Spotted during a service call: Checkers, anyone?

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The grill that put the fear of God in uncounted New York pedestrians, jaywalkers, other drivers and most likely filled the rear view mirrors of Pedi-Cab drivers as well!

redcarpetdrew++6-30-2012-21-11-17.jpg
 
She remembered piling the kids into the back and going for drives. Bought during the period when Checker was starting to shift focus from the cab market that was already looking for more fuel efficient cars to the general public in hopes of selling cars. I was told that 1983 was pretty much the end. The original upholstery color is just killing me!

redcarpetdrew++6-30-2012-21-17-46.jpg
 
That thing looks great for the age. I always loved how Checker took parts and pieces from the best of other cars and made them into something that was so long lasting. Wonder if it has the 225 slant six Chrysler engine that the taxis had. And that brake pedal looks just like a Ford. And the steering wheel looks like a mid 70's GM.
 
Whoa, Nellie! Thanks for the posting this, Andy. If the kids don't want it, they should send it Missouri-way.
 
I think those are seat covers on the seat. A family down the street from us had a 1975 Checker Marathon bought new. It was white on the outside and had maroon velvet seats. The door panels were the same color as on the car in the photos.
I got to ride in it a few times. You could tell it was a very solid car and was much quieter inside than the Checker Cabs. Plus the owners said it got very good gas mileage.
But even then you never say too many private Checkers on the road, unless they were converted from taxi cabs.
 
I wonder how the leadership at Checker could ever have thought they'd be successful in marketing a quirky sedan with 50's style to the general public circa 1980.  I can appreciate the Checker in some ways, like how it leaves the VW Beetle in its dust when it comes to staying true to the original design, but the original design wasn't all that pretty and the interiors uninspired. 

 

I think the opera windows, already a Detroit has-been treatment by 1978, look both ridiculous and hideous.  Probably the best thing that could have happened to Checkers would have been a shared fanaticism for such cars among enthusiasts into hydraulics and airbrushing.
 
I read somewhere that they had an unusual two position hood locking mechanism whereby the hood could be either fully closed or a second position a couple of inches higher which allowed engine heat to escape around the permimeter so as to minimize overheating in all the stop/start city traffic. 
 
parts for the "big three"

i heard somewhere that checker remained in business producing metal stampings and
other parts for the"big three" after they stopped making cars in mid-'82.
 
I have a lady friend that loves these
Checkers and has bought everyone that she has found for sale as either replacement fo rher car of for parts to her Checker.  They are good big cars.

 
 
WHAT IS THIS???

I have never in my life seen one of these! Really unique! Wish it had chrome bumpers and a little more retro dash, but otherwise, that is really unique!
 

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