Will Moebius kit this classic American Icon ?

[martinfan5]

I would get one, more for the novelty of it, although I do somewhat like it, or maybe build the fleet from D.C. Cab.

[Craig Irwin]

R&R did one in resin, anyone know how it sold? (Yeah, I bought one of them)

Edited September 22, 2014 by Craig Irwin

[Mike_G]

Found an old band photo:

[slusher]

I would get one...you would think most model guys would take one..

[ChrisR]

I would take one as well!

[Daddyfink]

Hate to admit it, but yes, I would get one or two

[John Goschke]

I'd go for it if it were an accurate-looking snap-kit of one from the late-'50s or early '60s. Full-detail kit, no way!

I remember when my dad was car shopping in about 1964 'cause the 352-powered '58 Del Rio Ranch Wagon was starting to give him headaches. Among others, he sent away for a brochure on the Checker Marathon. Being an 11-year-old weasel with pretty strong opinions about what cars were acceptable, I made sure that brochure disappeared real quick! Even though my mom fell in love with a white '64 Country Squire, we got a clean '61 Olds F-85 wagon that was a lot cooler than a Marathon wagon!

[FASTBACK340]

Those things were E V E R Y W H E R E growing up in the NYC area. I honestly don't know if I'd want one or not…...

[Chuck Most]

I seriously doubt it...

but if they DID, I'd gladly eat my words and buy a few of them.

[thatz4u]

how about a Checker Wagon? yes they did make them...

[Tom Geiger]

I answered the original question, Do I think Moebius would do one, and my answer was "no"... Would I rule a Checker kit out all together? No, not with the things that have been happening lately. We've been getting new subject matter we never thought possible.

So... in my mind how would this become a kit? I can see Round 2 doing it as an AMT kit. Curbside would be fine since there's nothing all that interesting under the hood. Since they have a thing for doing TV and Movie tie ins, I can see a box with Taxi tv show artwork. A snapper shot in multiple colors would work. That would allow all the non modelers who would buy this at TV and Movie Memorabilia shows to pop one together for their collection shelf.

And of course I'd buy one or two to create my own light commercial varieties. Guys would open the hood and add all kinds of big engines and such. Life would be good.

My peeve with Checkers in movies... the movie is supposed to be say 1958, 1966 etc... and a Checker cab pulls up with side lights and big bumpers! Argh! Get the Checker right for your movie era!

[Tom Geiger]

I would rather see full detail.

Or no model at all? Sometimes getting or not getting a subject comes down to how much detail to how much cost. I'd be amazed to see a Checker at all so I'd be pleased to see a curbside.\

For instance, Revell '49 Mercury Wagon. I was told by someone who plays a doctor on TV that they would've liked to tool up a new flathead for that release, but the budget for that project dictated that they used the existing Caddy V8 from the previous version. The decision was 'produce the kit or not'. So they produced the kit within the budget. There's still guys screaming bloody murder that Revell should've tooled up a new engine... um, so you voted "no model at all"??

[lordairgtar]

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQH3Tj_J7o8hag6g8RvzN-GsvM2w-v-PsUBk-nLYtIXNbXQUyk3QQ:blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/24-Hours-of-LeMons-BFE-GP-Leaders-Top-626x426.jpg

[lordairgtar]

http://assets.blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2013/04/1979CheckerMarathon_03_700.jpg Don't forget their private car version was known as a Checker Superba.

[Greg Myers]

how about a Checker Wagon? yes they did make them...

Yep, right up there in post # 18

[unclescott58]

Amazing amount of wrong info or half correct info shows up in places like this. Let's clarify the style of Checker most people here are talking about. The basic Checker, the taxi cab version is the model A9/A11 built from 1959 through 1982. It replaced the the simular looking model A8, that shared the basic body structure, built from 1956 through 1958. Late in 1959, for the 1960 model year, Checker introduced a non comercial version of the A9 with slightly nice trim, call the model A10 Superba. There was also an even nicer model, the A10 Superba Special. Both were available as a 4-door sedan or 4-door station wagon. Starting in 1961 the Superba Special became the Marathon. Then in 1963, they became the A12 Superba and A12 Marathon. 1963 was the last year for Superba. 1963 also saw the taxi cab version become the model A11.

If you walked into your Checker dealer to buy a civilian model Checker in 1963 you could choose from an A12 Superba 4-door sedan, an A12W Superba 4-door station wagon, an A12 Marathon 4-door sedan, an A12W Marathon 4-door station wagon, and the new for '63 the A12E Marathon Town Custom 4-door limousine. Build on a 129" wheelbase vs 120" for the regular models. This held true through 1966. After which the long wheelbase Town Custom was dropped in general. Popping up in later years on a limited basis as a model called the A12E Marathon Deluxe. By the way, Checkers idea of a limousine did not always include a divider window. Though the divider was available. Also, the regular 120" wheelbase Checker models rear compartment was big enough to accommodate optional folding jump seats. So you can imagine the rear seat leg room in the long wheelbase model!

On to engines. 1959 through 1964 were mainly power by the same engines used in Kaisers and Frazers. The Continental 226 cubic inch straight six. Flathead standard. Overhead valve head optional. From 1965 on they pretty much used Chevy sixs and small-block V8s. There were a few Chrysler V8s put in Checkers for a short time in 1964. In 1968 Checker also offered a Perkins in-line 4 diesel.

A11 comercial vehicles is were you get some different variations. The basic Checker A9 and A11 was a 4-door sedan of course. They also offered the comercial Aerobus line. This was a stretched Checker station wagon, available in 6 or 8-door models. Mostly seen in use around airports. They also offered a high roof 4-door sedan called the Medicar. It was mainly designed to accommodate people in wheelchairs.

As far as I know, there were no comercial Checker 4-door station wagons. Only the non-comercial Superba and Marathon versions. But, with way Checker worked, I'm sure if you wanted one, they would build it for you.

I hope this clairifies a few things for you guys.

Scott

Edited September 25, 2014 by unclescott58

[PeeBee]

The Checker cabs were superior to the Crown Vics, and now the Nissan whatevers, that we ride around NYC in these days. For ride, legroom and extra passenger space they couldn't be beat. I remember when Connecticut Limo (who's business is primarily transportation to and from JFK, LGA and EWR) used the stretched wagons before they switched over to stretched Suburbans. Now they use church vans.

I'm nostalgic for the old Checker cabs, but I doubt I would ever buy, or build, a model of one. They were pretty drab cars.

[Art Anderson]

And yet, I have a hard time thinking of any Checker as a sort of "Icon"--interesting cars, to be sure, but other than a taxicab in a major city, most of us in the era when they were produced, likely would not have wanted to be seen driving one as our personal car.

Art

[Harry P.]

There is a kit of a London cab.

A Checker (US) cab kit doesn't seem all that farfetched to me... especially if offered with a nice, comprehensive decal sheet with NYC, Chicago, etc. cab markings.

[PowerPlant]

[Greg Myers]

[Greg Myers]

[Nick Notarangelo]

if they do one as a kit in needs to smell like old beer, smokes and vomit, cause that's the only way I remember those cars back when I was a kid.

[unclescott58]

And yet, I have a hard time thinking of any Checker as a sort of "Icon"--interesting cars, to be sure, but other than a taxicab in a major city, most of us in the era when they were produced, likely would not have wanted to be seen driving one as our personal car.

Art

I think it would be cool now to own a civilian Checker Marathon as a personal car today. Make mine a '65, '66, or '67 Marathon sedan or wagon with a 327 V8 under the hood.

Scott

[moparfarmer]

While your talking Checkers and other commercial vehicles there is a square ugly looking(looks Russian or Checkaslovian) type of vehicle they use for wheelchair

transport..There are about 4 or 5 in Winnipeg but could never get close enough to see the name..I think it starts with an A...Anyone heard or maybe know what kind

of car I'am talking about..It could also be made in Pakastan because all the drivers I have seen driving them are from there...