@@edwardpearce1138 Fascinating. I thought the whole objective of the 292 was to be more durable than the 250. A gas engine for fleet purchasers of medium to heavy trucks. Not exactly an economy engine but, better on gas than the optional V8's.
Back when I was a kid in the 1970s, we had a neighbor with a Marathon wagon painted a color I can only describe as Hearing Aid Beigh. It really stood out in that Era of vinyl topped broughams with crushed velour and leather from Corinth. It was cool in a very uncool way.
How odd! I also had a neighbor in the early 70s that had one. I watched him paint it yellow in his front yard. He was an odd fellow! I lived in Sturgis Michigan.
Something interesting about taxis that a cab driver told me- back in the days before email and FAX machines, businesses would send someone around in a cab to hand deliver paperwork/documents to be signed. If you wanted quick local delivery of documents (besides using a courier) you'd use a taxi. He told me when fax machines caught on, he actually lost a lot of business!
I had one. Roomy doesn't begin to describe the interior. You could fit a bike in the back seat area, or in the trunk and close it. I'm 6'4" and could sit in the back and extend my legs straight forward. You could also fix six full sized adults comfortably. It was built like a tank, a slow comfortable tank. Rustproofing wasn't needed for two reasons. 1) Later versions had fiberglass body panels. No rust. 2) When you open the door look at the exposed bolts. It was a modular design that could be taken apart with fairly simple tools and have any door or panel replaced quickly. Because there weren't year to year changes every cab company had spares ready to go. After an accident it could have a new door and quarter panel replaced and be back on the road before the shift was over. Front and rear bumpers were very thick steel, so accidents didn't do much damage. Skid plates underneath were standard equipment so if you hit something like a rim or elevated manhole cover the car would slide right over.
It is funny that you mentioned a bike. The one time I ever road in a Checker, I had a bicycle to carry along with my luggage for the ride to the Airport.
Honorable mention about the Checker: The turning radius is insane, especially for a car that big (it makes sense, but it's still amazing)! It also dwarfs a 1955 Chevy. It's easily as big as a modern bloated crossover. It's a stunning machine!
I remember riding in these occasionally in the 60s and 70s. I remember them having fold-down jump seats mounted to the rear of the front seat to carry additional passengers. I hated when they faded from the scene. They were as iconic as the black London cabs.
OBSESSED with Checkers! I love the 50s style, rugged reliability and massive interior. I cant understand why they STILL cant achieve this kind of room and comfort in larger cars and SUVs, even a suburban is much longer yet far more cramped and not nearly as comfortable . I truly believe there is a market for big, roomy, but more basic affordable cars like this, for practical people who dont want to race or sit in hard racing seats, but just want room, comfort, reliability and reasonable gas mileage. I was only lucky enough to ride in one once, as a teen in a college town, after most companies had switched to cramped "full sized" cars, and I was snitten by how easy it was to get in, how quiet and comfy, and easy to see out of this big, but actually tidy in length, well packaged tank . No its not a futuristic car but that just adds to its charm . I'd own one now if they'd stayed in production, with only tequied govt options, love the vent windiws and crank windows which will never break, and if course, the comfort if a sofa likd bench seats which cannot be matched by even the most expensive luxury car today. Thanks so much for reviewing this epic, legendary piece of Anerican car culture, and half a century if pop culture and really, genetal Anerican history!
There's a rolling example in town that I admire! The history of Checker is so interesting, they really put the customer first with all of that back seat space. The ultimate Back Seat Review.
I have a regular length Grand Marquis... side to side there is a ton of room, but when my seat is back I would not be able to sit behind my seat there is so little foot room. I had no idea taxis had a longer length to the interior and doors in back. Front to back the room is probably less than a Civic or close to it. Even weirder, my nephew is taller than me and his knees touch the dash with the driver's seat all the way back. 22 feet of car, 60% engine bay and trunk. The people I bought it from wanted a car that could fit in their garage.
These were tough, but quirky vehicles. I had a friend in college (mid-1960s) that drove one. It was the family car. This design came out around 1956. Dual headlights were grafted on in 1958. The car was made available for private purchase in 1959 and was called the Superba. A wagon version was also offered. The rear compartment could be fitted with two jump seats that tucked behind the front seat when not in use, similar to limousines of the time making the Checker an 8-passenger vehicle. Before switching to Chevy six and eight cylinder power in 1965, Checker used Continental engines. The guardrail bumpers were required beginning in 1974. Before then, the chrome bumpers weren't too bad looking. Morris Markin owned the Checker Cab Co. in Chicago as well as the car's manufacturing facilities in Michigan. There was talk of a redesigned Checker for 1983 based on the Chevy Citation. However, that never happened. Like the famous London Taxi, the Checker was unique and served its time with honor, dignity and grace.
I'm so happy they never made the one based on the Chevy Citation. I truly wish they still were in production, in the '50s style. Not only for the use as cabs, but for civilian production. I would so own one. I miss seeing them in movies & television. As well as riding in them.
@@scottbiddle3967 Checker was experimenting with a FWD, transverse-engine cab (Google "Checker Model D") in the late 1940s, so FWD was not new to the company. The stretched Citation that Checker was testing could have made a decent cab, with legroom similar to the old Checkers, a big luggage area, and a platform shared with the A-body cars that GM would continue making for another 12 years. With the Citation going out of production in 1985, Checker could have taken the dies and used Celebrity, Century or Cutlass parts for whatever they didn't make in-house.
I’ve always been intensely fascinated by Checker cars. I grew up in the 80’s in a suburb of Pittsburgh so I don’t know if I ever rode in a Checker cab or not. But these are really interesting cars that were intentionally overbuilt to withstand the rigors of taxi duty. And with a GM drivetrain they would be cheap and simple to maintain. This is the era when a GM drivetrain would run for a long time. That’s not always the case now.
I test drove a new 1970 Marathon in Atlanta. I ended up buying a 1970 Monte Carlo because it was way less "frumpy" than the Checker. But the Marathon did drive just fine. Of note about the wheelcovers on this car - They were made by Lyon Mfg. and the design started out as a Studebaker full disc wheelcover on 1959 thru '63s. The only change being the Checker logo replacing the lazy S of Studebaker decor. Also, it looks as tho the same chromed ash trays in the rear seat area look to be the exact same ones used in various Studebaker models of the 50s and 60s.
Fun Fact: Richard Pryor's 1978 film 'Blue Collar' takes place in the real Checker factory. You can see the whole kit & caboodle as the cars roll through the assembly line.
Growing up in the NYC (actually NJ) area, these were all over Manhattan. When I was kid in the 80's (this example is the same age as me 🤣🤣) my parents would take me to the Ringling Bros Circus. Then, we would take a "Checker Cab" somewhere to find a nice place to eat afterwards. Usually a "Beefsteak Charlies" or something like that. I also first saw the World Trade Center (Twin Towers) through the window of one of these back in the early 80's. In TV world Archie Bunker (All in the Family) drove one of theses. And let's not forget the TV series "Taxi".
BRAVO ZACK! Thank you so much for making such an excellent video of my Checker. As with all my cars you've recorded it was an absolute pleasure to work with you!! I think the only factual information that is worth mentioning is that when Checker stopped producing the A11/A12 in 1982 they switched gears and only helped other car manufacturers make car parts until 2010. Regardless, thank you so much! Since you filmed it I've still been daily driving it and it has been just phenomenal.
Many, many moons ago, when I was in high school - I graduated in 1980 - I wanted a Checker Marathon as my first car. It never happened, but I just loved Checker cars, and I still do!
The taxi version had these small jump seats that would fold out so kids could sit there and the adults got the bench seat in the rear. Rode in these plenty of times growing up in Ny
These are the Speed Queen of automobiles. If anyone is familiar with that brand, they make professional grade laundry equipment, but also sell them for home use, but they use identical mechanical components. Just as plain and utilitarian as a Checker, and also just as durable, easy to repair
Cool 😎 video about the checker marathon- I saw 👀 it in movies 🎥 and tv shows and I used to dream of driving in a car 🚘 like it- it’s great 👍 that guy lie let you drive it for a history lesson on the car 🚘 Thanks for sharing us on this one! 😊😊😊😊😊😊
Interesting to note, that by configuration alone, the Checker is technically a limousine. Rear seating set far behind the doorway, which is why the leg room is so spacious.
We've got a long wheelbase Marathon that was originally used as a personal limousine. It has a full width folding set of 50/50 split jump seats that form a third bench seat that can be stowed when not needed. It's a huge hit with kids at every car show and very handy in a pinch!
That door ajar light is not a big step from interior light(s) that light up when the door is open, some wires to the dash and a little bulb would do the trick.
Of all the cultural references to taxi cabs, somehow this is what came to mind: “The dawn is breaking, it’s early morn’ The taxi’s waiting, it’s blowing its horn Already I’m so lonesome I could cry…”
I’m leaving on a Jet plane, Don’t know when I’ll be back again .” [ John Denver 1969 - Best version of the song: John Denver, and “Momma “ Cass Elliot ‼️] 🚗📻😁😊
Growing up, there were 2 in my neighborhood. An older Marathon wagon. Which was parked at an apartment complex. And a drop-dead-gorgeous ,probably a ‘72 or ‘73 [ first year for the humongous bumpers] maroon, black vinyl roof, pinstripes, and black interior. It was such a beautiful car. I never met the owners of these cars, though I tried. The A-8 body style came out in 1956, In 1958, it was slightly restyled, Dual headlights, mesh grill, in place of the heavy chrome bar, and tail lights. They ran on a Continental engine [ NOT Lincoln Continental ]. In 1965, they switched to Chevrolet engines. Love your videos. * they could be a little longer. 🚗📻🙂
Fun video. Great info! In the early 1970’s, I worked at a Checker dealer in Brookline, Massachusetts, in the parts department, then sales support (I cleaned and delivered Checkers). As you mentioned, most of our customers were cab companies or independent cab owners/operators. Checkers were popular with Boston’s cabbies. One reason is that any required body work was simplified by the easily replaceable body panels. Another shout-out to the rear pop-up seats! ;)
@@UraniumBullets I appreciate that. But that was over 50 years ago (yikes), and I had low-level jobs. I don't really remember very much that would be of interest to anyone. Seeing Leno drive into the parking lot of a car meet in a Chrysler Turbine - now THAT was interesting. :) (I don't think I can post a picture link here.) Keep up the great videos.
How I loved that car! My first face-to-face meeting with one took place in 1982 on an Eastern Airlines commercial. We used one as a picture car at Miami International Airport. I was the guy who found it at a local cab company named "Friendly Checker." I had to "greek" the letters to make them unrecognizable. Then I got to drive it! It was a beast! The following year on a beer commercial I worked with a sound man who drove a Marathon! I loved working with him, helping him pack all of his recording equipment--booms, cable, all kinds of microphones--into the back seat and floor of that cavernous car interior. If I had been fortunate enough to discover one for sell, I'd jump on it.
Had a chance once to buy a 1973 Checker Aerobus ( the limo with 4 passenger doors on each side 4 bench seats in the back that was designed as an airport shuttle). The guy only wanted $ 1000.00 for it but it had some rust and was longer than a modern Escalade so you could imagine how fun it would be to park. As such I passed on it but I always regret doing that because it was very cool.
You are getting better and better at giving more information about history of the cars you are presenting. I believe this was your best video. Great job. 👍
It not only has a Chevy drivetrain, but the steering column is also GM, as well as the locks with the square/round keys. I think the steering wheel is from an early 70s Chevelle. This was a great video! I really learned a lot about this car.
True but before only GM they were AMC/Jeep, (Saginaw) steering columns. Steering wheels were Studebaker before the GMs (Chevy). My 1972 is what Novas used. Later they were the ugly 3 spoke plastic GMs.
The TV show Taxi also used these. But buying one of these in 1977 would be like buying a car today that came out in 2003 and hasn’t been changed at all.
I have seen a Checker in Sydney Australia actually saw it many times it was parked in used car dealership in all its yellow and black paint also l had no idea it was an actual separate taxi cab manufacturer thanks for that today l learnt some thing new cheers Zack
When I landed my first job after college in 1986 I flew into Chicago and rode into one of these. Probably the last era before they disappeared from the landscape. Reminded me of being a rider in the movie "Taxi Driver". Thanks for documenting these rare and often forgotten vehicles.
100% as a kid and being a car nut i was convinced they were 56 chevy sedans and actually asked my dad how they decided that a 56 chevy was the best taxi .......he explained the Checker brand to me and how they were on GM powrtrains I believe Checker also made parts for such as truck cabs for General Motors in a partnership for quite a long time
Our Air Force motor-pool in the early 80s had an eight-door Checker airport-cab powered by a 350 Chevy engine. A 1971 model. THEN, a similar eight-door 1975 Buick was added to our fleet. It looked like a whale!
@@jimstrict-998The 8 doors were quite rare; I do recall seeing a few but they had the same storage space as the 6 door as well as the 4 door for luggage & seem quite redundant. I always saw them by National Airport ( Reagan ) on route 1 going to & from the airport. The Air Force always had interesting vehicles in there motor -pool looking at old films on TH-cam.
Ive been to the old checker factory. Those things were everywhere, because they were all the same and were repaired with parts from others, like fenders, after accidents. Because they were all exactly the same. The u.s. Federal put them out of business. Particularly the 3 letter agency created by the office of president nixon. No one build cars with rust prevention measures, because they didn't need to. Cars didn't rust like they do now. In 1976 Michigan outlawed studded tires and chains. That's when they started using salt. Other northeastern states were similar. It's a shame what was done to them, i remember people lamenting, because they were perfect cabs, with awesome passenger compartments and trunks. Lots of room, people would shop and load them up. Nothing good replaced them.
I would love to daily drive a checker. I think I could fit more tools and other supplies in a checker than I can in my work truck and still be able to fit a passenger which I can rarely do now lol. Super awesome and underrated cars in my mind
I’ve seen one exactly like this at a used car lot in Berkeley California, a late model white civilian checker, the only difference is that it had extra rear facing jump seats in the back.
For years I kept an eye out for one of these to buy used. I figured since they were made so long they'd be a fairly common "classic" car that I could buy for cheap. Never saw _any_ for sale near me, and basically gave up looking for them a few years ago. Didn't realize they had no rust-proofing, so that explains why I've never seen any up north where I live. I'm surprised you didn't mention the poorly matched bumpers when you were talking about the safety stuff. Pretty sure those are the product of having to update the bumpers to 5-mph bumpers in the early '70s. Older Checkers have bumpers that actually match the curves of the car.
My dad bought a Checker from Dick Dye Imports in Oakland in 1970. It sat on the lot for 2 years before that, NOS. I grew up in that car we Took it all over California. It had a Chevy 307 V8, I sold it in October 2022 after it had been in my family 52 years. Sad to see it go but it sat for 15 years in my garage unused. I could not drive it or fix it to make it drivable. Almost 300K miles.
Would never work. Too many people want too many gizmos today that practically drive the car for you. Couldn’t work as a cab either with all those new ADA requirements that pushed the crown Vic out of cab duty. It’s why so many cabs in NYC are minivans, cause wheelchairs fit
Fond memories of riding around in New York City in Checker taxi cabs in the 1970s and early 1980s, but it almost doesn't look right unless it's bright yellow. And I've ridden in the fold-down jump seats in the back before. I wish my dad was still around to see this video. There were hundreds of these in New York City back then. You might see at least two or three stopped at the same traffic light.
Always loved the look of the Checker. I remember seeing these in the city and the airport limo version running on the Connecticut Turnpike. The Checker instantly makes me think of Crown school busses, could be brand new but looks 30 years old. Thanks for the informative video.
Here's another tidbit, the cab version had little booster seats that can fit a small adult right behind the bench seat so in total it can fit 5 people in the back 👍👍👍
"Check strap" is what you call the thing that keeps the door from flinging open all the way. I only know because I replaced one on my 2005 Scion xB yesterday. Had to order it all the way from Japan!
Zack, You are looking at this Checker from a historical perspective and as you say, most were specifically intended for the taxi trade. Today we could really use a modern, purpose-built taxi as they have in Britain and Japan.
Thanks, Zack, for providing focus to an automobile that rarely enjoys a retrospective. However, you need a history lesson about commercial aviation. By 1976, airlines had been carrying passengers for more than 50 years. Western Air Express, which later became Western Airlines, TWA and Delta, took passengers from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles on May 23, 1926. Hardly a "new technology". I, myself, took my first fight in 1969.
Yes, the comment about jet airliners was a little naive, but the kind of thing you would expect from someone who was not alive in the era. As a child we flew around the world on 707 and DC8 jets. That was 1962.@@simonbone
I mean, I wouldn't say it was a knockoff. The body started in 1955 as the A-8. The only real difference was single headlights rather than the dual headlights of 1960-82
Had one of those 6's in a 78 Nova. Great engine, very reliable, but not so reliable when you bury throttle at around 100mph for 3 hours plus. Seemed to have developed quite the tick after that.
In Home Alone 2, Kevin McCallister gets driven to New York in a Checker Marathon after he finds out that’s his family’s in Florida and he’s in New York. Cue All Alone on Christmas
I'm from Israel, and you won't believe it but these were used here as taxicabs as well, in the 60's and 70's mostly. I remember seeing and riding in a few as a kid. Here they were black and had yellow striping under the window line. The last of them disappeared around 1981, as Mercedes w123's took over. I haven't seen a single one on the road since then. Too Bad.
I went to a small Christian school in the 70s, and the parents had to drive their kids to school every day. There was one family that drove their kids to school in a tan Checker Marathon. I managed to get one picture of it, but the camera I borrowed took black and white pictures. I remember seeing advertisements for Checker, and one thing they said about them was that they had "chair-high seating" During the same time period when these were made, GM made a transit bus called New Look (They were also known as Fishbowls.) The Fishbowls were just as iconic as the Checker cabs.
Back in the 1970’s no cars had cup holders other than on the back of glove compartment doors. My cousin had the 1975 Marathon with the limousine package. It eliminated the rear quarter windows and added a vinyl top. He opted for the 350cu in V8 and rear jump seats that folded behind the front seat. An electric divider window was also an option. It was silver with a maroon interior and black vinyl top.
Reminds me of my first ever visit to the US in 1978. Outside the terminal at JFK I spotted a stretch Checker airport limo and could not believe my eyes 😮
Decades ago, I had a summer job driving a Checker cab in New York City. Drove like a tank, seats were different, rattled and shook along with a lot of breakdowns. The cab also had jumpseats.
Back in the late '60s (ish), during an Air Traffic Controller strike, my mom and I were flying from St. Louis to our home in central Michigan. We got as far as Detroit. The airline ended up putting a bunch of us in a Checker cab for the 100+ mile drive home. I remember the back seat being huge, but that's about it.
As a young teenager in the late 60s/early 70s, I collected car brochures. Most were easily acquired by visiting dealer showrooms, but a few required a bit more effort. In the back of a magazine, probably National Geographic, I saw a small ad for the Checker Marathon and sent my request for a brochure. It was unintentionally hilarious. In an era when many car brochures featured a scantily clad babe sprawled across the hood, the Checker brochure (printed in black and white) showed unsmiling people in dowdy clothes and sensible shoes. I wish I still had it.
Wow !!! Yes lots of memories. I was born in N Y and there were times my mom needed a cab and I remember being 7,8 and 9 years old riding in the checkers taxicabs. You forgot to mention the taxi cab edition even had jump seats in the back for extra passengers.
There is a lot of Chevy in that car. I recognize the steering wheel, gear shifter, exterior door handles, and straight-6 250 ci engine from the 1975 Chevy Nova that I drove in the mid-80s. The cavernous space of the interior and lack of rust-proofing are reminiscent of my Grandmother's 1952 Chevy Deluxe.
Last vestige if E.L. Cord's auto empire! Friends growing up had one, it was a hoot. Slow, but always started, nothing stopped it, in West Virginia, even in the winter!
there is a second marathon in oregon city or in light blue ,my friend steve had it since early 80s .dont know where its at presently but cool car ,i always judge the year by looking at the hood gap ,it got bigger every year as the dies wore out
I wish we had more American brands....who also made decent, competitive, reliable cars. The only one really going places atm is Tesla. Ford and GM are in steep decline and are leaving segments and abandoning markets across the world. Chrysler is not even American anymore and their brands are husks that wont get much investment or have the opportunity to become global brands. And all just have such poor reliability and quality issues. Just embarrassing.
Chrysler has now been absorbed into the STELLANTIS Group , along with Fiat, et-al. So any Chrysler products will be rebadged global vehicles. However, RAM is Global. RAM sales in Europe has increased 47%, And there are models that North America does not get. 🚗📻🙂
America is rapidly becoming a larger version of Cuba. Have you seen the obscene prices of vintage cars, lately? If it weren't for our unique expertise in hook, crook, grift, graft, and EZ Credit, we'd be even worse off than Venezuela.
I don’t know about by 1976, but Checker used Borg Warner transmissions in the 60’s. Studebaker had to buy some kind of coupling from them when they also switched to GM engines in 1965.
No, it would have been a GM Turbo-Hydromatic - I think I have seen references to it as the 400, but that seems like a little overkill behind the 250 6 cylinder.
I love the 50s style of these. It was made to do one thing and it was good at it. I've read some of the vintage brochures marketing these to private customers. The selling points were that it was inexpensive, reliable, easy to fix, durable, and spacious. It was for someone who had nothing to prove to anyone and simply was concerned with transportation. There was an even longer wheelbase variant with even bigger back doors. It was marketed as the limousine model but was also popular as a wheelchair-accessible vehicle because of the huge doors and back seat. I've seen a limousine model with the vinyl roof and opera windows and it's odd-looking. I love the parts-bin approach to building these. These largely used GM parts. It's possible to approximately date these by looking at them because Checker made very minor changes every few years like the sidemarkers, the bumpers, and wiper linkage as required by legislation or parts supply. I wouldn't mind having a Marathon wagon. I hope someone offers you a four-row Aerobus to review. They look absurd. Before vans and minibuses became common, stretched sedans and wagons like the Aerobus and Jetway were used for transporting people from airports to hotels.
I went to a private high school back in the late 70’s. Our school had one of those 4 row aero-buses for our sports teams, to shuttle them to other schools during each of the sports seasons.
I'm Aussie, and I know what a Checker Marathon is. The quintessential American yellow cab. I'm not surprised to see a 1976 Checker Marathon still in good working order. Kept away from places that produce a lot of rust, they'd pretty much go forever.
Yes Zack I've always wanted 1 of these cars. My 1st Marathon ride was in NYC in 1974. And I friend in the late 80's who had a gray A12 & when I 1st saw it, it was like seeing a unicorn. It was well worn but still in great shape, despite our Ohio winters & it was just so comfortable & he said it was like a tank, just unstoppable. PS I really enjoyed this video.
Growing up in New Jersey across from New York City, we were very familiar with Checker cabs. We actually had a Checker dealer in our town of Union and they usually had 2 cars in the showroom. One being a sedan the other was a wagon which was butt ugly. They even once had a limousine. I remember looking at the brochure and you could get your car in one of 13 colors. They had a ton of space in the back and lasted forever but were so ugly.😂
Checker is the character actor of cars; makes appearances in thousands of movies, gets none of the fame
These cars were designed to get the absolute snot beaten out of them while lasting for a million miles.
I'm surprised that Checker didn't offer the Chevy 292 truck six as the base engine. A bit more power but, much more rugged than the 250 inline six.
@@BlackPill-pu4vi I've had them both. The 250 was a more durable engine and used way less gas than the 292.
@@edwardpearce1138 Fascinating. I thought the whole objective of the 292 was to be more durable than the 250. A gas engine for fleet purchasers of medium to heavy trucks. Not exactly an economy engine but, better on gas than the optional V8's.
Back when I was a kid in the 1970s, we had a neighbor with a Marathon wagon painted a color I can only describe as Hearing Aid Beigh. It really stood out in that Era of vinyl topped broughams with crushed velour and leather from Corinth. It was cool in a very uncool way.
I know exactly what color you're talking about!
hearing aid beige 🤣🤣🤣
Marathon WAGON. That's Unicorn Farts rare!
How odd! I also had a neighbor in the early 70s that had one. I watched him paint it yellow in his front yard. He was an odd fellow! I lived in Sturgis Michigan.
Lmao! The hearing aid beige really got me for some reason. That was genius!
Something interesting about taxis that a cab driver told me- back in the days before email and FAX machines, businesses would send someone around in a cab to hand deliver paperwork/documents to be signed. If you wanted quick local delivery of documents (besides using a courier) you'd use a taxi. He told me when fax machines caught on, he actually lost a lot of business!
Local taxi carriers still often do such in small towns and outlying areas.
I had one. Roomy doesn't begin to describe the interior. You could fit a bike in the back seat area, or in the trunk and close it. I'm 6'4" and could sit in the back and extend my legs straight forward. You could also fix six full sized adults comfortably.
It was built like a tank, a slow comfortable tank.
Rustproofing wasn't needed for two reasons.
1) Later versions had fiberglass body panels. No rust.
2) When you open the door look at the exposed bolts. It was a modular design that could be taken apart with fairly simple tools and have any door or panel replaced quickly. Because there weren't year to year changes every cab company had spares ready to go. After an accident it could have a new door and quarter panel replaced and be back on the road before the shift was over.
Front and rear bumpers were very thick steel, so accidents didn't do much damage. Skid plates underneath were standard equipment so if you hit something like a rim or elevated manhole cover the car would slide right over.
It is funny that you mentioned a bike. The one time I ever road in a Checker, I had a bicycle to carry along with my luggage for the ride to the Airport.
Honorable mention about the Checker: The turning radius is insane, especially for a car that big (it makes sense, but it's still amazing)! It also dwarfs a 1955 Chevy. It's easily as big as a modern bloated crossover. It's a stunning machine!
I remember riding in these occasionally in the 60s and 70s. I remember them having fold-down jump seats mounted to the rear of the front seat to carry additional passengers. I hated when they faded from the scene. They were as iconic as the black London cabs.
OBSESSED with Checkers! I love the 50s style, rugged reliability and massive interior.
I cant understand why they STILL cant achieve this kind of room and comfort in larger cars and SUVs, even a suburban is much longer yet far more cramped and not nearly as comfortable .
I truly believe there is a market for big, roomy, but more basic affordable cars like this, for practical people who dont want to race or sit in hard racing seats, but just want room, comfort, reliability and reasonable gas mileage.
I was only lucky enough to ride in one once, as a teen in a college town, after most companies had switched to cramped "full sized" cars, and I was snitten by how easy it was to get in, how quiet and comfy, and easy to see out of this big, but actually tidy in length, well packaged tank .
No its not a futuristic car but that just adds to its charm .
I'd own one now if they'd stayed in production, with only tequied govt options, love the vent windiws and crank windows which will never break, and if course, the comfort if a sofa likd bench seats which cannot be matched by even the most expensive luxury car today.
Thanks so much for reviewing this epic, legendary piece of Anerican car culture, and half a century if pop culture and really, genetal Anerican history!
There's a rolling example in town that I admire! The history of Checker is so interesting, they really put the customer first with all of that back seat space. The ultimate Back Seat Review.
On the initial drive home when I purchased the one in the video, I ended up sleeping on the floor for a couple hours while my friend drove.
I have a regular length Grand Marquis... side to side there is a ton of room, but when my seat is back I would not be able to sit behind my seat there is so little foot room. I had no idea taxis had a longer length to the interior and doors in back. Front to back the room is probably less than a Civic or close to it. Even weirder, my nephew is taller than me and his knees touch the dash with the driver's seat all the way back. 22 feet of car, 60% engine bay and trunk. The people I bought it from wanted a car that could fit in their garage.
These were tough, but quirky vehicles. I had a friend in college (mid-1960s) that drove one. It was the family car.
This design came out around 1956. Dual headlights were grafted on in 1958.
The car was made available for private purchase in 1959 and was called the Superba. A wagon version was also offered.
The rear compartment could be fitted with two jump seats that tucked behind the front seat when not in use, similar to limousines of the time making the Checker an 8-passenger vehicle.
Before switching to Chevy six and eight cylinder power in 1965, Checker used Continental engines.
The guardrail bumpers were required beginning in 1974. Before then, the chrome bumpers weren't too bad looking.
Morris Markin owned the Checker Cab Co. in Chicago as well as the car's manufacturing facilities in Michigan. There was talk of a redesigned Checker for 1983 based on the Chevy Citation. However, that never happened. Like the famous London Taxi, the Checker was unique and served its time with honor, dignity and grace.
My partner worker at checker motors in the 1970s and to the end, he was an office manager
I'm so happy they never made the one based on the Chevy Citation. I truly wish they still were in production, in the '50s style. Not only for the use as cabs, but for civilian production. I would so own one. I miss seeing them in movies & television. As well as riding in them.
@@scottbiddle3967 Checker was experimenting with a FWD, transverse-engine cab (Google "Checker Model D") in the late 1940s, so FWD was not new to the company. The stretched Citation that Checker was testing could have made a decent cab, with legroom similar to the old Checkers, a big luggage area, and a platform shared with the A-body cars that GM would continue making for another 12 years. With the Citation going out of production in 1985, Checker could have taken the dies and used Celebrity, Century or Cutlass parts for whatever they didn't make in-house.
I ma surprise owners of these cars don't bumper swap.
@@jonathancunningham8739 Are you referring to the chrome bumpers vs the guard rail looking aluminum?
I’ve always been intensely fascinated by Checker cars. I grew up in the 80’s in a suburb of Pittsburgh so I don’t know if I ever rode in a Checker cab or not. But these are really interesting cars that were intentionally overbuilt to withstand the rigors of taxi duty. And with a GM drivetrain they would be cheap and simple to maintain. This is the era when a GM drivetrain would run for a long time. That’s not always the case now.
The film "Blue Collar" was filmed in the Checker factory.
I watched that movie because of that as soon as I bought mine lol
Buying a Checker in the '70s is like buying a Speed Queen now.
Not fancy, but it'll last FOREVER, and just do it's job, day after day.
I test drove a new 1970 Marathon in Atlanta. I ended up buying a 1970 Monte Carlo because it was way less "frumpy" than the Checker. But the Marathon did drive just fine. Of note about the wheelcovers on this car - They were made by Lyon Mfg. and the design started out as a Studebaker full disc wheelcover on 1959 thru '63s. The only change being the Checker logo replacing the lazy S of Studebaker decor. Also, it looks as tho the same chromed ash trays in the rear seat area look to be the exact same ones used in various Studebaker models of the 50s and 60s.
Studebaker was located in South
Bend Indiana, only about an hour
south of Kalamazoo, Michigan, the home of Checker!
Fun Fact: Richard Pryor's 1978 film 'Blue Collar' takes place in the real Checker factory. You can see the whole kit & caboodle as the cars roll through the assembly line.
One of my dream cars ever since I watched Taxi as a kid.
Great show, very underrated.
@JohnnyULives-lz1ml It's on Tubi TV, if I recall. And/or Hulu.
My partner was the office manager for the checker motor car company back in the 70s in Kalamazoo Michigan
I would love to hear some stories!
Growing up in the NYC (actually NJ) area, these were all over Manhattan. When I was kid in the 80's (this example is the same age as me 🤣🤣) my parents would take me to the Ringling Bros Circus. Then, we would take a "Checker Cab" somewhere to find a nice place to eat afterwards. Usually a "Beefsteak Charlies" or something like that. I also first saw the World Trade Center (Twin Towers) through the window of one of these back in the early 80's.
In TV world Archie Bunker (All in the Family) drove one of theses. And let's not forget the TV series "Taxi".
BRAVO ZACK!
Thank you so much for making such an excellent video of my Checker. As with all my cars you've recorded it was an absolute pleasure to work with you!!
I think the only factual information that is worth mentioning is that when Checker stopped producing the A11/A12 in 1982 they switched gears and only helped other car manufacturers make car parts until 2010.
Regardless, thank you so much! Since you filmed it I've still been daily driving it and it has been just phenomenal.
You have a very good condition checker. My curiosity peaks me, how long was it after filming that this video came out?
@@-aid4084 Thank you! I believe Zack came out to film my cars sometime in October
Many, many moons ago, when I was in high school - I graduated in 1980 - I wanted a Checker Marathon as my first car. It never happened, but I just loved Checker cars, and I still do!
The taxi version had these small jump seats that would fold out so kids could sit there and the adults got the bench seat in the rear. Rode in these plenty of times growing up in Ny
These are the Speed Queen of automobiles. If anyone is familiar with that brand, they make professional grade laundry equipment, but also sell them for home use, but they use identical mechanical components. Just as plain and utilitarian as a Checker, and also just as durable, easy to repair
Cool 😎 video about the checker marathon- I saw 👀 it in movies 🎥 and tv shows and I used to dream of driving in a car 🚘 like it- it’s great 👍 that guy lie let you drive it for a history lesson on the car 🚘 Thanks for sharing us on this one! 😊😊😊😊😊😊
Interesting to note, that by configuration alone, the Checker is technically a limousine. Rear seating set far behind the doorway, which is why the leg room is so spacious.
2:49 chevy nova steering wheel
4:34 luxurious door
10:32 such a wild looking car
And a Chevy Nova engine, from the base model.
Our next door neighbors had one of these. That thing was an absolute battleship. I loved sitting in the vast back seat.
Checker cabs had folding jump seats between the front and rear bench seats to seat extra passengers.
We've got a long wheelbase Marathon that was originally used as a personal limousine. It has a full width folding set of 50/50 split jump seats that form a third bench seat that can be stowed when not needed. It's a huge hit with kids at every car show and very handy in a pinch!
That door ajar light is not a big step from interior light(s) that light up when the door is open, some wires to the dash and a little bulb would do the trick.
They have a checkered history
Of all the cultural references to taxi cabs, somehow this is what came to mind:
“The dawn is breaking, it’s early morn’
The taxi’s waiting, it’s blowing its horn
Already I’m so lonesome I could cry…”
I’m leaving on a Jet plane,
Don’t know when I’ll be back again .”
[ John Denver 1969 -
Best version of the song: John Denver, and “Momma “ Cass Elliot ‼️]
🚗📻😁😊
Growing up, there were 2 in my neighborhood. An older Marathon wagon. Which was parked at an apartment complex.
And a drop-dead-gorgeous ,probably a ‘72 or ‘73 [ first year for the humongous bumpers] maroon, black vinyl roof, pinstripes, and black interior. It was such a beautiful car. I never met the owners of these cars, though I tried.
The A-8 body style came out in 1956,
In 1958, it was slightly restyled, Dual headlights, mesh grill, in place of the heavy chrome bar, and tail lights. They ran on a Continental engine [ NOT Lincoln Continental ].
In 1965, they switched to Chevrolet engines.
Love your videos.
* they could be a little longer.
🚗📻🙂
Continental would be the same engine company that builds light aircraft engines :)
An extremely practical car.
Fun video. Great info!
In the early 1970’s, I worked at a Checker dealer in Brookline, Massachusetts, in the parts department, then sales support (I cleaned and delivered Checkers). As you mentioned, most of our customers were cab companies or independent cab owners/operators.
Checkers were popular with Boston’s cabbies. One reason is that any required body work was simplified by the easily replaceable body panels.
Another shout-out to the rear pop-up seats! ;)
I would love to have you as a guest on my podcast! I'd love to pick your brain about your time at the dealer.
@@UraniumBullets I appreciate that. But that was over 50 years ago (yikes), and I had low-level jobs. I don't really remember very much that would be of interest to anyone.
Seeing Leno drive into the parking lot of a car meet in a Chrysler Turbine - now THAT was interesting. :)
(I don't think I can post a picture link here.)
Keep up the great videos.
How I loved that car! My first face-to-face meeting with one took place in 1982 on an Eastern Airlines commercial. We used one as a picture car at Miami International Airport. I was the guy who found it at a local cab company named "Friendly Checker." I had to "greek" the letters to make them unrecognizable. Then I got to drive it! It was a beast! The following year on a beer commercial I worked with a sound man who drove a Marathon! I loved working with him, helping him pack all of his recording equipment--booms, cable, all kinds of microphones--into the back seat and floor of that cavernous car interior. If I had been fortunate enough to discover one for sell, I'd jump on it.
I never forgot about un-boltable quarter panels.
Had a chance once to buy a 1973 Checker Aerobus ( the limo with 4 passenger doors on each side 4 bench seats in the back that was designed as an airport shuttle). The guy only wanted $ 1000.00 for it but it had some rust and was longer than a modern Escalade so you could imagine how fun it would be to park. As such I passed on it but I always regret doing that because it was very cool.
They go for a pretty penny if they're running and driving nowadays
You are getting better and better at giving more information about history of the cars you are presenting. I believe this was your best video. Great job. 👍
It not only has a Chevy drivetrain, but the steering column is also GM, as well as the locks with the square/round keys. I think the steering wheel is from an early 70s Chevelle. This was a great video! I really learned a lot about this car.
Yeah the GM vans had that same column gear shifter.
True but before only GM they were AMC/Jeep, (Saginaw) steering columns. Steering wheels were Studebaker before the GMs (Chevy). My 1972 is what Novas used. Later they were the ugly 3 spoke plastic GMs.
The TV show Taxi also used these. But buying one of these in 1977 would be like buying a car today that came out in 2003 and hasn’t been changed at all.
I have seen a Checker in Sydney Australia actually saw it many times it was parked in used car dealership in all its yellow and black paint also l had no idea it was an actual separate taxi cab manufacturer thanks for that today l learnt some thing new cheers Zack
When I landed my first job after college in 1986 I flew into Chicago and rode into one of these. Probably the last era before they disappeared from the landscape. Reminded me of being a rider in the movie "Taxi Driver". Thanks for documenting these rare and often forgotten vehicles.
I would love to have one. I would have wanted the jump seats in the back so you could seat 8 instead of 6. Love them
100% as a kid and being a car nut i was convinced they were 56 chevy sedans and actually asked my dad how they decided that a 56 chevy was the best taxi .......he explained the Checker brand to me and how they were on GM powrtrains
I believe Checker also made parts for such as truck cabs for General Motors in a partnership for quite a long time
I always thought the wagons were the coolest. The ones that served the airports were huge; especially the 6 door ones.
Wagons are always the COOLEST version of any car model.
Our Air Force motor-pool in the
early 80s had an eight-door Checker airport-cab powered by a 350 Chevy engine. A 1971 model.
THEN, a similar eight-door 1975
Buick was added to our fleet. It
looked like a whale!
@@jimstrict-998The 8 doors were quite rare; I do recall seeing a few but they had the same storage space as the 6 door as well as the 4 door for luggage & seem quite redundant. I always saw them by National Airport ( Reagan ) on route 1 going to & from the airport. The Air Force always had interesting vehicles in there motor -pool looking at old films on TH-cam.
84 years latter... and we finally got it.
Ive been to the old checker factory. Those things were everywhere, because they were all the same and were repaired with parts from others, like fenders, after accidents. Because they were all exactly the same. The u.s. Federal put them out of business. Particularly the 3 letter agency created by the office of president nixon. No one build cars with rust prevention measures, because they didn't need to. Cars didn't rust like they do now. In 1976 Michigan outlawed studded tires and chains. That's when they started using salt. Other northeastern states were similar. It's a shame what was done to them, i remember people lamenting, because they were perfect cabs, with awesome passenger compartments and trunks. Lots of room, people would shop and load them up. Nothing good replaced them.
I would love to daily drive a checker. I think I could fit more tools and other supplies in a checker than I can in my work truck and still be able to fit a passenger which I can rarely do now lol. Super awesome and underrated cars in my mind
It genuinely has been the most fun and practical daily I've ever had
I’ve seen one exactly like this at a used car lot in Berkeley California, a late model white civilian checker, the only difference is that it had extra rear facing jump seats in the back.
Little known fact is that the rear quarter panels bolted on and off just like the front fenders on most passenger vehicles.
Yes, partly to aid in repairing minor shunts that taxi cabs got in. Not great quality - but this car was never confused with a Bentley.
For years I kept an eye out for one of these to buy used. I figured since they were made so long they'd be a fairly common "classic" car that I could buy for cheap. Never saw _any_ for sale near me, and basically gave up looking for them a few years ago. Didn't realize they had no rust-proofing, so that explains why I've never seen any up north where I live.
I'm surprised you didn't mention the poorly matched bumpers when you were talking about the safety stuff. Pretty sure those are the product of having to update the bumpers to 5-mph bumpers in the early '70s. Older Checkers have bumpers that actually match the curves of the car.
That's a great example of a car from the 50s...er...I mean late 70s.
I love your excitement and thinking of the emotional associations of this car. Thank you.
My dad bought a Checker from Dick Dye Imports in Oakland in 1970. It sat on the lot for 2 years before that, NOS. I grew up in that car we Took it all over California. It had a Chevy 307 V8, I sold it in October 2022 after it had been in my family 52 years. Sad to see it go but it sat for 15 years in my garage unused. I could not drive it or fix it to make it drivable. Almost 300K miles.
Checker needs to come back. They would have so much potential nowadays.
Would never work. Too many people want too many gizmos today that practically drive the car for you. Couldn’t work as a cab either with all those new ADA requirements that pushed the crown Vic out of cab duty. It’s why so many cabs in NYC are minivans, cause wheelchairs fit
Very much a part of the TV show TAXI. They were seen everywhere on that show
About 10 years ago I actually drove on as a valet driver! It made my day!
Nice! So cool you got to review Dan’s car
Fond memories of riding around in New York City in Checker taxi cabs in the 1970s and early 1980s, but it almost doesn't look right unless it's bright yellow. And I've ridden in the fold-down jump seats in the back before. I wish my dad was still around to see this video. There were hundreds of these in New York City back then. You might see at least two or three stopped at the same traffic light.
Always loved the look of the Checker. I remember seeing these in the city and the airport limo version running on the Connecticut Turnpike. The Checker instantly makes me think of Crown school busses, could be brand new but looks 30 years old. Thanks for the informative video.
Here's another tidbit, the cab version had little booster seats that can fit a small adult right behind the bench seat so in total it can fit 5 people in the back 👍👍👍
I'm actively on the hunt to put those in mine lol
Yep, sure did.
🚗📻🙂
"Check strap" is what you call the thing that keeps the door from flinging open all the way. I only know because I replaced one on my 2005 Scion xB yesterday. Had to order it all the way from Japan!
This is so cool, I’d love one of these
It's genuinely the best car I've ever owned
I remember an old timer telling me they were also built on 3/4 ton gm truck frames !
Zack, You are looking at this Checker from a historical perspective and as you say, most were specifically intended for the taxi trade. Today we could really use a modern, purpose-built taxi as they have in Britain and Japan.
Thanks, Zack, for providing focus to an automobile that rarely enjoys a retrospective. However, you need a history lesson about commercial aviation. By 1976, airlines had been carrying passengers for more than 50 years. Western Air Express, which later became Western Airlines, TWA and Delta, took passengers from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles on May 23, 1926. Hardly a "new technology". I, myself, took my first fight in 1969.
Jet airliners were the relatively new technology I guess he means, entering service at roughly the same time as the Marathon.
Yes, the comment about jet airliners was a little naive, but the kind of thing you would expect from someone who was not alive in the era. As a child we flew around the world on 707 and DC8 jets. That was 1962.@@simonbone
I love how Checker made 56 Chevy knockoffs clear into the 1980's.
I mean, I wouldn't say it was a knockoff. The body started in 1955 as the A-8. The only real difference was single headlights rather than the dual headlights of 1960-82
I remember when you could go to Sears or JC Penny auto and have Air Conditioning installed in your car and it looked just like that one in this car.
I've been waiting on this one!!
You and me both lol
Got to love them !
The Newark, NJ fire department had a few of these used for Battalion and Deputy Chiefs' cars. Red, of course, with a double-beacon lightbar.
any fire marshal cars or cop cars?
@@henrywhyte I never saw a Checker used for police service in Newark. Some of the special units in the Fire Department might have used them.
@@henrywhyte Chelsea also used these as fire cars. There are several police departments that used these cars, Kalamazoo is one.
I remember seeing these but don’t recall riding in one. Great review!
Had one of those 6's in a 78 Nova. Great engine, very reliable, but not so reliable when you bury throttle at around 100mph for 3 hours plus. Seemed to have developed quite the tick after that.
In Home Alone 2, Kevin McCallister gets driven to New York in a Checker Marathon after he finds out that’s his family’s in Florida and he’s in New York.
Cue All Alone on Christmas
*Forgotten* American icon? This car is literally a famous symbol of New York City and almost everybody knows and recognizes it.
I'm from Israel, and you won't believe it but these were used here as taxicabs as well, in the 60's and 70's mostly. I remember seeing and riding in a few as a kid. Here they were black and had yellow striping under the window line. The last of them disappeared around 1981, as Mercedes w123's took over. I haven't seen a single one on the road since then. Too Bad.
Isreal cars were specially manufactured to country specifications.
I went to a small Christian school in the 70s, and the parents had to drive their kids to school every day. There was one family that drove their kids to school in a tan Checker Marathon. I managed to get one picture of it, but the camera I borrowed took black and white pictures. I remember seeing advertisements for Checker, and one thing they said about them was that they had "chair-high seating" During the same time period when these were made, GM made a transit bus called New Look (They were also known as Fishbowls.) The Fishbowls were just as iconic as the Checker cabs.
Back in the 1970’s no cars had cup holders other than on the back of glove compartment doors. My cousin had the 1975 Marathon with the limousine package. It eliminated the rear quarter windows and added a vinyl top. He opted for the 350cu in V8 and rear jump seats that folded behind the front seat. An electric divider window was also an option. It was silver with a maroon interior and black vinyl top.
Reminds me of my first ever visit to the US in 1978. Outside the terminal at JFK I spotted a stretch Checker airport limo and could not believe my eyes 😮
Decades ago, I had a summer job driving a Checker cab in New York City. Drove like a tank, seats were different, rattled and shook along with a lot of breakdowns. The cab also had jumpseats.
In the 70s I hung out with a group of guys of drove these. They were the most dependable and easiest cars to fix I came across. Fun times.
Back in the late '60s (ish), during an Air Traffic Controller strike, my mom and I were flying from St. Louis to our home in central Michigan. We got as far as Detroit. The airline ended up putting a bunch of us in a Checker cab for the 100+ mile drive home. I remember the back seat being huge, but that's about it.
I'v seen these at a local car show and always thought it would be a cool car to own.
As a young teenager in the late 60s/early 70s, I collected car brochures. Most were easily acquired by visiting dealer showrooms, but a few required a bit more effort. In the back of a magazine, probably National Geographic, I saw a small ad for the Checker Marathon and sent my request for a brochure. It was unintentionally hilarious. In an era when many car brochures featured a scantily clad babe sprawled across the hood, the Checker brochure (printed in black and white) showed unsmiling people in dowdy clothes and sensible shoes. I wish I still had it.
I now need to hunt for that!
Wow !!! Yes lots of memories. I was born in N Y and there were times my mom needed a cab and I remember being 7,8 and 9 years old riding in the checkers taxicabs. You forgot to mention the taxi cab edition even had jump seats in the back for extra passengers.
this thing is same age as my mom. but aside from watching tv shows this is a very reconizeable car espically its headlights and the rear wheels
There is a lot of Chevy in that car. I recognize the steering wheel, gear shifter, exterior door handles, and straight-6 250 ci engine from the 1975 Chevy Nova that I drove in the mid-80s. The cavernous space of the interior and lack of rust-proofing are reminiscent of my Grandmother's 1952 Chevy Deluxe.
I don't know if they kept it until the end, but for many years the frame was '58 Chevy.
@@christopherconard2831nope, never. 58 Chevy had an X frame. Checker had a Checker designed ladder frame dating to 1956.
Last vestige if E.L. Cord's auto empire! Friends growing up had one, it was a hoot. Slow, but always started, nothing stopped it, in West Virginia, even in the winter!
I can't wait to start driving mine in some tough winter weather
there is a second marathon in oregon city or in light blue ,my friend steve had it since early 80s .dont know where its at presently but cool car ,i always judge the year by looking at the hood gap ,it got bigger every year as the dies wore out
Too bad you didn't mention Martin Scorsese's movie, Taxi Driver, starring Robert Dinero. He drove a Checker throughout the whole movie.
I wish we had more American brands....who also made decent, competitive, reliable cars.
The only one really going places atm is Tesla.
Ford and GM are in steep decline and are leaving segments and abandoning markets across the world.
Chrysler is not even American anymore and their brands are husks that wont get much investment or have the opportunity to become global brands.
And all just have such poor reliability and quality issues. Just embarrassing.
Chrysler has now been absorbed into the STELLANTIS Group , along with Fiat, et-al.
So any Chrysler products will be rebadged global vehicles. However, RAM is Global.
RAM sales in Europe has increased 47%,
And there are models that North America does not get.
🚗📻🙂
America is rapidly becoming a larger version of Cuba. Have you seen the obscene prices of vintage cars, lately?
If it weren't for our unique expertise in hook, crook, grift, graft, and EZ Credit, we'd be even worse off than Venezuela.
I don’t know about by 1976, but Checker used Borg Warner transmissions in the 60’s. Studebaker had to buy some kind of coupling from them when they also switched to GM engines in 1965.
No, it would have been a GM Turbo-Hydromatic - I think I have seen references to it as the 400, but that seems like a little overkill behind the 250 6 cylinder.
I love the 50s style of these. It was made to do one thing and it was good at it. I've read some of the vintage brochures marketing these to private customers. The selling points were that it was inexpensive, reliable, easy to fix, durable, and spacious. It was for someone who had nothing to prove to anyone and simply was concerned with transportation. There was an even longer wheelbase variant with even bigger back doors. It was marketed as the limousine model but was also popular as a wheelchair-accessible vehicle because of the huge doors and back seat. I've seen a limousine model with the vinyl roof and opera windows and it's odd-looking.
I love the parts-bin approach to building these. These largely used GM parts. It's possible to approximately date these by looking at them because Checker made very minor changes every few years like the sidemarkers, the bumpers, and wiper linkage as required by legislation or parts supply. I wouldn't mind having a Marathon wagon.
I hope someone offers you a four-row Aerobus to review. They look absurd. Before vans and minibuses became common, stretched sedans and wagons like the Aerobus and Jetway were used for transporting people from airports to hotels.
I went to a private high school back in the late 70’s. Our school had one of those 4 row aero-buses for our sports teams, to shuttle them to other schools during each of the sports seasons.
Yy😅
Your door is A jar.
No it's not!
It's a door.
I’ve seen a couple of these in my life (the civilian version) but only at car meets.
I'm Aussie, and I know what a Checker Marathon is. The quintessential American yellow cab. I'm not surprised to see a 1976 Checker Marathon still in good working order. Kept away from places that produce a lot of rust, they'd pretty much go forever.
Watch the movie Blue Collar, it takes place in the checker plant in 1976.
Yes Zack I've always wanted 1 of these cars. My 1st Marathon ride was in NYC in 1974. And I friend in the late 80's who had a gray A12 & when I 1st saw it, it was like seeing a unicorn.
It was well worn but still in great shape, despite our Ohio winters & it was just so comfortable & he said it was like a tank, just unstoppable.
PS I really enjoyed this video.
I had one same color but with a 350 chevy in it. Great car to have as a teenager.
Growing up in New Jersey across from New York City, we were very familiar with Checker cabs. We actually had a Checker dealer in our town of Union and they usually had 2 cars in the showroom. One being a sedan the other was a wagon which was butt ugly. They even once had a limousine. I remember looking at the brochure and you could get your car in one of 13 colors. They had a ton of space in the back and lasted forever but were so ugly.😂
The car driven by de Niro in Taxi Driver.