WHat is the Checkered Cab

Little late for the party but here's a photos of a chopped Checker!

 

best Checker quote i can remember:

"...the style and grace of an expressway guardrail."

They're still sorta funky/kool though.

 

Federal Safety Requirements?..........Those things were tough a a Sherman Tank.

Maybe they were having to put external airbags to protect the Camry's and Accords.

 

They still use a few in Ontario. Oregon. Do not know how many but I see at least one whenever I go to town.

 

Some cities actually outlawed them through an age limit or some such thing.

 

Not all "Checkered Cabs" were Checker brand cars and Checker brand cars got used by many companies.

The Checker Cab company did not manufacture cars. It was a cab company like Yellow Cabs or any number of other cab companies.

 

I have had my 72 wagon for 33 years. It was ordered new from a dealer in Akron to be used as a private passenger car. I bought it from the second owner while living in Arizona. I've had it in Ohio for many years but, because of salt, it never goes out in the winter.
Mine has the original 350 chevy, Borg Warner dual range transmission and a Dana rear.

Can't recall how to post a picture, go to my album to see the old road warrior.

Thanks,
Dale
Cleveland OH

 

A bit of Checker trivia. Sometime during
the early or mid1960's and lasting right
through until the last Checker models
in 1982. Checker used Chev inline-6's
and small block Chev V&'s. Before that
and going all the way back into the
1920's, Checker used a variety of
flathead and later, OHV, Continental 6's.

Mart3405
=======

 

This is the model I remember from my childhood. They must have had a crash gearbox, or drivers who never heard of double clutching. They nearly always ground gears on shifting.

 

I have a '81 I drive all over, here is a thread from when I first got it.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=579762

They were made by the checker motor company in Kalamazoo, used many parts from GM, mine has a citation emblem on the steering with the " citation " blacked out. They came with Continental 6's, all sorts of chevrolet engine, propane versions. They stopped making cars in 1982 but were in business until 2008 as a supplier for GM. When the economy tanked, GM couldn't pay them and they went down.

Many parts are proprietary to the cars. Glass, fenders etc can be very difficult to obtain. They were engineered adn built to do 500,000 miles in 5 years then replaced. Often they went further, I know of some with over 1,000,000 documented miles.

My intention with mine to to install a Duramax Diesel and Allison auto....one project of many...

It is a really fun car.

cheeers!

 

Correct, The Checker Cab Company did not make cabs but the Checker Cab Manufacturing Co. of Joliet, Illinois and later Kalamazoo, Michigan made cabs for Checker and Yellow and other cab companies before major cities like New York agreed that cabs did no need to be purpose built. They could be modified versions of standard Detroit autos. R.I P. Checker.

 

This Checker Marathon was minutes away from the crusher at my work..Another guy in the front office saved it before I saw it.It would have came home with me if not him.

 

also saw Police duty

 

I saw an ad on CL 1962 checker. I ask the guy at work if that was him selling it.He was asking 1000 bucks.I said if he can't sell it I would buy it.But I know he paid scrap price for it 150 bucks .I can't see myself paying anymore then 200..No title not running.It would be a fun car up here.I'll Keep my fingers crossed.

 

1966 Checker

 

There is a Checker Motor Cars Collectors Club too. Good dependable vehicles. In later years the Taxi's used a GM V-8 and automatic transmission. In many Taxi fleets it was the only car the owners would purchase or use.
Normbc9

 

I'm really hoping the guy will lower his price.There is a guy who drives his Marathon all year up here .Even at 40 below.I would make this my daily driver if And when I get it.

 

Wow, I thought they all had 4-bangers...

 

Most of the later ones had Chevrolet V8 engines and transmissions along with a mix match of other parts. Most of if not all of the hard parts were sourced from other manufactures with an eye towards reliability and simplicity. Those big city cab company mechanics could probably swap engines in one of those in a few hours and go again before their shift was over at work.

I had an eccentric customer who had a green Marathon in the mid 70's that I worked on on occasion and they were really simple cars to work on.

 

I think the blue one I posted has a inline six.

 

found this for sale if anyone is looking
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/cto/3451137281.html
1969 8 door Checker - $800
1969 Checker airobus built by the Checker motor co. Kalamazoo Mi. parts car no motor or trans ,good interior good glass 800.00 Russ 586 8991877

 

That is some great history !!!!