Checker Motor Company is known for its taxi cab business, but about 10% of its production was devoted to consumer vehicles. This endeavor was prompted by an antitrust suit in New York City that opened the taxi market to makers other than Checker. Sales plunged as the Big Three moved into its territory. In response, Checker began to build out a dealer network, and in 1959, the company introduced its Superba, a lumbering version of the nearly indestructible taxi that made its reputation. Checker cabs featured a muscular chassis meant to take abuse block by block over America’s potholed city streets for several hundred thousand miles, and Morris Markin, the company’s president, thought that should be good enough for consumers. The factory bare-bones interior was slightly upgraded for the Superba Special; this model was renamed the Marathon in 1961. Here on craigslist is a 1967 Checker Marathon wagon, priced at $10,500 for the car plus a plethora of parts. Take a trailer to Carnation, Washington to retrieve the whole lot; and thanks to Rocco B for finding this rarity for us!

Prior to about 1964, Checker installed Continental motors in its vehicles, but in the early ’60s, Continental devoted all its resources to the profitable aviation market, ceasing production of automobile engines. Checker turned to GM, adopting Chevrolet’s 230 cu.in. straight six and for more discriminating buyers – or at least those who wanted to have a shot at reaching 60 mph “someday soon”- the 283 V8. Checker moved up the horsepower scale finally topping out with Chevy’s ubiquitous 350 V8. Today’s example is powered by a 235 hp 327, backed by a three-speed, column-shift manual with overdrive. The seller notes that he rebuilt the carb and has driven the car on and off during the two years he’s owned it, but it’s stored outside and needs to find a permanent home.

This wagon’s strong suit is its interior. The rear seats are nearly unused, and the cargo area’s original rubber mats look dandy. Oh, the rear window crank broke, but in that parts pile is a tailgate with an electric lift for the glass – cool! The gauges work intermittently. The hood has rusted through in one area, and the chrome is poor – but that parts pile also contains bumpers. The underside is slightly crusty but we’ve all seen worse.

Styling was all about ease of ingress and egress – doors were tall, the floor was an easy step off the ground, and the cabin had enough space to throw a party. My favorite detail is the tail lamp, with its teardrop waterfall of lights. This particular car was never a taxi but the original owner apparently installed a light-up topper on the roof, declaring “Oli’s Taxi – Made in the USA”. I’m a fan of orphan makes, and fortunately for the aspiring collector, many of these waifs don’t cost much. I think this Checker needs to cost less – and then it will have a chance of finding its way to a new garage.