1969 Checker Marathon Wagon

[Turboomni]

1969 Checker Marathon Wagon

I always kinda liked Checkers. Factory bucket seats.

 

[Turboomni]

 

[drpreposterous]

Blown away by this! Didn't know Checker made wagons. What a nice find.

 

[Turboomni]

I thought it was pretty neat that they made a wagon. I remember the cabs of course and boy did they rattle on bumps!

 

[GregG48203]

I always thought that a Checker would make an interesting Odd-Rod; kind of like owning a Rambler, Scout or Studebaker. However, by the mid-70s, Checkers got heavy: I have one quote of 6500 pounds, which I can only attribute to crash bumpers and side-door guard beams. As for the wagons, they did make the Aerobus for a while:

In the process of looking for the image above, I came across this monstrosity:

 

[JC68vert300]

I also never saw a Checker wagon. Very cool. My friend Richie had a royal blue sedan, his father and brother also owned one each. Of course the yellow taxi of New York City, which were commonplace when I was a kid bring back memories,

 

[70bigblockdodge]

The old scoutmaster for my son's boy scout troop, their family business is a taxi/bus service. They have a old Checker airport limo, GM straight six and a turbo 400 trans and I think 2 carrier bearings. They use it for parades and such it's kind of neat, but not fast at all.

 

[65sporty]

I always thought Checker only made cabs until a customer brought one in for a engine replacement. Early 70's model, 350 chevy, turbo 400. Smooth ride and unique

 

[Wonderwagon]

Checker sedan, were bigggg cabs,

 

[cantflip]

I thought it was pretty neat that they made a wagon. I remember the cabs of course and boy did they rattle on bumps!

Thanks, neat old Checker...

I always thought that a Checker would make an interesting Odd-Rod; kind of like owning a Rambler, Scout or Studebaker. However, by the mid-70s, Checkers got heavy: I have one quote of 6500 pounds, which I can only attribute to crash bumpers and side-door guard beams.

I was under the impression they were all heavy cars. When the company was going under, I recalled reading how many fleet managers were concerned about how they would replace them. IIRC the long production and great parts interchangeability allowed many fleets to use them for decades before replacement.

The original purchaser would have been a bit of an odd duck driving this around town when it was new, but what a cool tow car/cruiser today.

 

[Samplingman]

My friend, @sevnty300, used to own one of the wagons. Even though it was clearly civilian he would pull up the front entrance of the mall and people would jump in and give him an address. I believe on more than one occasion he would take them to the destination.

 

[twostick]

Thanks, neat old Checker...

I was under the impression they were all heavy cars. When the company was going under, I recalled reading how many fleet managers were concerned about how they would replace them. IIRC the long production and great parts interchangeability allowed many fleets to use them for decades before replacement.

The original purchaser would have been a bit of an odd duck driving this around town when it was new, but what a cool tow car/cruiser today.

When they closed the doors they were the only company still building 1955 automobiles.

Kevin

 

[Carmine]

Watch them being built here:



Not exactly a great portrayal of the company, but I guess cab stand owners didn't care, lol.

And although the movie is set in Detroit (with awesome period scenery), Checkers were actually built in K-A-L-A-M-A-Z-O-O...