Checker

US, 1959 to date

Checker Motors Corp, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Although the Checker company has existed since 1923 as a maker of taxicabs, it is only in recent years that private Checker cars have been made. The standard Checker cab was offered as a ‘pleasure car’ in catalogues from 1948 onwards, but officially, private car production dates from 1959. Two Checker models were made, the Checker Superba and the Checker Marathon, both differing from the cabs in relatively small ways. High doors allowed easy access, and with the two auxiliary seats, the Checker cars could accommodate eight persons. Until 1965 engines were 3.7-litre Continental sixes, as had been used in Checker cabs for years, but since then these have been replaced by Chevrolet six (3.7-litre) or V8 (4.6 and 5.3-litre). Styling has remained practically unchanged since 1959. The Checker cars are extremely well built, and mileages of more than 400.000 have been reported. The price of the 10ft-wheelbase Checker sedan is $3.871; that of the long-wheelbase 10ft 9in Checker limousine $4.528. Also offered are a Checker station wagon and an 8-door twelve-passenger Checker Aerobus for hotel or airport work. All 1973 Checker models come with automatic transmission as standard, engine options being a 4.1-litre six or a 5.7-litre V8.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; KM
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