I went to New York City around 1980 on a business trip with my dad. At the time, Checker Marathon taxicabs were everywhere. To me, they looked like 1950s cars. My dad explained their ubiquity by saying, “The fenders bolt right on, and they never change the body style, so you can just run them forever.” I’m not sure about the accuracy of this statement, but no matter—now I, and you, have the chance to grab a Marathon of our own, a 1973 model available here on eBay for a starting bid of $4000. The auction is open until Wednesday, and if you win it, you’ll have to find a way to get to South Weymouth, MA, to collect your car. TJ, tip master, found this one for us.
It turns out that despite my childhood myth that these cars existed to the distant past and into the infinite future, the Checker Marathon was produced only between 1961-82. Who made these? Checker Motors Corporation of Kalamazoo, MI according to the paperwork which goes with the car.
This Checker Marathon has about 91,000 miles showing on the odo, with what is apparently a 350 V-8 providing the motivation (thanks, commenters). The seller does not specify, and there is no picture provided to help solve the mystery. Along with the deal comes a slew of original paperwork, always nice to have with any collector car. This includes an appraisal which both praises the car as rare and seems to condemn it by say what appears to be, “Vehicle has high mileage and a rotted tail gate.” The Checker is in Wagon configuration. It has AC vents hanging under the dash. Mostly, the interior is whole, though it needs a good scrubbing up. Hard to say what commercial purpose this car once was used for—or did somebody just want a solid and reliable wagon?
What’s funny about the ad is that the seller suggests that the car “Runs well but needs restoration or might use for parts.” What? Condemning it to death—for what offense? I think this would be a fine car to use for a flower delivery business, a painter/plumber type one-man-show, or for anybody who would otherwise be driving a van or panel truck. The body clearly needs some love—is that rust perforation at the base of at least the rear passenger’s side door, if not both rear doors? But if you have a use for such a vehicle, this is one that you might get back on the road for a few thousand more bucks, if it’s not too eaten up. And if you’re not a tradesperson, you can turn it into the coolest-looking Uber in your town.
Looking in the description, the details show that it’s and 8 cyl. The picture of the title confirms it.
I believe that all checker wagons, by this year, were only V8s. Weren’t they always a V8 in the wagons? This one should have let the factory with a Chevrolet 350 cid.
Thanks for this. I updated the story. Appreciate it.
Later vintages used GM V-6s for emissions. I don’t remember the exact dates or details but I was surprised to learn this from the Checker display at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, MI. They had about a dozen Checkers there including, as I remember it, the final Checker ever produced.
One of the beautiful things about a Checker cab was that you could order one with any engine you wanted. Ford, Chevy or Chrysler it made no difference, I even saw one run like a street racer.
The local convent had one of these in shiny black. I wonder what ever happened to it? It was perfect.
If you watch the movie Blue Collar with Richard Prior 1978 you’ll see the Checker Automobile factory where they built this car as it was used in the film in 1977 for the entire movie.
Nice car.
Bob
Do I want it? You bet I do! My girls
would think I need my head examined, but who cares. Just right
for Door Dash or use as a parts delivery vehicle for someone like
Advance Auto Parts and NOT as a parts car. These things were built like
tanks and usually ran forever. Get it
runnin’, drivin’, and put it to work.
My father had a black 4dr when we where living in the Bronx. I don’t know if it was a 6 or 8 motor. We had the jump seats in the back. It was a fun ride untill it was stolen and never saw it again. My father figured it was stolen for a gypsy cab to be used in the Bronx. This ride is very roomy. If someone has the time to fix it right. 🐻🇺🇸
1 of my top 5 or 10 cars (esp the wagon). Uber is solo rides mostly (I bet) so a gas sipper more appropreate (I hear ‘dor dash’ is the best for driver treatment).
“F” Uber if they cant take it, do airport runs for yourself and make some real money. I did in w/several wolwo waggies once at the crash (The Great Recession) and again during heavy covid. The traffic wuz down 70% (covid) but I got all I needed. 8^ )
I’d really love to know what you’re talking about ; most times your posts read like a digital computer readout
I don’t know much about Checkers, but looks like a VW Sapphire radio. Was that factory, or did someone just do a good job intalling it?
THUMB DOWN!!!!
Stop being pretentious, pompous and pendantic. The uber remark was clearly nothing more than jest and modern reference instead of a serious suggestion.
Thank you.
Anyone got a sense of humor?
Factory. I have a 73 wagon myself, but a bit nicer due to having been part of a fleet of movie cars.
The authors description of being cool could also be debated. Checker was the “generic” car. I believe private folks could buy Checkers, although few did. I read, wagons are the most rare, and most sought after, as most became stretched airport limos, and they were pricey. Checker used all off the shelf components, and their taxi record more than insures them as the best vehicle in the world, many delivering millions of miles. I’m not sure of what the Checker collector base involves, one thing for sure, you’ll probably have the only one.
The description of a black 1978 Pontiac Trans AM being “Cool” could be debated as well. Or of a 1967 427cid./435 hp Corvette as being “Cool” could be debated as well. Some would look at this car and think about the heritage of the company that produced it, the life that most of this car’s siblings lived and consider it cool because of the circumstances and contributions to American life, not because of the actual car or any particular feature.
I think generic is a bit of a misnomer. I have always viewed checker as what filled the niche of mercedes before mercedes really had a presence in the states, but without the cachet; well built cars that will last a long time if given the proper care. Pricey, but worth it to particularly discerning people.
private individuals could buy checkers, but from what i have read and understand you could only buy them through mailing to the factory, or contacting the regional checker distributor for taxis, or there were only a smattering of independent dealers. for most people, whatever the big 3 or even the bigger independents were putting out were fine enough and easier to get a hold of. Furthermore, seeing a high price on a vehicle that looked dated not only when it was introduced, but 20 years later with the same body didn’t help attracting potential buyers, especially then when there was a new body style every year, or updates year to year for 3 years in the 70s for the bigger manufacturers. So not only having to jump through hoops to get one, but an unappealing product for those who didn’t get it.
Uber cars have to be 7 years old or newer I thought?
I own a small auto repair shop and I have a customer with a 2012 who drives for uber. I think they have an age limit but it probably has been extended because of the cost of newer cars and how old the average age of cars on the road is. I don’t know though because I would never consider driving for them.
Uber requirements vary by city. Where I am, Uber cars must be no more than 15 years old.
Don’t think so…got picked up by a 2011 BMW suv thingie…..the other week.
It was in ‘new-like’ condition however.
Maybe it varies based on the city and number of uber drivers in that area.
You’re right Chrisful, Door Dash does
treat their drivers better than Uber. My SIL drives for them and really likes
it a lot. And they don’t seem to mind
if I go along with her for safety reasons. With all the perverts out there, you just never know what they
might do to an unescorted woman
these days. And yeah, she’s got a
gas sipping Hyundai Accent too.
$500 a week isn’t bad for a side Hussle.
Total A12W (Wagon) production was around 1200. I believe 1973 or 74 was the last year they built station wagons. I have a 1972. Less than 150 wagons made that year.
What would be REALLY cool is if this was one of the far rarer DIESELS…
Yep.. a good old Perkins under the hood. They made a few hundred(?) of those. I don’t NEED one but…..
Yes, the general public could purchase one of these. The trouble there being that there weren’t really dealers but rather some fleet manager called up the factory office and ordered 36 of them. You’d have to make the same call.
This one might have been used like some of the other wagons I’ve seen where it was truly a “Station Wagon” where it was kept at the estate for general transportation duty which included picking folks up at the bus/train station or airport. Yes, you could (and some did) employ a Suburban for that use but the Checker has the lower sill height making it simpler to load Grandma and old aunt Bessy along with their LUGGAGE…The interior volume was greater than a conventional wagon but likely 2x the price. The other reason for that use was that you weren’t seen as picking anyone up in an OLD CAR. If you’d gotten a Ford County Squire, it would look dated very quickly. Washed, waxed, garage kept, this could be 2 years old or 10 years old and nobody noticed. “Charles, can you take the car into town? It seems the ladies have found something Louis the 14th and simply can’t wait to have it delivered.” “Oh, very good sir!, I’ll get right on it. “
The Perkins,,good heavens, Steve. When I was in Israel as a lad, they had mid 50s DeSoto taxi cabs with Perkins diesels. Smoky things. The “generic” status was actually to its favor. Taxis led a rough life, and many parts were interchangable. It was not unusual to see a “yellow” taxi with a green fender. Checker made a variety of specialty vehicles too, like the taxi that doubled as an ambulance, survival was iffy, at best. http://www.icta.club/15164-2/
The design came out in the mid ’50s. and were called Superbas.
Here’s the ’60:
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Checker/1960_Checker/1960_Checker_Brochure/dirindex.html
Checker started offering them to the general public about this time.
https://macsmotorcitygarage.com/americas-taxi-the-1956-checker-a8/
That’s why it looks like a car from the ’50s. Because it is.
http://www.icta.club/the-1956-checker-model-a8-two-models/
http://www.icta.club/converting-taxi-new-model-cab-manufacturer-competes-standard-cars/
Like many “niche” cars, there is a club for Checkers. I have had three, two of which are Checker Marathons which I still own. One is a complete restoration, a 1964 Sedan, and one is partially restored, a 1962 SW. The 1964 has won awards at car shows and the 1962 is partially restored. Both were private vehicles and never cabs. If nothing else the VIN can easily tell you. Someone who wanted a new Checker could call the factory and older it with more options than other new car manufacturers. I almost could write a book about them and how cool they are!