Looking to see if anyone knows and info about the Checker Aerobus. Found this pre-1968 Aerobus in town with an open beverage inside, dated for experation in '00, so she's been sitting for 10 years. Only pictures I have are from the camera phone: The information that I've gathered so far is from Checker Taxi Stand; it is a very helpful site, but still leaves me with questions, most of which are because I have not acquired the car, so I don't want to spend $25 to decode the VIN of A12W-8-C-2099-****. I know that this model is pre-1968 because it has the shorter windshield. It may be pre-'64 since in '64 they switched to Chevy motors, but it's post '59 since it has 4 headlights. The engine (bad pictures) is very wide and the distibutor is in the rear. The exhaust ports are set-up o-o-o-o rather than o--oo--o. This makes me think that it's an old wide 318, but up to '64 they used "Continential" motors which were apparently flat head V-8s of some sort? Here's an ad for one from back when and the motor in the car is the motor pictured: I'm currently contacting people to see if I can acquire the car as it has limited rust, and a fairly nice interior, but am also trying to find out as much info as possible in the meantime and get opinions. This would be my first true cl***ic, as the closest thing I've really had is my '75 Mercedes Benz. So... what sort of opinions or comments may I recieve from the H.A.M.B. community? Edit: according to this homestead site , there were only 465 Aerobusses produced in the years that Chevy motors weren't used, and approximately only 2500 Aerobusses were ever built. Second edit: the motor in that adverti*****t shares the same firing order as a wide-block 318, so I don't know if it has been swapped in, or if that was actually the 318 that was from the factory.
The only way it could be cool is as a club bus. None of you would know it but and Aussy club, Bay Rodders had a very cool bus they used to transport people around at there annual rod run. Doc.
Hey Doc thats a long way south for you isnt it.Saw photos of bay rodders bus on oz-rodders site,must ask boys what happened to it next time I see them.
I'm Melbourne born and bred. I just like the warmth!! Went to all the Two Bay Runs in the 80s and early 90s. My father was in the Confederates. I have great memory's of the bus and its infamous breakdowns. The Two Bay run was a lot of fun as well, probably my favorite back then. Places like the Aces High Ranch and when (Cant remember his name) walked through the plate gl*** window. From memory he drove a dark blue 37 coupe, but wouldn't let anyone drive him to the hospital because he didn't want to bleed in anyones car. I think he ended up going in the bus? Doc.
from an article I found on hemmings motor news: In 1963 and 1964, Checker used a Chrysler-supplied 318-cu.in. V-8 to move around all the m*** of its recently introduced Aerobus, as well as a few Chrysler slant-six engines in taxis. But by 1965, Checker would switch entire-ly to Chevrolet engines, adopting the seven-main-bearing, one-barrel, 140hp 230-cu.in. straight-six as the base engine and the 195hp, two-barrel 327-cu.in. V-8 as the optional engine. The new base engine shaved 125 pounds from the front of the car, putting it about even with the contemporary six-cylinder Chevrolet Biscayne in terms of weight. A year later, the four-barrel, 250hp, 327-cu.in. V-8 became the top engine option, and the 300hp 350 found its way into Checkers in 1969.
***rant on*** I don't want to be the guy to rain on your parade but one of my biggest pet peeves is the misuse of automotive terms, especially on an automotive site... Just because a vehicle is 25 year old or older, does not instantly make it a cl***ic. A cl***ic as defined by the AACA & CCCA is based on quality, workmanship, rarity, etc... NOT by age(and yes, they do have a list). A car 25 years of age or older can certainly be called an antique, special interest, collectible but not a cl***ic. That is as insulting to the guy that owns one as calling the Khougaz roadster a RatRod. Park a 1984 Honda Civic next to a 32' Duesenburg SJ Pheaton and tell the owner of the Duesy to make sure he doesn't scratch your cl***ic Honda(just make sure you have a video camera setup, it may help with the lawsuit you will have to file from getting your teeth relocated to your ***). ***rant off*** Now, the Checker airport limo's are kinda neat and obscure, and if that's what your looking for, then grab it. It looks to be solid & I know that they are built like tanks. Would certainly make a neat project. Keep us posted...
Dont buy something because its there, buy something because it what you WANT! Dont spend money on something that your hearts not in just because its available right NOW! If that means searching for a couple of years so be it. Took me just over two years just to find the motor I wanted for my latest project.
Not to be rude, but to restate my statement, the CLOSEST thing I've had to a cl***ic is my Mercedes. I personally love the look of the car, but was curious what sort of opinions others shared. There are some platforms that exist that are avoid-all-costs and I don't want to start there! Thank you, Doc, for the stories. And Revkev, thank youfor the info on the Chrysler motor!
(Here's the new guy chiming in) My parents bought an '80 Checker Marathon brand new in '79... maroon, V-6, auto, black interior with jump seats and all... They drove it until 2001 when the frame completely rusted through and broke in the back. it sent the right rear frame and spring through the trunk, and the whole thing was held together by the body! Dang Kansas salt. My Dad (not being a car guy) just decided he would junk it... I begged him not to, and that I wanted all the emblems off of it, or to get it and fix it and turn it into a cruiser. Nope, Dad was not having that, went to the s**** yard. I shoulda fought harder, oh well. Checkers are dear to my heart.. Ax
Why not take that thing and put something big as a mid-mount engine. You could get away with two sbc's, a GMC V12 or an Allison and keep it all inside. No one would know the difference with tinted windows. Drive it on the stree. How cool would that be? r
if you mid mounted the engine you could make the front a giant cooler and keep ice cold beverages under the hood.
Just because a company uses a certain engine doesn't mean it wouldn't be installed using another style of alternator or carburetor or power steering unit or whatever. The engines don't come with alternators.
True... They put components out to bid. They buy a run of whats cheap, send the drawings over to engineering, who designs brackets to make it work and a cheap trip to the stamping plant. Looks like they got a deal on Ford AC compressors. By the way... Isn't that a polly in the ad? You could probably part it out, sell the s**** and end up with the mill and some spare change.
Now mid-mount is something I never considered I'm not real sure what direction I would like to head with this car. My Mopar friend mentioned the the 318 wideblock's aftermarket isn't the best, but I haven't verified this. He did mention that a more modern 318 or 360 would bolt up to the ******.
theres one of these in a junk yard back home. I've always thought it would be cool to get it, do it up a little and drive it at my wedding. But, with my wedding in a little over a month and me across the country thats out of the question. I don't know what year theirs was but if you get this one and need some parts pm me and I can give you the name and number of the junk yard.
Thanks, Joe! I'll let you and everyone else know what happens! Found out who the owner is and the lady at the counter of the place that it's at ***ured me that the man would let me know if he is willing to let it go and for how much/little or free. She says that the owner is the nicest man she's ever met. Next I have to figure out how to transport it!
Lots of potential, lots of work, just imagine sanding that thing, or waxing it, my guess is it would be rather expensive to do anything to it. That being said I like it, there is one that ran around No.Cal. I think the one in the pics on here earlier, it was very cool. Would be great for a club, or business, you could start limo service or something, who knows... I don't know if it's a "cl***ic" or "vintage" I'll leave that for the correctness police. If you want it, get it, have fun with it. I think you know it's not a Trad. Hot Rod or custom, not even a new style rod or custom, but it could be fun...
Ive always considered an antique something over 100 years old, an 1984 honda is just a piece of ****, calling one a collectable or antique would probably get you laughed out, same goes for a yugo
I think that twin mid engine drive would be intresting, with a corvette trans axel out back it would haul *** like no tomorrow!
Understood, They called the company AMC! Depending on the original year that car may have been swapped from a genny too.
From the dipstick and coil location, that does appear to be a Mopar Poly 318. The valve covers don't look quite right, but its hard to tell from the photos. The one in the Checker ad definetly is, so if the valve covers in the car have the scallops on the exhaust side, you canbe pretty sure it's a Poly. BTW, it's not a "wide-block". Other than some water p***age locations, the block is the same as the later "LA" engines. The heads make it appear much wider. You could bolt in something later, but there's nothing wrong with that engine. There are 4bbl, dual quad, and 3 deuce manifolds out there if you look (I've had them all). If you like the car, BUY IT. Esp. if you'll be saving it from the crusher. Those things are always a hit wherever they turn up. Plus, you can limo it for a little side money if you want!
My dad drove a Marathon for years when I was a kid. It was what I learned to drive on the street in. Learned to drive tail out on gravel roads with it, too. When he finally sold it it had 235K on the odometer. He couldn't find a replacement Ford three speed with GM bolt pattern. The whole car seemed to be designed by the guy who was going to have to fix it. Dad really liked that car. It was great for trips as all the luggage and such sat on the floor and a couple of people could comfortably stretch out and sleep. With a 230 and a 3 speed it would give back about 25 mpg in a 55 mph world. Checkers used to be the most visible marque in urban America when most Taxis were built by them.
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