During the 1970s and 1980s, it was almost impossible not to see a Checker Taxi running around in major metropolitan cities. But also during this period, a consumer-oriented version, the A-12 (or Marathon), was also available. But you had to order yours directly from the factory, so their sales paled compared to that of the commercial version. This 1973 edition of the Marathon was purchased when new by the seller’s father, and it’s been in the family ever since. With a heavily modified drivetrain, this Checker is available here on craigslist where the seller has not set a price. Instead, he/she will entertain offers until one comes in to the family’s liking. You can view the Checker in Olympia, Washington. Here’s another noteworthy tip from “Curvette”!
Checkers were known for their durability and roominess, which made them ideal for public service. The seller’s father picked this one up in Kalamazoo, Michigan (where Checker’s manufacturing took place) early in 1973 and drove it home to California. There it stayed until 2010 when he passed on, and the seller took possession and moved it to Washington State, where it resides now. At the time, its Chevrolet 250 cubic inch inline-6 had 425,000 miles to its credit.
Around 2018, the seller began to rebuild and modify the vehicle. And a significant list of changes was documented in the listing, making this one of the most detailed ads you’re likely to ever find on craigslist. At the top of the list is the Chevy ZZ6 350 cubic inch V8, which was transplanted, rated at 405 hp. If you’re a gearhead, you should check out the listing and see the thousands of dollars’ worth of components and services that were performed.
The seller refers to this car as a project, though it certainly seems much better than that. While the body and paint are good, there are some imperfections here and there. The headliner needs to be replaced. There is some lifter noise from the V8. A few other items are mentioned, but they hardly seem noteworthy, so the car can probably be driven while you knock them off the list one at a time. In summation, this car is far more advanced than any Checker Taxi you ever rode in.
I don’t exactly have a word for it right now, stunned, aghast, staggered, dumbfounded are a few, that someone would go to such lengths for a mere Checker. I mean, unless this person had personal access to a Summit racing warehouse, there are literally tens of thousands of dollars here. For a Checker? Don’t get me wrong, it’s the nicest darn Checker we’ll ever see, but a more blatant misuse of funds I can’t imagine, a boat maybe. I don’t ever recall a Checker with a front ball hitch, nice touch, but really? It is an unusual combination, you must agree.
Well, the bumpers are interchangeable, so why not just bother people and put the tow ball on the front? Good to start a conversation.
The front hitch is for jockeying a trailer around a lot or into a parking spot. Beats the snot out of backing and thinking, “ummm, to make it go left, steer right, uhhh, or is the other way around?” while peering into mirrors.
I’d rather see this at a show than another Mustang or Corvette.
I really like Checkers. And to see one this nice, and in “civilian ” colors as well is really nice. ( nothing against yellow cab colors). I went to high school with a guy who had a Marathon Limo. It was such a cool car. This Checker has one serious upgrade over the original 250 straight six. I like it. Just like SirRaoulDuke said above, if I saw this at any kind of car show, I’d gravitate right towards it. I don’t understand the project part, this looks way nicer than most projects we see.
Great car to take Seniors to the prom. (if you can get your date to get in it.)
quite the header installation.
There’s just not enought information about this car – I woildn’t bid on it.(sarcasm) Ha – I think a burnout video would heip the sale.
That noisy lifter is a concern. GLWTS.
I think this is cool! You don’t see many Checkers left, and a lot of them have what I refer to as “guardrail” bumpers to meet the crash standards in the mid to late 70’s. This one still has the nice rear bumper, and the front bumper with the towing ball on it is an interesting touch. You know with that frame underneath, pulling it is highly unlikely to cause any damage, since these things were built like tanks! Adding the 350 and the other upgrades seems a bit over the top for a Checker (and a lot of money), but I’ve seen cars on BF that should have NEVER had the upgrades they did with even more money put into them. It would definitely be a good show car, and a lot of people will take a second (and a third!) look at this. Driving it on the streets may be a bit of a challenge, given how foolish people drive these days and their propensity to wreck into everything and everybody, but the occasional drive would be a nice deal.
I doubt the bit about any 300,000 mile warrantees being offered. Lee Iacocca was the first to really push the envelope with his 5-year/50,000 warrantee on the K-cars.
Too bad a list of new parts wasn’t included
Every time I see one of these, the theme song from ‘Taxi’ plays in my head. This one is a beauty! GLWTS!!
Lifter noise already? Cool car, I might have spent the money of the engine elsewhere in the car.
I hope the preserved the original 425,000 mile 250ci stove bolt, I’d rebuild it and put it back in this car.
👍
Would the header right under the brake fluid reservoir cause a problem?
The actual distance may be a good angle ofcthe camera. But still that close I would heat shield it or header wrap it some way. Good eye Kevin!
simply mah vlus in wagon!
Seat dwn = 4 x 8 ft sheet stock carry (ply, MDF, sheet rock)…
Forks on the fork lift slid inside tail gait, 6 mo of groceries? LOL
many have the cheb bent8, an actual chassy & slab sides = easy body repair & maintenance.
What’s not to like? (ok, I hear ya – look, size, MPGs, etc). So just take it out when needed… ? No? Oh? OK, different life-style than here~
Russ Dixon was not exaggerating when he said this was one of the most detailed Craigslist ads ever. Bothersome thing about Craigslist ads is how they disappear forever when a seller deletes them. Hate it when that happens, where I wished I’d saved the text or some photos of ads I’d seen over the years of various classic vehicles.
So in this case for the benefit of others – I’ve created an archive link of the ad, which will last as long as the folks at the Internet Archive website keep the lights on there:
https://web.archive.org/web/20260803002403/https://www.craigslist.org/view/d/east-olympia-1973-checker-marathon-12/36aG2C9AkZsa4qsjydVFDp
Ok, line lock for drag racing or burnout contests? Lots of horsepower for drag racing? Fuel cell for drag racing? Trailer receiver for boat launching? Michelin tires for what? Awful narrow profile. Aircraft style seat belts for all positions, but no roll bar? Custom rear suspension for drag racing? What? No drag chute?
This car has me completely confused. Built by committee? It was a nice car, and I like Checkers. (particularly the wagons)
The seller will NEVER recoup even close to the money spent on this car. AND a noise in the engine makes it a parts car. Which maybe some of the parts can be sold. This car is way less than the sum of its parts.
Maybe TAXI rides down the strip?
Seems like our seller doesn’t really know what he wanted the car to become did he? I get the
350 upgrade for more ponies but not all that drag racing stuff that
came with it. Unless he wants to
run the car in the B/modified production class at his local drag
strip. And what’s this about a noisy lifter after you just had the
engine redone? Sorry folks, but
I think it’s time to rethink and start over. Yank all that dragstrip
💩 crap out of it, sell those parts
and take the money from the sale, back up and do it right! Chevy engine? That’s fine if you
don’t overbuild it. All you need is
a nice new 350. Or if you’re really
feelin froggy, a nicely done 454
should put enough ponies under
your right foot WITHOUT ruining a perfectly good car. Just the other day, I saw one being offered
on YouTube for $3,500. And while not as nice as this car is cosmetically, it does have a 250
Chevy 6 mated to a 4-speed tranny that should make it fun to
drive without breaking the bank.
And yeah, it needs a paint job and
some interior work, but at least with the car I saw, you could drive
it while you built it your way. And
yes folks, I still wanna build one with a thumpin 472 Cadillac with
a Ronco Smash And Crash Road
Rage Bumper Kit bolted to the front of it for all those road ragin
assholes who always do their best to cut you off on the freeway. Bumper cars anyone?
Yea bumper cars would be interesting. And possibly fun! But most people don’t have a sense of humor, NOR do they know how to handle their cars. I read a story about Richard Petty being late to some local government meeting and a little old lady was farkeling along in the left lane considerably slower than the speed limit. So he carefully came up behind her and gave her a little shove faster. He had to settle that one out of court. And decided that he should stay out of local politics!
Okay, I returned to the post with some trepidation, surely I’ll be reamed for my views. Luckily that wasn’t the case, and let me explain. I’m all for restoring a Checker. They were wonderful cars capable of high miles, designed the way they were. It’s a testament to our automotive knowledge. My concern came from how overboard this person went, on a mere taxi cab. Impressive? You bet, but an audience that would want a Checker, isn’t going to want this, and a muscle car fanatic, a Checker is the last place they’d look. It’s the fact that literally tens of thousands of dollars were spent on a selfish fantasy. The in-line 6 is what most would want. People really must be in their own worlds, and clearly have the coin to do this, unimaginable to us mere mortals on Social Security. And,,,,it’s not even finished, who knows what it actually drives like. I know, USA, America, do what you want with your money, and all, but just the extent they went is so typical of today, got to be the best, and that money isn’t wasted, it helps put another level on Jegs already sprawling mansion. I read, ol’ Jeggie( Jegs Racing) sells about, $563,000-$710,000 of this stuff, PER DAY! To people turning Checker cabs into drag racers. Fascinating, Captain. Historians will have a field day in the future, you’ll see.
Thanks all for not hanging me out to dry. What, me worry?
Howard, I get it. I play in the kiddie pool of this hobby and am amazed at the money people spend to not nessisarily make the vehicle better. Now I know that everyone has their own taste. But just blowing money the way this car had seen is crazy. You want a different kind of drag car? Fine, set it up completely that way. Bracket racing may be your thing, and that’s fine. But a boat hitch in the front only? How are you going to get your boat to the water? Really skinny Michelin tires? For what? (cast iron tires, wear like cast iron but have traction like cast iron) I’m with you Howard, completely confused with this vehicle.
Why , oh why, can’t some folks just nut up and put a price on their vehicles. I can’t buy it and sell it both. 🤷🏽♂️🤦🏽🫶🏼