Checker Marathon

Posted on July 2, 2020 by classiccarweekly

1965 Checker Marathon

Offered by Mecum | Indianapolis, Indiana | July 12, 2020

I think we can agree that the styling of cars changed a lot more between 1960 and 1980 than it did between 1980 and 2000. That right there is why the Checker Marathon is so interesting. It was introduced in 1960 for the ’61 model year, and remained in production – virtually unchanged – until the end of Checker production in 1982.

And there’s a good reason why that was the case: don’t mess with success. It’s the “classic” New York City taxi – so why would they update it? Built right alongside the taxi versions were the passenger versions, like the car shown here. Yes, that’s right, these were sold as regular old passenger cars too.

Power is from a 3.7-liter inline-six that was rated at 140 horsepower when new. A V8 was optional, as were a station wagon and a limo. Only 6,136 Checkers of all types were built in 1965. This car is in obvious original condition. It will be an affordable entry into the world of bizarre cars of the past. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $6,600.

Checker Aerobus

Posted on August 23, 2013 by classiccarweekly

1969 Checker Aerobus

Offered by Mecum | Dallas, Texas | September 5, 2013

So this isn’t technically a bus – but it is rather lengthy. Checker is an interesting marque because they lasted a lot longer than everyone probably thinks – and most people don’t even remember they existed at all off the top of their head anyway. That, and they built basically the same lone model for over 20 years.

The Checker Marathon was introduced in 1960. It was the passenger-car version of the Checker taxi that was the go-to taxicab before the Crown Vic took over. The car remained in production, essentially unchanged, until 1982 when Checker ceased automobile manufacture. Did you remember that there was this “other” American automobile company producing sedans in the early-1980s? I bet you didn’t.

One step beyond (or many steps beyond, depending on how you look at it) the simple four-door Marathon was this, the Checker Aerobus. It was designed as an airport shuttle and I guess it would have been successful, as it seated as many as 15 people. They were available beginning in 1962 and could be had in two different wheelbases. This is the longer wheelbase that has eight side-mounted passenger doors. Which is a little ridiculous. I’ve always considered this the road-going cousin of those stretched golf carts you see in hospital parking lots.

The engine is a 5.7-liter Chevy V-8 making 200 horsepower. Non-taxi Checkers (although most road cars have since been painted in taxi livery) are extremely few and far between. The Aerobus is infinitely rarer. Only 3,568 were built by the time production ended in 1977. This one has a custom interior, but it’s still super cool. There are two other interesting Checkers in this sale. Read more here and check out the rest of Mecum’s Dallas lineup here.

Update: Failed to sell (high bid of $24,000).

Bonhams Greenwich Concours 2012 Highlights

Posted on June 9, 2012 by classiccarweekly

Bonhams set a record at their Greenwich Concours d’Elegance 2012 sale with a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Berlinetta that brought $1,244,500 – the highest price a car has sold for at this particular sale, which has been going on for eight years now.

Two of our feature cars, the 1915 Crane-Simplex and the 1962 Moretti 2500 SS, both failed to sell. The highest selling of our feature cars was the 1922 Cunningham V-4 Town Limousine which brought $128,000.

Other highlights included a rare 1971 Checker Marathon Station Wagon that, while never actually used as a taxi, was presented as one. It sold for $19,305.

Other interesting sales included a 1929 Stutz Series M Speedster with coachwork by Lebaron that brought $139,000.

And finally, this 1979 Kougar Sports 3.8 Liter Roadster formerly owned by David E. Davis Jr. These were sports cars built around a Jaguar XJ6 with fiberglass bodywork. It sold for $42,120.

Our other feature cars included the 1900 Parisienne Victoria Combination, which sold for $56,160 as well as the 1919 Locomobile Model 48 6-Fender Town Car which was hammered away for $65,000. For complete results, click here.