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101 Cars: Checker Marathon
The big yellow anvil
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SPEED Staff  |  Posted August 25, 2008   Charlotte, North Carolina
The Checker cab was as much a part of the Manhattan landscape as hot dog stands, the Empire State Building, and the occasional mugging. (Photo: TheTruthAboutCars.org)

For decades, they crawled the streets of New York and a dozen other big cities across America. The Checker cab was as much a part of the Manhattan landscape as hot dog stands, the Empire State Building, and the occasional mugging. Checker had been around, primarily in the taxi and commercial vehicle business, since 1922, but the model everyone associates with the name made its debut in 1955.

The company began offering the consumer version, dubbed Superba, in 1960. You could choose between a sedan and station wagon in two trim levels - standard and Special - or various special-order versions like the eight-door Aerobus shuttle. The Special was renamed Marathon in 1961, then all of them took the moniker in 1964. What the Superba/Marathon lacked in style it made up for in trunk space, leg room, and cast-iron toughness. Most came equipped with Chevy inline sixes and V-8s, but there was a diesel offered for a while too.

The cars are thoroughly unremarkable to drive and seem gargantuan today. But given even minimal upkeep, they'll lumber on forever. Owners have taken to customizing them, but somehow, the only proper color for one is yellow.

Specifications
Engine: 327-ci Chevrolet V-8 (1967)
Horsepower: 185
0–60 mph: 12.0 seconds
Top Speed: 95 miles per hour
Price New: $3,843 (1970)
Value Now: $12,000-$14,000 (excellent condition); rough runners start at around $3,500.
Checker Superba/Marathon Photos



Claim to Fame

CLAIM TO FAME: When you think "taxicab," this is what you see.


Soundtrack

SOUNDTRACK: "Cab Driver" by the Mills Brothers


Perfect Passenger

PERFECT PASSENGER: The cast of Seinfeld


Behind the Wheel

BEHIND THE WHEEL: No mainstream cab company is running Checkers anymore, but there are classified ads for them at www.checkertaxistand.com.


Did You Know?

DID YOU KNOW: Checkers have appeared in more than 100 movies and TV shows.


The Perfect Drive

THE PERFECT DRIVE: Up and down Park Avenue



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Give us your two-cents on the Checker Marathon!

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