While they’re rugged and reliable, the Checker Marathon doesn’t really offer anything special in terms of styling, and it takes some effort among auto enthusiasts to make them stand out in a crowd. One example of an attention getter is this ’81 model that’s been turned into a beer dispenser, featuring taps on the rear and deck lid, with the plumbing hoses still inside the trunk. A sign on the roof proclaims this one has been named the Tapp’d Out Taxi, and it might be fun for party events, cruising around town, or maybe even returning to cab duties. Whatever you’ve got in mind, this 1981 Checker Marathon is in Mansfield, Texas, and can be spotted here on eBay. A buy-it-now price has been set at $12,900, but lower offers are also being considered, so if you can strike a deal, maybe you’ll have some cash left to stick a couple of fresh kegs in the trunk.
Although the Checker is presently in the Lone Star State, the seller says it came from New Jersey, but even after operating in a sometimes harsh climate, the body still seems fairly solid overall. Yellow is the typical color these cars are seen in, with the seller pointing out some cracks and imperfections in the paint, but the outside appearance seems OK for just a fun driver. A few small areas of rust can also be found in the close-up photos, but it appears minimal and could probably be repaired without too much effort, should the next caretaker want to take the exterior to a higher level. The odometer is reading 27,091 miles, but with the amount of use most taxis get, it’s unknown how many times the ticker has rolled over. There’s also no information on how long this one served as a plain cab before it got the bar theme.
You might expect to find a V8 under the hood, but Checker used a 229 cubic-inch V6 here as the standard engine, with a low horsepower rating of 110. But it’s important to remember that most of these cars were used for short-distance travel, and many saw little to no highway use, so durability was more of a priority than high performance. The owner says this one drives and rides very good, and no matter how many miles it’s traveled, everything in the engine compartment looks to be in good order and well maintained.
The interior is about as plain-jane as they come, but that’s to be expected for a utilitarian vehicle, with a massive amount of legroom in the back providing some extra comfort for the rear seat passengers. With the beer taps and roof moniker, the word novelty comes to mind when looking at this one, but it could easily be reverted back to a plain Checker if the future owner chooses. I’d probably leave everything intact and just enjoy cruising around and going to a few car shows. What would you do with this 1981 Checker Marathon?
I’ve always wondered if engine configuration has any legitimate relation to durability 🤔
The only thing I can think of is less power, more durability for the driveline. I think Checker used the THM 400 even with the small V6 from Chevrolet. But I’m not 100 percent sure on that. But from what I found they used it until the end of production. A little 6 like that would never kill a THM 400.
Driveinstile I was thinking more of.. inline vs “V” vs horizontal..etc
This one is either a Hydramatic 250c or 350c. C because of the lock up torque convertor that was never offered on 400. Easy to spot because of the lock up vacuum switch thats near the drivers side valve cover. These were all over the place here in Canada because our emission reg’s were less stringent than in the US so computer controls were less common. GM Canada kept the vacuum switches with delay valves in certain applications to operate the lockup mechanism
Stan, I’m smacking myself in the head. Sorry. Yes, good point and question. I’m leaning towards inline, but thats just my opinion. ( a 250 straight six or the V6 would still not overpower a THM 400 lol)
In the town where I grew up, the successful business owners and professionals drove “luxury” brands: Cadillac, Lincoln, Imperial, etc. There was a guy who bought only Checkers, and we used to make fun of him until he sold a business he created for a gazillion dollars to one of the largest companies of its kind in the U.S. That’s when we stopped laughing.
A local capital region ny state junkyard had at least 6 checker sedans in various colors in the early 2000s. In fact they used one for their own sign for awhile. I always wanted one because they have a retro 50s look even though they were being built and sold into the early 1980s.
The perfect daily driver/commuter vehicle.
If it were 50 years ago, I’d belly up to the trunk and throw a few brewskis back and get T-totally effed up. But now that I’m elean and sober for 47 years, I think I’d wanna build one of these just to be different. Add a 454
rat motor, a beefed up T-400 tranny, and a 12 bolt posi rear. And then, I’d
go out and blow the doors off some young kid who drives one of those puny little rice mobiles just for grins and giggles on my way to Cars And Coffee. Then, I’ll pop the trunk and
pedal my art prints to help pay for the
car’s renovation. And that’s what an
old man’s dreams are made of.
Make it a station wagon with a Cummins BT6 and a Allison trans
You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? I’m the only one here,,,awesome movie, even the corny sitcom Taxi was pretty funny. I’d have to think a cab related show in NYC would have plenty of material. Not sure if mentioned, but Checker has the award for being the only “generic” car in America. Basically unchanged for 27 years. It was the standard issue taxi cab in America, until used police Crown Victorias took over. I think they make a great taxi, but not sure how appealing for personal use. Like police cars, Checkers clearly withstand a lot. Coming from a recent trip to a big city, I can’t imagine a more grueling test of a vehicle. AND, personal transport is becoming huge. With budget cuts, many public rides are being phased out,,,KA-CHING!!!
Does having a couple of kegs hooked up in the back qualify as open container? I suppose you could fill it with a non alcoholic drink and set up a hose to really mess with the police.
Novelty aside…….nope!
That has to be one of the dumbest ideas I’ve seen in a car and grease monkeys can be pretty creative. A great way to ruin a car IMO. Granted reversing it is easy enough if you’re good at metal working bit just seems so unnecessary to me.
At first I wasn’t convinced it started out as a taxi with that white firewall but that plain jane interior did the trick.
All those photos, and not one inside the trunk?
The ‘cracked paint’ concerns me. Looks more like blown-out bondo on the window channels and around the windshield; the one door pillar looks like it might be cracked all the way through. Way more rust lurking on this thing for a $12K+ sell.
Worth refreshing – it’s all there – but not for that price.
Looks like someone used it for a static display/bar etc. for several years.
Hi Angel! Just got home from work and saw your post. For me, the only way this would work if Barn Finds opened a bar and grill. Then, I could play music and sing while everyone else got stoned. WTF! How did Bob
Dylan and Dr. Hook get here? And maybe, just maybe, one of you would come to the stage and sing a duet with me. Oh wait, I’ve got it now. Dylan and Dr. Hook got stoned and they missed it
🎵 I got stoned and I missed it.
I got stoned and I missed it.
I got stoned and it rolled on
by hi-hi.
I got stoned and I missed it
I got stoned and I missed it.
I got stoned oh me oh my. 🎵
Got to see them (Dr. Hook) in Atlanta
in ’73 when all their rehearsals were
free to the public. But that’s another
story for another time. And no dear,
I haven’t found my tablet yet. Sis found my old Onn 7 1/2 inch tablet and it still had over 70% charge left in
the battery! Haven’t used it in 3 years
so I’ll have to take it to Best Buy and have a tech get it working again. Might have to change my email address, but I’ll send the new one to
you if I have to change it. Well honey,
it’s after 3 AM, the house is quiet, and
I’m getting verrry 💤 sleepy. Time for me to close my eyes and dream sweet dreams. Good night Angel,💋
Night all!