The Superba was the consumer version of the Checker Marathon, which was largely sold as fleet purchases to taxi-cab services and the like. Only sedans and wagons were available, and this 1960 version of the latter may be one of only about 1,000 built that year. Needing a bit of work to be a driver, this Checker is located in Hookstown, Pennsylvania, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace (if not already sold) for $9,500. Thanks for the heads up on this rare wagon, Angel Alejandro.
Checker Motors out of Kalamazoo, Michigan was in business for 89 years. Mostly known for the production of brightly-colored taxi cabs, the company exited that business in 1982. But from 1959 to 1963, you could get a non-taxi version of the car by going directly to the company and ordering a Superba. The Marathons were without frills because of their fleet service, so the Superba came with a few more amenities, like carpeting. They never represented much of Checker’s business (limited dealer network), so it’s not surprising they chose to focus on cabs.
What we know of the seller’s Superba is that it originated out of California and is said to have no “rot” although we can see a bit of rust on the hood. The car is said to be complete and runs if you hook up a gas can (it needs a new fuel pump). Before 1965, Checkers used a Continental inline-6 (226 cubic inches) with Chevy motors after that. The seller’s wagon has a 3-speed manual transmission, column shifted. Once you get the fuel situation sorted out, perhaps the rest is fine as the car has new brakes and tires.
We don’t know what colors the non-taxi Superba could be ordered with, but this one is wearing the same hue as its Yellow Cab cousins. The interior is blue, but the photos don’t help us determine the condition other than the floor in the luggage area may be wearing surface rust. If you’re looking for an old wagon that almost no one else will have, perhaps this ride is for you!
You made a similar error last week. Checker products for taxi service were called Checker Taxi. Marathon was a consumer car. Superba was their earlier upmarket version of the consumer car and was replaced eventually by the Marathon. Wikipedia is excellent and correct with the model numbers and years of these actions.
Correct, the taxis were known by their A- model designations. A 1960 taxi would have been an A9, later A11 through 1982. The civilian Superbas and Marathons were A10 and A12, respectively, with an E affix A11E, etc) designating an extended wheelbase model with the extra huge rear doors.
You are correct, macvaugh, Mom had a 1967 Checker Marathon in army green and a 1970 Checker Marathon in black.
The ’67 had rubber floor mats and the ’70 had carpet
This is very rare! I bet there aren’t more than maybe 3-4 1960 models of either bodystyle left today. Well worth the right person restoring.
That engine is not the Continental – which was a flathead.
It looks like it might be a Chevrolet six, as was later used by the factory. Now, given that Checker never made engines, is a non-factory update/restomod engine a negative in rating value? Dunno.
Pretty sure it’s not a gm motor. Plugs on wrong side of cylinder head??? Don’t know who used this configuration???
The Continental 226 was converted for an ohv head starting in 1959. It was an option until the end of production.
I wasn’t aware they came out with an OHV engine.
As to being available until the end of production, do you mean Continental production, or Checker? Because, of course, from 1968, Checker had to deal with emissions laws – one more reason to use GM power exclusively. Not only the emissions systems, but EPA testing – it helped that Ed Cole later became CEO of Checker; he could get GM to cooperate in getting Checker emissions certifications.
I don’t know the time the Continental engines were phased out entirely, but they were gone by 1968.
I believe the last year this engine was produced was 1963. Chevy engines were used after that.
Checker started using the Conental OVHD six in the Fall of 1958. That is indeed a Conny.
Kinda surprised to see Checker sprung for that rear-quarter glass curving around to the the D-pillar, considering how aside from the windshield, they apparently used cheap and easily replaceable flat glass everywhere else.
The car was designed expressly for the taxi industry. To make it more-or-less modern for the time it was designed – mid-1950s – curved windshield and backlight glass was used, but otherwise, flat glass around. Both because most American cars did that (Chevrolet in most models until 1965, in doors) and for ease of replacement. Fleet vehicle – the fenders would just unbolt, after minor accidents…go take one off a scrap Checker in the back of the cab lot.
But, the station wagon, was intended for consumers exclusively. Of course a cab company could buy them; but they were Superbas/Marathons, not the unnamed taxi models. In those days, I think Checker had hopes for moving more into the retail market – alongside Studebaker, VW, Rambler and other brands which minimized or downplayed styling changes, year to year.
It didn’t work out that way, of course, and in due time the retail market was completely abandoned. The wagon model disappeared, I believe, in 1975.
Maybe the glass fit another car and they used the same mold ?
I have always liked the civilian models Checker had especially the wagons
As a kid I read a novel, published in the 1920’s, about a car race, across the US where a European car, the Superba, raced against an American car. At the age of 12 or so, it was the best book I had ever read. (And maybe the Superba was the American car, it was a very long time ago. I think I remember who won, but I won’t give it away.)
Not much value restored, LS RESTOMOD
I look for Checkers in old NewYork movies. Looking for the late 30’s ones with strange front light bezels and the cut away fenders. And a slide away roof section for sight seeing.
JS
Definitely unique that’s for sure. Saw one in Auburndale Fl9rida
in ’91 and should’ve bought it. I was looking for an HD wagon to
haul newspapers. The guy simply wanted too much money for
a car needing everything. Trucks, forget about it! You’ll pay 10K
for a truck with a bent frame and maybe worse. But that’s what
they do here in Fl9rida. 90K for a new truck? Won’t do it. Would
rather have this car instead.
When I was in high-school in 1979 only having my driver’s license 3 months my stepmother was friends with the owners wife of the local taxi company. The company was selling taxi to friends for $75 because he was updating his fleet. I checked one out it looked perfect, I thought the 500,000+ miles wasn’t going to last long 🤔 that was a mistake the guy who bought that kept it as daily driver for about 12 years. When he sold it 🙄