Drive an $800 Taxi Across the Country
A Unique Road Trip with an $800 Taxi
It’s been a wild journey, and I’m excited to share some of the highlights from our road trip across the country in a taxi. The story began when we purchased a New York City taxi cab from Copart for just $800. It wasn’t exactly a Crown Victoria, but rather a Nissan NV200 that didn’t run when we first got it. With the help of King Gossin, we managed to bring it back to life and set off on this unforgettable adventure.
Day Zero: The Taxi Museum
Our journey started with a visit to the Taxidepot in Astoria, a unique museum run by Al Gallego. It’s more than just a museum—it’s also a place where he preserves various taxi technologies, repairs old taxi meters, and prepares period-correct props for city productions. One of the most memorable moments was seeing a plushy goat sitting on the back of a taxi, which was definitely photogenic. Al showed us the evolution of different taxi meters over the years, and we even saw one he had repaired. The work station where he does his repairs was fascinating to see up close.
Day One: New York to Ohio
The next day, we hit the road early, heading towards Plain City, Ohio. The drive was long, and we encountered some rain in Pennsylvania, which forced us to stop and fix the windshield wipers. A fan of the site, A. Barth, came to our rescue. We also met some friendly readers along the way, including a father and daughter who enjoyed playing with an Atari we installed in the back of the taxi.
One of the highlights was a beautiful AMX that Torch insisted on sitting in. The taxi was also parked next to the crowd and the AMX, with goats hanging around a cute log cabin in the background.
Day Two: Ohio to Illinois
As a racing fan, I was thrilled to take a detour to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway museum. There was a massive screen displaying videos of previous Indy 500 races, with Dallara DW-12 chassis in front to reflect the starting order. We also took a photo in front of the iconic pagoda.
We ended the day at Pinky’s in Lake Sara, where the food took a while to arrive, but the wait gave us a chance to watch boats on the lake.
Day Three: Illinois to Kansas
The morning started with a funny moment when the jury-rigged window from our taxi slipped off due to melting epoxy. We visited the Funfest for Air Cooled VW, where there was a Corvette museum that caught my attention.
St. Louis was a pleasant surprise, and I was fascinated by the Arch, which is actually a full oval with the other half buried underground.
Day Four: Kansas to Colorado
This day was tough due to strong winds that made the drive feel like a sailboat in a tornado. Despite the challenges, we captured some great photos. One of the most memorable moments was stopping at an A&W, which turned out to be amazing.
In Denver, we were welcomed by a huge crowd, and I was surprised to find out that Krypto the Superdog lives in Colorado.
Day Five: Colorado to Nevada
We met a fellow named Jason on our way out of Denver, and it turned out he was the same person who had seen our taxi earlier. We followed him to meet him, and it was a great encounter.
Driving through Utah reminded me of Arizona, and I enjoyed the scenic views. In Las Vegas, I experienced the city again, this time during a pandemic when everything was empty.
Day Six: Nevada to California
Our final leg of the trip took us to Los Angeles, where we stopped at Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart in Vegas to see some immersive art. The drive from Vegas to LA was relatively short, and as we approached the city, we were relieved to no longer have to stare at the back of the taxi adorned with a hotel fork amulet.
We ended our journey at Galpin Auto Sports, where we met another 2014 Nissan NV200. We celebrated with dinner at the Horseless Carriage, a unique venue that isn’t actually red.
Final Thoughts
This road trip was filled with laughter, wisdom, and unforgettable experiences. From the taxi museum to the vibrant streets of Denver and the scenic drives across the country, every moment was special. I want to thank all the readers who joined us and made this journey possible.
For more photos from the trip, you can click here. Especially if you're a reader in Vegas, there are some great shots of your cars on the strip.
All photos (except the one above): Griffin Riley