kingston Airport and after dropoff we are now heading to St. Elizabeth passing through St. Catherine. We made it to Clarendon Park in Clarendon at 11:30 AM after all we have been through. This was My First and Only Time on Spur Tree Hill. If I never have to drive that road again in life it's not an issue for me. I was sweating bullets. The Hill was so steep going downhill that even in neutral, he still had to utilize the hand break to slow the car down. One thing I will say That Lada was something else. ASE' My Ancestor Indian Chief Eustace "Beebi" Becarie ASE'

[@nikeld9463]

JUST AMAZING. AWESOME CONTENT!!

[@catherinericketts8468]

Enjoyed Could relate to something things Fist car was a Escort

[@patriciathompson1908]

Every Saturday nighty dad took me to Bruce's to get patty and there was an ice cream store close to Bruces so we'd get some to eat with the patties. This was our routine for many years.

[@SunShyne_Culture]

My dad had a Cream colour Valliant in 1970 when we lived at 61 Canal Drive, Spanish Town.

[@ellihall2266]

Great content. Wow, wow pure golden years a gwhaan.👍👩‍🎓🙌🙌🙌💯🔥🔥

[@champking5502]

The store the gentleman referring to is Dairy Famers, would attach a food tray to your car/ van.

[@kareemsquest]

Okay thanks much

[@stevenfrancis9153]

Hi: As I mentioned before, I used to stay (board) with a family in Christiana that owned a Valiant. They had returned to Jamaica from England and they existed quite comfortably. Some weekends I would accompany the gentleman to his farm in the Valiant. The road was rough and some sections of the road had stones and the Valiant traversed it very well. I also remember that many Ladas ran the route between Spanish Town and Old Harbour in 1987 because I was in that area at that time. They seemed to perform very well. I am not aware that they were used on long distance routes. I also mentioned that the Peugeot 404 and Peugeot 504 were on the Spanish Town to Linstead route between 1976 and 1978 because I was working in Spanish Town at the time and I used to travel in them. So the Peugeot 504 and Peugeot 404 preceded the Ladas as taxis. The Fiats were more a family car. I had the Fiat 132. Those cars used a carburetor (probably most cars in that era) and pints and condenser. The carburetor needed regular cleaning and the pints and condenser needed regular tune up, so the Fiat132 I had was high maintenance. It was fast. When you move off from a stop, after the car reach about 40 mph I would feel a extra power kick in.

[@chrissy_thatsme3111]

I love this bring back the good memories of Jamaica 🇯🇲

[@wellok5778]

I do not recall Lada as Taxis - in Kingston at least - in the early 80s or 70s for that matter. I do remember Ladas and Nivas as private vehicles. They were not noted for their quality but they were cheaper than other cars of similar size. Ladas had a stiff ride but still comfortable. Turning that steering was a chore, though. They were pretty quick too

[@robertcamble3543]

Yes Plenty ran in Kingston . There was a taxi Company Called Principal Taxi operated Ladas that were painted Purple .

[@sampledivahair1801]

Very interesting video I really enjoyed your content

[@greatman478]

Growing up back then was really enjoying life now its just working and bills

[@nigelgrant9693]

This was very much appreciated bless to see these guys especially Richard Simpson been years of not seeing him I remember driving all of these cars and more the Lada with ac 😀 thank God for our upbringing you should get Richard to tell you about his school in Germany being the only black man learning watch ⌚️ and clock repairs

[@kareemsquest]

Hi I did not know he went to school in Germany. Thanks for sharing that info

[@Nemiss_ak]

As a young mechanic an car lover... this program is what I needed..#JAgearhead

[@kareemsquest]

You're welcome

[@robertcamble3543]

​@@kareemsquestMy Grandfather used to work for John Crook.& There was Robinson Auto sales . Both were located on Harbour St .

[@robertcamble3543]

​@@kareemsquestValiant was an American car made by Cheysler . You also had the Dodge Dart & the 2 dr Swinger. These were the same family of cars made by chrysler . Ford Falcon, Holden & Kingswood were Australian made . Many older folks dont remember that these 3 were used by police before the Toyota Crown & Corona ,aka ticks because they ran so quiet . .

[@jackpayton5065]

@@robertcamble3543 You also had the Australian Valiant

[@pectonhjones1855]

Yeoow Starr is like sey yu tun on a stand pipe.. So I was a privileged child (poil pikiney,) as they used to sey. During my young years the taxis were like 1958 austin Ford Zephyr. My grandfather owned a 1958 Austin Westminster (big man car) then sold it bought a Morris oxford and traded that in for a 1965 Vauxhall Velox, I loved that car. Govt officials drove Humber, Wosely, Mercedes, my entire family drove Triumphs and Vanguards. I know Triumph Heralds like the back of my hand, oooh man i could talk cars all day my uncle had a 1958 P100 Rover, another big man car. Also the sporty young guys would drive Mini, Austin 1100s, Alfa Romeo, Fiat 124s, Anglia, Escorts, Cortina GT& E. My father and five of his brothers owned a garage on the corner of Lyndhurst rd and Beechwood Ave right next to RJR. Hillman, Sunbeam Humber, Minx, the police and soldiers used Mini Mokes, VWs was Mini bus from Mandeville to Town,... Starr mi haffi stap,,, mi woulda tek up di whole page...Mi never grow with any brothers or sisters, just mee, my grandfather owned two trucks, a Bedford and a Commer, one carry market people the other go a wharf, go cement factory and lumber yard, soo many cars i didnt mention like Simca, Borgward, DKW, Auto Union, Bravaria(BMW), Opel, Riley, Mek mi stap...Bless up, Nooo, mi nuh spoil mi gud

[@jackpayton5065]

Yeah man, I had a fiat 124, my father had a Ford Consul when we were young

[@robertcamble3543]

D 14:05 ​@@jackpayton5065Did you know that the Capri derived from this Car ?.

[@jackpayton5065]

@@robertcamble3543 Which car, I think they had the cortina chassis

[@marciawilliams711]

​@@jackpayton5065yiu should call the man!!

[@djlunartunes1013]

My dad owned a valiant with an 8 track tape deck. My friend's dad owned an 8 track tape recorder. My friends and i used to record disco tracks and listen to it in the valiant on the 8 track player. What a life. Haha.

[@WinstonMcgowan]

Lada was the nicest car to me mi own two a dem baddest car dem

[@Michael-h3d8x]

Tasties was my experience, and the cane juice ❤

[@beebrown4945]

Would like Bruce's patty return as franchises.

[@mirxtrail]

The Jamaican government of the 70s and 80s) bartered bauxite in exchange for Lada motorcars. Llewellyn Braham, Robinson & Company, and later Motor Sales (Issa Transport Group) were the primary importers of Lada motorcars and Niva SUVs. There was also a small Lada pickup truck

[@georgephilip6393]

Big up to the OGs 🦁 👑

[@raymondmorrison6161]

V W usually run Mo Bay to Kingston 1800.

[@christophergyles4138]

The company that ran Yellow and Checker cab was called Jones Taxi Company located in front of Wolmers Girls School.

[@keishathomas3146]

Question Kareem how come you do a taxi series without the actual taxi companies, history and what they looked like? I think a part 3 is necessary

[@kareemsquest]

I'll keep that in mind Keisha

[@robertcamble3543]

​@@kareemsquestI can tell about the trucks they used to haul cane & market people how they used to beef them up.The Leylands ,Fargos ,Commers,Atkinsons with the loudest Jake beakes, the hog nose Bedfords ,the International Transtars . Brings back great memories helping my uncle as a teen back then.He was a mechanic & bus builder back then.

[@robertcamble3543]

My grandfather used to work for John Crook in the 50s .You also had Karrams kar mart.

[@happyhapley]

I remember a Ford Falcon crashed through the walls of Bay Farm Villas in Olympic Gardens in the mid to late 1970s, without suffering much damage. I rated it as a tough vehicle for many years after that.

[@andredandre4701]

LADA started coming in the country during the 1980s under Seaga's tenure. That when we had the car being brought in to the island for future bauxite mining.

[@DerrickAugustus-oc3wx]

Bruces patty and lunch u will get a cup of hot soup before food served and Western farm restaurant on halfway tree road

[@michaells1207]

Anybody remember the car with one front wheel in the middle I think it was a peugeot

[@michaells1207]

I correct myself It was a citroen

[@EgbertMartin-d7q]

I used to work at check and yellow cab as a mecanic on connolly avinue

[@leroygreen6540]

Bruce's patt8it on corner of retirement road and hwt

[@AndrewMiles-qt7mw]

Mandeville had Volvos, Cortinas, Sunbeam, Roots Hillman Hunter, Avenager, Skylarks, Valiant, Peugeot 404 and 504, ,. My first cars were Opel Record 1985 and Opel Corsa 1987. Excellent cars back then in the early 1990s

[@kareemsquest]

Thanks for sharing!

[@markspringer716]

Opel is sold in the US as Buick to this day

[@markspringer716]

​@@kareemsquest you should , if possible , dwelve into our beloved dairy industry . Shaw Park , Cremo , Dairy Farmers , Buckingham , Surge Island , Kreemy Korner , Road Runner etc etc .our fudge men on motorcycles...and also the our sodas....from Kelly's to DnG about 3 more that slips my mind now . Your channel is uplifting and while a youngster may conclude its for the elders , I would love for them to see and understand all we gained and how much more we've lost ....especially culturally..keep up the good work.

[@jackpayton5065]

​@@markspringer716Definitely the fudge man, that was our Sunday evening dessert

[@robertcamble3543]

Mandeville had the baddest set of Ford Transit vans on the road back then . They were powered by Ford Capri & Zephyr Zodiac v6 engines & aTata bus name Big Wheels whe not even the Ford Transit could catch it a go up Penn Hill a go Christiana . Nuff people nuh remember this bad ass tata bus yah .

[@lorrainecross7125]

I owned a Lada in JA in the 80's, serviced by Motor sales techs, it was reliable but steering was like a truck, it was hard to turn but you got use to it.

[@mikecowan-tu6up]

I Iive up the road from the lada spot

[@Jevon876]

Found your channel today with this video thank you for your history lesson

[@kareemsquest]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MrByco2]

My father had a Holden Kingswood as a company car in the 70s. Holden was a GM brand from Australia with its own design house. It floated over the road like an "American car". Friends at school saw my mother pull up to at Wolmer's Prep and thought we must be rich!

[@robertcamble3543]

Yes,I remember Holden cars . There was also Ford Falcon from Australia . Police used to use these cars along with Zephyr Zodiac from England . Great memories when Jamaica was great as a kid growing up Respect Brethren 🇯🇲🇯🇲✌️✌️

[@jackpayton5065]

Yeah, those Holdens and the Australian Valiant floated over the roads and gave you such a smooth ride over the rough roads

[@DelwinCowan-mb8so]

We put ford cortina overhead cam in them Montego Bay have the most lada

[@robertcamble3543]

We also used to put the 2000 GXL Cortina car engine in the 4 wheel transit van & Capri engine in the 6 wheel transit van the 6 wheeler transit did bad round corner & many were used in Mandeville . 🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@Joseph-i1t]

He did not mentioned Burtons , right beside Carib Theater. You could buy Patties , meals. Also slices of bread and get some Thick Gravy on it for pennies. Hot. Delicious, 6 slices with gravy could full bellies

[@Michael-h3d8x]

Blessings, what I would like to know is, why them call it barber Green? 💚

[@daleshand622]

My mother owned a Lada Niva SUV back in 1988. That thing was incredibly noisy under powered and it vibrated so hard when you went over 50 miles per hour the filling in your teeth would fall out. A mechanic had to disconnect the 4 wheel drive to make it drivable

[@stevenfrancis9153]

Hi: I remember Savannah Plaza. It is( between South Avenue and where Red Hills Road starts) on Constant Spring Road on the left hand side going north. When I left high school in 1971 I had to do business in an office in that plaza. Bruces Patties was on Retirement Road close to the intersection with Half Way Tree Road. I know that I ate those patties because they were popular but I cannot remember much about them. But as the gentleman said in the video they were thicker than the present day patties.

[@kareemsquest]

Thanks for sharing your personal experiences

[@raymondmorrison6161]

The first car i drove was a station waggon lada.

[@craigmckenzie9755]

Yes sir

[@missbiggs9437]

I seem to have a vague memory of some taxi cabs that had rear passenger doors that opened “backwards”, similar to what you see in the taxi industry in London. The driver could reach behind and pop the door open. I’m sure these were licensed taxis. Definitely, Lada head office was on Beechwood Road, not Lyndhurst Road. Ladas were cheap, built cheap and cheap to run … that was the main and biggest problem with them and not just in Jamaica either!! 😂😂😂❤

[@mirxtrail]

Last known location of Bruce's patties was Trafalgar Road where "The Deck" bar and grill was located. My father swore they tasted better than Tastee and were more 'meaty'😅. Kremi Ice Cream in Savannah Plaza, Constant Spring Road occupies the same building that previously housed another ice cream store, Creamy Corner from the late 70s with outlets in Lane Plaza (Liguanea) and Cross Roads

[@kareemsquest]

Please send me an email at this address. you are very knowledgeable and I would want your input on some articles. [e-mail]

[@gervanmyers3066]

I had a 124s while the chinese had 125s very popular used for get aways after a robbery...

[@SmilingGuitarPedals-fg3yt]

Nice job brother new here

[@kareemsquest]

You are welcome

[@Michael-h3d8x]

And I heard the the Lada, cluch was too high. I don't know

[@donalddaley1962]

There was a caring ja. Name boughward Isabella who remember that car

[@AmeraStewart-w8w]

Very interesting info wow, which year then did the taxi system really begin? late 1980's?

[@hirolla1635]

Let us know the next taxi after the lada

[@stevenfrancis9153]

Hi: The Valiant I mentioned was between 1980 and 1982.

[@clivesalabie]

Is Jamaica commodity trading company carry in the car and distribute it to the dealers. Motor sales and company,John cooks and the different dealers.

[@missbiggs9437]

Of course people of that “certain” age will remember Bruces Patty. Patty and coco bread and drinks, D&G aerated water, that was THE snack of the day and how as kids we learn to eat and tolerate pepper/spices … you have to know how to blow on your patty to cool it down so as not to burn your mouth. No other patty, to this day, really compares to Bruces! ❤🙂

[@robertcamble3543]

Angel flake Patties on Tower St by Luke Lane across from Tax office & Jones Restaurant by Luke Lane . Nuff people don't remember this Restaurant .

[@kareemsquest]

Thanks for sharing this

[@jackpayton5065]

I bought a patty at tastees and I only started to eat it when I reached flat bridge, it was so hot

[@RElse-fu2or]

I lived on Collins Green Ave. Bruce’s was on Retirement Rd, walking distance. Lunch time; 1 coco bread, one steaming hot patty and 1 (rust remover) Pepsi cola. Beat that Juci… 😢 Did Jimmy and his twin brother take over the business? Oh, red and white box Tender Flakes Donut was just up Halfway Tree Rd.

[@donalddaley1962]

Who remember a car in Jamaica name Bouchard Isabella not mu ch of them was in Jamaica

[@PaulaCalder-qb8wo]

Bruce's patties the best patty to eat and enjoy then. Sorry they closed none of the current patty places can ever compare.

[@Michael-h3d8x]

I ride the jolly bus to school

[@barringtonbryant1949]

LADAMASSI , WHAT AH PATCHIE . HAD LIKE FIAT AS LUXURY CAR 🚗 🙂

[@gervanmyers3066]

Dod you'll see the sharp seem in the boy pants that was looking at the car.

[@maxinecole3098]

Lada cars use to crash regular

[@raymondmorrison6161]

Hilman Hunter

[@sushanayoung1302]

💛🖤💚

[@DelwinCowan-mb8so]

Lada finix have more than three fuse

[@LumselJohn-on7yv]

Very fast car from ochi to Spanish town but break down easy

[@raymondmorrison6161]

Ball joint

[@alvingarib6168]

LADA,, did stand for. Life and death association

[@markspringer716]

The Land Rovers of the 60s and 70s had the worst turning range when steering.

[@EgbertMartin-d7q]

Mr Horase JONES WAS THE OWNER

[@trevormitchell8079]

Drivers wore black pants and white shirts with a black cap like what Police wore

[@Joseph-i1t]

John Crook sold Hillman Cars. British Made. Hanover Street. Stewart Motors on Hanover Street sold Singers Cars. Also British made. Lancasters . Daimlers . British made also.

[@deantomlinson4039]

Volvo 144

[@raymondmorrison6161]

Live and dead any time.

[@happyhapley]

One car that I couldn't take on to back then was the Vauxhall. For some reason, they looked unattractive to me. The vehicle I loved (up to this day) was the Volvo station wagon.

[@robertcamble3543]

Man switch out lada engine - replace that with Austin engine or cortina engine.

[@cuz2647]

Lada was a piece of junk

[@Joseph-i1t]

He did not mentioned Burtons , right beside Carib Theater. You could buy Patties , meals. Also slices of bread and get some Thick Gravy on it for pennies. Hot. Delicious, 6 slices with gravy could full bellies