Checker cabs were like traffic lights in big cities because you saw them all over the place.
These weren’t family cars–most of them were commercial taxicabs, so they were at every airport or traffic light in most major urban centers.
Checkers were used up and then they were gone—except for survivors like this 1972 Checker Marathon wagon.
Jerry Sutherland
Bob Swetlikoe is the proud owner and historian behind this unique long roof. He said this example “was never a cab” –that might explain why it’s still around.
His Checker was more of a project than a functional vehicle when Bob purchased it. Bob already had a Checker wagon, but he learned this one had far more potential as a viable project.
Bob explained the difference between a commercial vehicle like this and a typical family wagon. Checker provided shop and parts manuals for every owner because they knew these cars would likely be maintained by a company technician.
These are very detailed manuals, and they outline how maintenance-friendly Checkers were. For example, the rear quarter panels were bolt-on, so after a traffic mishap an employee could simply replace the dented quarter in record time.
The seats are also easily removable and that’s a bonus for a taxicab because a carsick passenger could take a regular cab out for hours. A Checker cab would take a few minutes to rinse out.
Bob also outlined how the Checkers were a mix of available parts, so they could have a heavy-duty Lincoln front end–plus a Chevy motor and steering wheel.
Bob’s Checker came with a small-block Chevy, but he upped the game with a 350 from a donor Firebird. He explained how the car has been gone over “from front to back”, because Bob wants to drive this car—not look at it.
The two-tone paint was also Bob’s idea and it’s a combination of Porsche Miami Blue (Blau) and a shade of white. The seats are custom refitted with an upholstery pattern that doesn’t look out of place in a 1972 Checker wagon.
Bob’s plan is simple—drive his Checker and showcase it to the public. He said it’s very smooth on the road because a taxi that rode rough wouldn’t have a bright future—Checkers did the job well for decades.
He said there’s a little play in the steering wheel but Bob attributes that to old technology.
His biggest problem is curiosity because most people don’t recognize a Checker, so Bob is constantly explaining his car to the public. Some think it’s an International Harvester Travelall, while others think it’s a Rambler. One guy yelled, “That’s a Checker!” on one of Bob’s early runs in the car, but the public has more questions than answers. Fortunately, Bob has those answers.
This Checker wagon is something you’ll never see at a car show, so that makes it a very unique car.
Checkers used to cause traffic jams in big cities, but like the passenger pigeon, what was once common is nearly gone.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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