Rare Checker
Aug 9, 2022 23:19:18 #
Aug 10, 2022 01:33:39 #
Aug 10, 2022 02:33:56 #
Aug 10, 2022 04:11:23 #
You made me wonder, "whatever happened to" Checker. Little did I know. The Wikipedia article on the "Checker Cab" was quite a revelation for me. Like somebody else said, I remember them as being an odd taxicab manufacturing company that you could also buy a "civilian" version of, but were few and far between. Well yeah, but wow, did I ever underestimate the numbers and influence. Morris Markin was quite the mogul! Not just building Checker Cabs, but also owned many of the cab companies that ran them as well. At one time owning many NYC cab medallions which became very expensive. It's worth a read if you grew up in the sixties and have just a vague recollection of them.
A Flickr search will get you quite a gallery of Checker Cabs, even some other bodies like Ford and Chevy. At the height of the taxicab's popularity, our town of 20,000 had four or five cab companies that parked around the town center diamond and answered hardwired phones that were mounted on poles next to their parking stalls since this was prior to radio dispatch becoming common.
A Flickr search will get you quite a gallery of Checker Cabs, even some other bodies like Ford and Chevy. At the height of the taxicab's popularity, our town of 20,000 had four or five cab companies that parked around the town center diamond and answered hardwired phones that were mounted on poles next to their parking stalls since this was prior to radio dispatch becoming common.
Aug 10, 2022 07:25:09 #
It's wearing the pre 63 Studebaker hubcaps. Checker bought the dies for these at the demise of Studebaker.
International bought the dis for the post 63 hubcaps along with the Transtar name.
International bought the dis for the post 63 hubcaps along with the Transtar name.
Aug 10, 2022 07:29:04 #
Aug 10, 2022 08:24:23 #
JimmyDK wrote:
I remember these were taxi cabs when I was growing up in Buffalo.
The Marathon model were not used usually for cabs. But, I don’t think an model of a Chevy or a Ford could have held up to the abuse a cab takes as well as a checker.
Aug 10, 2022 08:54:32 #
Aug 10, 2022 08:54:50 #
Wish we could read the paper in the back window. That's their "limo" model with extended rear doors. Cool cars. Always like them. I'd get one if I won the lotto.
Aug 10, 2022 09:03:59 #
I think the paper indicates the model name, year (1981), original owner, and a comment about Johnny Cash (whose friend once owned the car).
Aug 10, 2022 09:37:09 #
Don't know if I'd call it a luxury car, though. I drove them back in the summer of '74 between my jr & sr yr in college. That was an experience!
Aug 10, 2022 10:05:03 #
JimmyDK wrote:
I remember these were taxi cabs when I was growing up in Buffalo.
Same here in Pittsburgh.
Aug 10, 2022 11:47:14 #
wnagel
Loc: Fair Oaks, CA
Saw one in NYC a month ago. Had the yellow New York paint scheme, rumored to still be in use.
Aug 10, 2022 17:24:01 #
I had almost forgotten these cars until your post. They were roomy and easy to enter and exit. A very practical, but staid car.
Aug 10, 2022 19:47:11 #
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