Your taxi experts for over 65 years
Patons, as it has been for 65 years, continues to be at the forefront of the UK taxi industry with new services and products to help the taxi market succeed.
Welcome to the Patons Group photo archives.
The pictures below share our key milestones since 1957.
Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the image.
The Beginning
Patons can trace its history back to 1957 when John Paton bought his first Austin FX3 Black Cab. Business was brisk for John, and by 1960, he went on to buy three more Black Cabs and decided to set up a specialist Taxi Accident Repair Centre (ARC) in the Townhead area of Glasgow.
Patons can trace its history back to 1957 when John Paton bought his first Austin FX3 Black Cab. Business was brisk for John, and by 1960, he went on to buy three more Black Cabs and decided to set up a specialist Taxi Accident Repair Centre (ARC) in the Townhead area of Glasgow.
Accident Repair and Sales Centre
The Taxi Repair and Service Centre (Patons ARC) grew consistently over the following years and in 1965, Patons added Taxi Sales into the business, initially selling the Austin FX4’s. Within a few years, Patons became the largest supplier and repairer of Black Cabs in Scotland.
The Taxi Repair and Service Centre (Patons ARC) grew consistently over the following years and in 1965, Patons added Taxi Sales into the business, initially selling the Austin FX4’s. Within a few years, Patons became the largest supplier and repairer of Black Cabs in Scotland.
John Paton and Son ltd
In 1971, the company formally changed to John Paton and Son, when John’s son, Billy, joined the business. By this point, Patons had grown into one of the UK’s largest LTI dealerships outside of London, focusing on the Glasgow and Edinburgh markets.
In 1971, the company formally changed to John Paton and Son, when John’s son, Billy, joined the business. By this point, Patons had grown into one of the UK’s largest LTI dealerships outside of London, focusing on the Glasgow and Edinburgh markets.
Insurance Team
Patons started to offer Insurance services in 1972 after John identified a gap in the market. Our first Insurance Team was set up in a separate area within the Service Centre and grew to become a successful area of business.
Patons started to offer Insurance services in 1972 after John identified a gap in the market. Our first Insurance Team was set up in a separate area within the Service Centre and grew to become a successful area of business.
Buckingham Palace
The Black Cab was firmly a part of British culture, and this was recognised when a team from LTI were invited to meet then-Prince Charles as part of the Queens Silver Jubilee Celebrations in 1977. As one the UK’s largest LTI dealers, John was invited to be part of the group at Buckingham Palace.
The Black Cab was firmly a part of British culture, and this was recognised when a team from LTI were invited to meet then-Prince Charles as part of the Queens Silver Jubilee Celebrations in 1977. As one the UK’s largest LTI dealers, John was invited to be part of the group at Buckingham Palace.
Billy Paton
John decided to sell the business in 1981 to the Taggarts Motor Group. However, Billy remained within the company as Managing Director. The business continued to thrive in the meantime.
John decided to sell the business in 1981 to the Taggarts Motor Group. However, Billy remained within the company as Managing Director. The business continued to thrive in the meantime.
John Paton Insurance Services
5 years later, in 1986, John bought the business back and the Insurance Division started to offer Taxi Fleet Insurance from its new Glasgow office on Great Western Road.
5 years later, in 1986, John bought the business back and the Insurance Division started to offer Taxi Fleet Insurance from its new Glasgow office on Great Western Road.
Great Western Road Office
Pictured are Rosemary Montague, Peter Grundy, Jane Duncan, Margaret Montague, Bill Robertson and Kim Togneri. Rosemary is the mother of two long-standing colleagues who are still with Patons today.
Pictured are Rosemary Montague, Peter Grundy, Jane Duncan, Margaret Montague, Bill Robertson and Kim Togneri. Rosemary is the mother of two long-standing colleagues who are still with Patons today.
Taxi Accident Repair Centre
Alongside Insurance, the ARC continued to grow as the Glasgow and Edinburgh Black Cab markets expanded with the introduction of the Fairway FX4, still widely thought of as the iconic Black Cab.
Alongside Insurance, the ARC continued to grow as the Glasgow and Edinburgh Black Cab markets expanded with the introduction of the Fairway FX4, still widely thought of as the iconic Black Cab.
Satisfied Taxi Drivers
Pictured is a taxi being cleaned and inspected before providing a key service to the visitors and residents of Glasgow.
Pictured is a taxi being cleaned and inspected before providing a key service to the visitors and residents of Glasgow.
Servicing and Repair Team
Circa 1987, pictured the Servicing and Repair Team with John and Billy Paton.
Circa 1987, pictured the Servicing and Repair Team with John and Billy Paton.
Cygnus Automotive
In 1988, Patons launched the Cygnus business to manufacture a market-leading taxi meter for sales in provisional UK markets.
In 1988, Patons launched the Cygnus business to manufacture a market-leading taxi meter for sales in provisional UK markets.
FX4 Fairway - Wheelchair Accessible Taxi
John & Billy Paton introduced the new FX4 Fairway, circa 1989. It was the first FX4 to be wheelchair accessible.
John & Billy Paton introduced the new FX4 Fairway, circa 1989. It was the first FX4 to be wheelchair accessible.
Glasgow's Miles Better Campaign
John and Billy were involved in Glasgow’s Miles Better campaign. Launched city-wide in 1989, the campaign aimed to boost tourism within the region. It featured the famous children’s character, Mr Happy.
John and Billy were involved in Glasgow’s Miles Better campaign. Launched city-wide in 1989, the campaign aimed to boost tourism within the region. It featured the famous children’s character, Mr Happy.
Glasgow's Alive
Glasgow was named the European City of Culture in 1990. Following this, The Miles Better campaign was superseded by the Glasgow’s Alive campaign. Patons provided a specially livered taxi for the launch in 1992.
Glasgow was named the European City of Culture in 1990. Following this, The Miles Better campaign was superseded by the Glasgow’s Alive campaign. Patons provided a specially livered taxi for the launch in 1992.
TaxiWorld
Patons launched the TaxiWorld brand in 1992 to provide taxi meter rental options to the London Black Cab market.
Patons launched the TaxiWorld brand in 1992 to provide taxi meter rental options to the London Black Cab market.
New Taxi Repair and Service Centre at Lister Street, Glasgow
In 1996, Billy invested in a brand-new Taxi Repair and Service Centre on Lister Street in Glasgow, the next road along from where John set up the first ARC 36 years prior. This 19,000 sq foot unit was a purpose-built facility that allowed Patons to introduce the latest repair and service technology into the business.
In 1996, Billy invested in a brand-new Taxi Repair and Service Centre on Lister Street in Glasgow, the next road along from where John set up the first ARC 36 years prior. This 19,000 sq foot unit was a purpose-built facility that allowed Patons to introduce the latest repair and service technology into the business.
Introduction of New TX1
The Taxi Sales Division continued to grow and opened offices in Newcastle and Manchester in 1997, around the time that the new TX1 was introduced.
The Taxi Sales Division continued to grow and opened offices in Newcastle and Manchester in 1997, around the time that the new TX1 was introduced.
Darren Roberts Joins Patons Insurance
In 2010, Darren Roberts joined the Insurance Division as Managing Director and quickly started to expand the business. Since his arrival, Patons Insurance has expanded into Manchester and Liverpool.
In 2010, Darren Roberts joined the Insurance Division as Managing Director and quickly started to expand the business. Since his arrival, Patons Insurance has expanded into Manchester and Liverpool.
Countrywide Vehicle Rentals
In 2017, Patons completed the acquisition of Countrywide who supply plated replacement vehicles to the taxi and private hire industry. Countrywide are known for providing replacement vehicles quickly, allowing drivers to get back on the road as soon as possible so they can continue earning a living.
In 2017, Patons completed the acquisition of Countrywide who supply plated replacement vehicles to the taxi and private hire industry. Countrywide are known for providing replacement vehicles quickly, allowing drivers to get back on the road as soon as possible so they can continue earning a living.
Insurance Acquisitions
Between 2019 – 2022, Patons Insurance completed 3 acquisitions, including buying the CabShield (Dundee) and Sureplan (Middlesbrough and Hartlepool) businesses and acquiring Bestford's Taxi Insurance customers (Newcastle).
Between 2019 – 2022, Patons Insurance completed 3 acquisitions, including buying the CabShield (Dundee) and Sureplan (Middlesbrough and Hartlepool) businesses and acquiring Bestford's Taxi Insurance customers (Newcastle).
Patons Taxis launches UK wide vehicle sales
Taxi Sales prioritises CAZ-friendly, low or zero-emission vehicles, recognising the impact of Clean Air Zones on taxi drivers and taxi fleets across major UK cities.
Taxi Sales prioritises CAZ-friendly, low or zero-emission vehicles, recognising the impact of Clean Air Zones on taxi drivers and taxi fleets across major UK cities.
TaxiWorld Payment System
TaxiWorld introduced its new taxi payment system in 2022 which provides the first payment system integrated with the taxi meter in a single supplier solution.
TaxiWorld introduced its new taxi payment system in 2022 which provides the first payment system integrated with the taxi meter in a single supplier solution.
Patons Insurance Brand Refresh
A brand refresh was launched in 2023. A new logo was announced that reflected our roots along with an improved business proposition and tagline.
A brand refresh was launched in 2023. A new logo was announced that reflected our roots along with an improved business proposition and tagline.