Will Moebius kit this classic American Icon ?

[ChrisBcritter]

If a curbside kit was produced and you wanted to detail it, I remember Checkers used '56 Ford front suspension, so the AMT kit would get you started.

[chunkypeanutbutter]

So ... How many variations of a Checker Marathon can you name? Cab, airport limo, ... Yeah, I don't see that as being viable.

They had custom pickups, too

[unclescott58]

If a curbside kit was produced and you wanted to detail it, I remember Checkers used '56 Ford front suspension, so the AMT kit would get you started.

It way look like '56 Ford. But, from my understanding it was their own parts. I could be wrong on that though.

Scott

[Greg Myers]

They had custom pickups, too

Show us a picture

[Greg Myers]

Hint, It's a model http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2013/12/14/four-links-checker-pickup-carl-sagans-porsche-iacocca-qa-cadillacs-mood-cars/

[unclescott58]

They had custom pickups, too

A pickup truck based on this generation Checker is for sure a custom built unit. Built by somebody other than Checker. In James Hinckley's book on Checkers, the only Checker truck he shows or talks about is a '33 Checker Model T converted into a flatbed by somebody other than Checker.

By the way, James Hinckley's book, is titled "Checker Cab Co. Photo History." Published by Iconografix in 2003. It a great book on the subject. But, I think titling it as "Photo History" does the book a bit of disservice. The book has a ton of photos, but also plenty of written information on the history of Checker automobiles (and other vehicles built by Checker).

Another great source is the Checker Car Club of America. Their site comes up through a Google search. The other night I was reading a section on owning Checkers, on their site. It was mentioned there, that Checkers handling is not the best at speeds over 80 or 90 mph. Too much air gets under the cars at thoughs speeds. Interesting. This brings up two thoughts. One, I never thought of anybody driving a Checker at 80 to 90 mph. Second, if one owns a Checker, should they then put spoilers on it?

Scott

Edited September 26, 2014 by unclescott58

[Harry P.]

They had custom pickups, too

Checker never sold a pickup. They supplied stampings and parts to other manufacturers of trucks, but there was never a "Checker" PU.

[unclescott58]

Checker never sold a pickup. They supplied stampings and parts to other manufacturers of trucks, but there was never a "Checker" PU.

Good point Harry. They stamped parts for the big three and other companies for years. They build complete Ford pickup cabs sometime in the 1930's or 40's. After they quit building their own car in 1982, they countiued stamping parts, mainly for General Motors. They stayed in business unit 2008. Then the problems GM was having, and the Bernie Madoff scandal finialy took Checker down.

Scott

[Tom Geiger]

Checker never sold a pickup. They supplied stampings and parts to other manufacturers of trucks, but there was never a "Checker" PU.

Just looked in my garage... my Checker pickup is there right next to my Checker convertible!

[unclescott58]

Just looked in my garage... my Checker pickup is there right next to my Checker convertible!

Aren't those Checker convertibles really retractable hardtops with both a power moonroof and t-tops? And you forgot to mention if your Checker pickup truck was 4-wheel drive. 2-wheel drive. Or maybe it's the rare model with no-wheel drive.

Scott

[Greg Myers]

a picture would be worth a 1000 words, oh wait. Arts probably working on his thesis as we speak.

[unclescott58]

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.

Interesting, your photo shows a Marathon. Not a Superba.

Scott