Checker Manhhaton

[Snow93]

Foudn this old checker (196-) sittin on the side of the road werei live. Looks like it sbeen sitting a while, alot of surface rust and by the looks of it it will need a new fender and hood. Think its worth restorin?

[MagicRat]

It's rare that you get the money back that you put into any restoration project. So it's almost never "worth restoring" anything.

However, a Checker sounds like a fun project. There are very few left on the road; all were used up as taxis 20 years ago. But there's lots of body parts out there on the net. Almost all the mechanical parts were Chevy items, so they are easily available.

[Snow93]

I wouldnt be doin it for the money anyways-if i were id be insane. Like i said its got heavy rust, the engine would probly have to be just tossed, the body all in al is decent, but like i said new rocker, fender, hood and interior. Bring it up to date a bit.. shove 20 grand into a nice little car that you dont see every day. Besides it would be nice to have soemthin to do lol.

[tigermiata]

I think you'll find the model name for what you're looking at is "Marathon". The only other Checker model names I've heard of are "Superba" amd "Aerobus" -- the latter that 8-door airport taxi.

IIRC, the engines offered were the old Continental straight six, then the ubiquitous Chevy V8, so at least there you won't have parts problems.

The one person I knew who drove one, many years ago, said every time he parked it anywhere he'd find notes from people offering to buy it.

[Jimster]

Originally Posted by tigermiata

I think you'll find the model name for what you're looking at is "Marathon". The only other Checker model names I've heard of are "Superba" amd "Aerobus" -- the latter that 8-door airport taxi.

IIRC, the engines offered were the old Continental straight six, then the ubiquitous Chevy V8, so at least there you won't have parts problems.

The one person I knew who drove one, many years ago, said every time he parked it anywhere he'd find notes from people offering to buy it.

hmmm...... I know they made Checker limousines, at the Southward car museum in New Zealand they have a Checker Limousine that was used by the Queen of Tonga (Or someone similar).