The Long and Turbulent History of the Checker Cab

[@EverardJunction]

I worked on a late model Marathon about 5 years ago. While I only performed electrical work to make the lights legal for UK roads it was a pleasure to work on. It was very spacious inside and everything had an air of robustness about it. Engine was the Chevy 229 V6 and while not as exciting as other US cars I've worked on it felt like a car that wouldn't let you down.

[@casmatori]

You kidding? V6 models were not desirable in the real world. Most Checker Marathons, and the ones that survived up until the late 90s, would have been V8 examples.

[@jeffking4176]

I actually detailed one. A beautiful Maroon, with black vinyl roof, black Leather interior. What a gorgeous car. 🚗🙂

[@popuptoaster]

@@casmatori Only Americans and Australians are obsessed with V8s, everyone else doesn't care much so long as they get the performance they want they don't care how many cylinders the powerplant has.

[@alanstrong55]

A tough, dependable, and durable car. 1983 was its final year.

[@chrisallen766]

The earlier ones with the old inline 6 or the small v8 were more durable

[@lesterfrancis8284]

Although, no longer on the road, Checker cabs are still fondly remembered by older generations of New Yorkers. Often, when a production company films a movie, TV show or commercial in New York and a Checker is required, the draw it gets from New Yorkers and visitors a like is priceless.

[@Darknamja]

How true. I grew up in the South Bronx during the '60s. Spent a lot of time in Times Square as a teen. I left in 1972.

[@johnscroogle6484]

Is there any of "old newyork " left ?

[@richardvilseck]

@@johnscroogle6484 Ugh. Tell me about it. I was there in 2014. Wanted to go to a “coffee shop” Ended up walking from Battery Park all the way to 23rd Street. Found lots of Starbucks along the way. Finally went to Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop. Last time I went home, I didn’t even go into Manhattan.

[@robhaythorne4464]

I drove Checker Marathons for both Checker and Yellow Cab (really the same) companies in early 1970s Chicago. Rockwell meters, manual transmissions, no power steering or brakes. Also, no radio dispatch, so spent many hours in hotel, train station or otherwise designated cab stand waiting lines. This was for beer and book money, because I was a student. Based in Hyde Park on the south side I had many trips to and from the South Shore hotel which was partially occupied by the Blackstone Rangers. Some of my favorite rides were to O'Hare Airport, because in those days there were no restrictions on drop offs and pick ups. I developed a few regulars who had my phone number (no mobiles) for pre-arranged trips to the racetracks where taxis had preferred parking and I learned how to play the ponies while waiting for the return trip. In the late 70s, I fell in with a Boston-based cabbie who lived in New Hampshire. He had both a Marathon and a custom stretch Checker limo. Three passenger doors each side, Cadillac engine, heavy duty auto transmission, power steering and front disc brakes. He'd drive his cab during the week and take passengers back north on Friday afternoons to be with his family. I would take the limo back to Boston, usually with passengers to Logan Airport. Then, I would drive his cab on weekends in Beantown. And, yes, I did get to Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park; even a couple of dog tracks. On Monday I'd pick up some fares, head north and we would switch off. It was a pretty sweet deal for both of us, because he paid a dispatcher and his cab and limo both had radios. Very little down time. Last time I drove a Marathon was in Washington, DC. A bunch of us chipped in and fixed it up. The other guys lived in Northern Virginia and worked at the Pentagon, as did I. We formed the Camo-Cab company and bought one of those briefcase-sized mobile phones. They would car pool to take advantage of the High Occupancy Vehicle lanes and the Pentagon taxi-cab preferred parking. I would ride home with them on Fridays and take over the cab. Because I lived in DC, the weekends were all mine to pick up some extra cash. Between National, Dulles and Baltimore the fares were pretty good. Alternatively, I would go to Laurel Park or Pimlico, spend the day, and usually get a fare back. After the races I would usually get a return fare, but I always made them pay in advance, just in case their luck hadn't been so good. As the others transfered out, I was left with the cab. Ended up selling it to a limo driver whose caddy had broken down. He thought taxi cabbing was too mundane for him, but after one week he changed his tune. Started his own company which, last time I was in DC in 2005, was still going strong. Well, this has certainly been a Marathon trip down memory lane. Pun intended.

[@stevenwilliams1805]

Thank you for the tour of a time and place I'd have never known about.

[@RWBHere]

Fascinating! Thanks for your firsthand account of the industry. 🙂👍

[@grumpyoldman3458]

Thanks for sharing your story.

[@yakacm]

Hey great story, thanks for sharing. Never realised there was a Hyde Park and Pimlico in Chicago, there are areas in London with these names too.

[@robhaythorne4464]

@@yakacm LOL. Hyde Park is the location of the University of Chicago: the place where Enrico Fermi harnessed the atom. The Pimlico I was referring to is in Baltimore, Maryland, where they run the Preakness stakes. Chicago doesn't have a Pimlico, but it has another racetrack called Balmoral, which used to be owned by George Steinbrenner. Cheers.it

[@oddshot60]

In 1970, my first job as an auto mechanic was at a small Checker and International Harvester dealership. It was fitting that the Marathon was sold along side of trucks and farm equipment ... I found the car to be amazingly rugged and dependable, and the folks who owned them loved them and and got years of good service from them. In my 30+ year career, I moved from Checker to Volkswagen and to Porsche where I worked my way from line mechanic, to shop foreman and finally service manager of a Porsche repair center. Eventually I would operate my own shop. All this to say, of all the cars I worked on, I regard the Checker as being one of the best for the service it gave to those who bought one.

[@styldsteel1]

The A-11 and 12 Marathons are Iconic. Seemingly no other car can be called that. I am proud to own my NYC '75 Marathon. The attention I get with my Marathon in Mid-town Manhattan is beyond words. At car shows and meets, the Mustangs, and Corvettes all seem to disapear. It's the Marathon that people know and love.

[@orlovphilipp]

As a cab driver myself, I found this video incredibly sensible, especially the denial of the last drivers of Marathons to give up for Crown Vics or Caprices (another legends more seen in Philadelphia or DC rather than in NYC when I was last time to the East coast of the US in 2018)

[@bernhardm9475]

Many will remember the US situation comedy "TAXI". The star was the Checker taxi cab in all episodes. Very fond memories there.

[@lawrencehansen7951]

Cab 804 ?

[@Straswa]

I remember that show on "Nick at Nite" !

[@marvwatkins7029]

I drove Checker Marathons for a few years (a friend's car, luckily). It was a gas guzzler with numerous mechanical and other problems. Yet it was very spacious in back with it's admittedly dangerous jump seats and much fun to drive. It was also tough and durable. And as far as its outdated styling? That was part of its distinctive "charm". The VW Beetle can be accused of old styling too and it seemed to do alright.

[@SammyM00782]

Well, when was the last time Porsche made something different? If it's working and people recognize and like what they see, leave it alone lol. I'm only 40 and can spot a Checker from a few blocks no problem. Only ever got the chance to work on one when I was turning wrenches in my early working career. Beut of a car.

[@Sashazur]

In New Jersey and NYC, for nearly 30 years my dad always owned a checker as the family car. At various times we owned a limo, a sedan, and a couple of wagon models. They were huge inside, simple, and tough… The front and rear door sheet metal was identical, probably as a way to save cost and improve servicing. Terrible mileage and no road feel but still fun to drive just because of the smile factor!

[@philgiglio7922]

Drove one as a cabbie...crap for brakes and acceleration, but I loved how high up you sat. You could actually see over cars in front of cars 3 or 4 ahead of me. Able to get on the brakes and avoid an accident several times. Standard Chevy running gear for ease of repair

[@PneumatinisPlaktukas15]

If anyone’s wondering, the Marathon (and most other Checker models) were designed by a guy named Jim Stout, who was the original designer of the Willis Jeep’s body.

[@rponiarski]

Back when I was a teenager, I drove for one of the cab fleets in New York City called Super Operating Company. They had all Checker cabs and the passengers loved them. As a driver, not so much as the front bench was not moveable and you were up against the steering wheel all the time. Also, the brakes were horrendous. But whenever I see one now, I recall the 1970s when I was a cabbie and it brings back some excellent memories. Thanks for the memories...☺

[@OsbornTramain]

Not moveable because it was broken. All Checkers had adjustable seats.

[@rponiarski]

@@OsbornTramain No, it couldn't move. Behind the front seat was a partition between the cabbie and the passengers. That was a fixed partition and the seat was as far back as possible. Mostly it was trying to protect the driver in case a passenger tried to attack you physically. Did that all right as I never felt threatened, no matter where I drove. But it was heck on my legs and back...

[@Santor-]

​@@rponiarski Interesting I had a chance to drive for yellow here in Houston a few years back, realizing the cab industry as a whole was on its last leg, and wanting to try before its too late. Had lots of fun picking daylease cars, some fast ex cop cars, some comfy air ride grand marquee's, and some neat Crown Vic LX's, all good drivers. What i learned was you could make most money by driving air ride grand marquee's, due to the ability to drive much faster without startling the passengers, for quick pickup/dropoffs. Those full framed cars are way better on pothole city streets, where a regular car would slow down massively, just a light touch on the brake and you could gas again with the panther cars . Yellow in Houston have since gone bankrupt, uber has taken over.

[@alexclement7221]

As far as to how people transferred from one railroad station to another in Chicago, there used to be a company called "Chicago Transfer", which was owned by multiple railroad companies, which owned a fleet of busses and 'limousines' (usually 8-door Checker station wagons) to shuttle passengers from one station to another. For those who bought their tickets through a travel agency, the Chicago Transfer ticket was included in the packet. It was all very efficient, and lasted until roughly 1960.

[@johnw1954]

excuse me WHAT this is one of the largest companies I never heard of

[@alexclement7221]

@@johnw1954 Geez, Classic Trains had a 4 page article about them just 5 or 6 years ago.

[@robhaythorne4464]

I vaguely remember that. Of course the Chicago and Northwestern and Union stations are only a block apart, but there were Dearborn, LaSalle and Water Street stations as well as the Illinois Central Station on Roosevelt Road. But,, I can't get to 11 stations as mentioned in the film. Hey, do you remember the indoor taxi-cab roundabout in Union Station? Very convenient for passengers, but it was very tight for drivers. Wonder if they still use it.

[@RadioWNEW]

Checker operated Parmelee, which dated back to the 1860's

[@CheezyDee]

I still remember those jump seats, when I was a kid they were the second coolest thing in a car besides the power windows in Cadillacs.

[@seandoole6504]

I daily drive an A12 Marathon, one of the handful sold in 1981, blessed as I am with favourable weather year-round. They are still cars you drive for other people, just the context has changed... And they are every bit the legend they have been made out to be.

[@jameshepburn4631]

I had a 1974 A-12, had silver-gray paint that I added red pin stripes to. Engine was a Chevrolet 250 cu in inline 6 cylinder.Transmission was a Borg-Warner (T35 I think) which in drive started in 2nd instead of 1st which made unaware mechanics think there was serious slipping in need of a rebuild. All my visitors from overseas, mostly East Asia, were amazed by how much room there was in back. Lots of people used to try to flag me down thinking it was a taxi. I still miss that car. It was built to last which it did 'til I got a Dodge around 1986. Thanks for the post and lots of memories.

[@kevinbarry71]

Blood, corruption and violence? Naturally I immediately thought of Chicago

[@Suprahampton]

I naturally thought of America lol

[@mbryson2899]

I was born and grew up there. The reputation is inaccurate...it's far worse and more pervasive than is usually represented.

[@DaveSCameron]

I plumbed for TONBRIDGE WELLS myself..

[@SophieScrolls]

I don't have the time to watch this right now (it is 3 am here and i really need to sleep) but I've been looking for someone to do a good history of the checker company, looking forward to watching it once I have time

[@DKS225]

Lucky for you this clip like so many Rory made will still be on his channel when you eventually do get time and plenty of sleep afterwards to watch.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

I must admit that I quite enjoy my self-imposed wee small hours comment slot and its innately international slant. At that time here in good old Blighty, I'm privileged to learn afresh all sorts of interesting facts about Pennsylvania's public transport or Toronto's trams for example. Both of which I might decide I can't commit the time to at other more civilised hours of the day. Then when I come to my senses, the comment count has rocketed to the thousands and I lose myself in the reverie of 'how do these authors find the time to compose, film, voice, edit and polish these wonderful productions, ensure that they've paid their audience the compliment of reading all their (well-meant) guff, let alone have time for a family, say and of course, a job?'

[@chrisdavidson911]

@@astafford8865 Are you expecting to be complimented on your ability to fit that much arrogance in to such a short reply?

[@onlyme112]

I need to sleep too, but it's hard to stop watching and listening to this stunning video.

[@tetchuma]

I wish Checker was still around. They’re just as iconic as the London Black Cabs. I’d love to request a Checker as my Lyft or Uber ride!!!

[@geofjones9]

I had a Marathon bought 2nd hand in "78. It had a Chevy 283 4bbl engine, 3 spd/w overdrive, manual steering and brakes. Bought in Wisconsin, loaded it up with a motorcycle and all manner of other household goods, and a 500 lb bale of burlap tied on top. Drove it to Miami, loaded the stuff on a boat to Honduras, where I was to live for 3 years, then sold the car. It gave no trouble on the trip, even though it was totally worn out and rusted out.

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

Interesting story. What were you doing in Honduras and what was that much Burlap for?

[@geofjones9]

@@chickenfishhybrid44 I was raising chickens on my dad's retirement place on Roatan Island. The burlap was to make curtains for the chicken run to keep heavy breezes from chilling them. It could get to 120 degrees in the shade, so humid clothes would not dry on the line. It could also be 55 degrees with lots of wind and rain.

[@davincecool]

Really well made video! As a non-American, these cabs form an integral part of the movies we watch and the America of the 80s and 90s I've grown up watching. Always wondered about the background of these cabs. Thanks for all the information. Power to you.

[@cuda426hemi]

One of my earliest memories as a kid in the 50s in Chicago (Dad designed @ Sears) was a ride in a Checker in winter - I remember the smell and the car in general - like riding in a refrigerator; no frills built like it could go through war without a problem. Comedian Louis Nye LP cover had him in a Checker - because of his old Chicago joke: "This cab go tru-da-loop?" "No, it goes beep beep" 🚙🚗

[@tiki_trash]

I used to drive cab. When I started driving for Yellow Cab all the Checkers were off the road in my town by then, but I remember getting rides in the original Checkers in the 80s. There was one cab that had rusted through the floor in the back. You could see the road as you drove along. The owner of the company bought two of the last year Checkers and parked them in his backyard. Milage was from the factory to Missoula, Montana and they were under a large car port with tarps over them. Whenever I dropped him off, I would see them. I assume they were yellow. I often wonder where those cars are now. Bullet proof is how I describe them. I happened upon a Checker at a gas station once. It was in primer and was going through a mild restoration and the owner let me check it out for far longer than I would have. I love these cars.

[@GustavTremendous]

I read the sales brochure for various years of the Marathon and it was really cool how purpose built and useful these cars were for their role. It’s a shame that niche market isn’t viable anymore.

[@ChadDidNothingWrong]

You're economy has to be pretty unregulated for those kind of niche markets to work. The world's energy rich economies are not so much like that today. Mainly because extra requirements (laws) are made every year, but never expire. I think if congress had to at least re-read and re-vote on a law every 10 years, it would help as they'd naturally skip the outdated ones, and those could then expire for once.

[@TheRandCrews]

Isn’t this the same for like Hong Kong Red and Green taxis with Toyota Crown Comforts, which are keep getting updated

[@tim3172]

@@ChadDidNothingWrong It's impressive how your distaste for regulation allows you to completely ignore the concept of economies of scale.

[@michaelho4014]

You’re sort of wrong, at least when it comes to privately owned carmakers. ​Japan, the UK and Hong Kong are the probably the only remaining places on earth where cars built specifically to serve as Taxicabs are still in widespread service. London currently has the LTI TX4 and LEVC TX serving as the traditional hackney carriage taxi role inherited from the Austin FX4. In Japan and Hong Kong, the long serving 1995-2017 Toyota Crown Comfort is so ubiquitous it may as well be a cultural institution. Whilst the crown comfort is essentially a heavily modified Toyota Crown (S150 generation) chassis, it’s headroom, LPG engine, and huge rear legroom meant it earned a level of respect that its longtime rival, the 1991-2015 Nissan Cedric Y31 has struggled to match. The Cedric had less headroom and a much weaker LPG engine and by the time of the early 2010s they were nearly gone in HK. A last ditch facelift to the Cedric that gave it an improved engine and black bumpers among other upgrades wasn’t enough. In Hong Kong Cedric taxis are basically extinct but in Japan they are still pretty common. It should be noted that Hong Kong crown comforts in 1995 originally had Diesel engines, a column shift automatic transmission, a front bench seat to allow for 5 passengers, and a heat shield on the roof. You can spot these early crown comforts in Photos and videos of Kai Tak Airport in its final days of operation. They did not have the LPG sticker on the trunk and front fenders and did not yet have alloy wheels. In the mid-2000s the HK government launched a scheme to experiment with LPG as a replacement for diesel to improve emissions, with the city’s taxis and public light buses (pretty much almost all Toyota Coasters) being the testbeds. In this time, the crown comfort got a more powerful air conditioning unit, which meant they could get rid of the roof heat shield. In 2006, the HK government outlawed diesel taxis meaning if you do see an “old” non-LPG taxi in Hong Kong today, it’s almost certainly owned by a private collector. In 2011, Toyota facelifted the crown comfort, giving it modern LED rear taillights that extended onto the trunk, a conventional automatic transmission which meant it no longer had a front bench seat, and higher quality bumpers and door side moldings. In Japan this car spread like wildfire but you wouldn’t see the improved crown comfort en masse in HK until like 2014-2016 or so. By the time of the 2019 protests the face lifted crown was on par with or outnumbered the older LPG crown comforts. Toyota has replaced the crown comfort with the Toyota JPN taxi, a taxi model that more resembles a London cab compared to the mid-size Japanese sedan that the Crown Comfort inherited from the 1980s Toyota Crown models. Toyota respects the crown and crown comfort’s heritage in their roles as taxis, and will likely continue that as long as a market for dedicated taxis (in right hand drive) still exists.

[@10laws2liveby]

Talk about a checkered past. This is a great video.

[@kavorkaa]

Transport and corruption are never too far away from each other

[@nicklacerte7134]

"Driven to the edge of mechanical life expiry." What a great sentence.

[@jwsoaresjones1560]

Driven to death. Rebuilt four more times. The Five Lifetime Checker! I owned 3 of them.

[@stanwbaker]

It is a delight to get an interpretation of the rich saga of Checker Motors from the perspective of another culture. I was one of the few who panicked at the Surge soda pop promotion in the early 90s which sent an additional 100 A12s to an early demise. It is not to our credit such a robust and sensible machine is no longer deemed the kind of thing we require.

[@chickenfishhybrid44]

Fuel mileage alone would doom it

[@mickm5097]

It's interesting to see this video pop up. I just traveled to NE PA to see family this past weekend, and recalled seeing a white Checker parked semi-permanently behind my grandfather's house when I was a little kid in the late 1970s. It impressed me because I had seen the yellow cabs on TV, but didn't know they were sold as regular cars. No idea where my grandfather got it or how long he used it, as he was suffering from Alzheimer's back then. I asked my aunt this past week if she recalled it. She didn't, but figured it was something my grandfather picked up because it had a lot of space inside. He was a farmer and man of many interests, and often used cars as if they were trucks, because (I was told) trucks had a higher tax when licensing them in PA, which he didn't have any interest in paying.

[@Truckngirl]

I used to own one in Los Angeles in the early 80's! It had over 1 million taxi miles on it, several different coats of paint for the different companies that it had been operated by. It had a 63 Chevy Nova engine, and it was the most amazing car I ever had. My late husband totaled a BMW while DUI in it, it was impounded, and I never saw it again.

[@actionjksn]

I rode in many Checker cabs back in the mid 80s, probably well over 100 times. I always loved those cars and they had massive legroom in the back.

[@mikeletaurus4728]

Part of my childhood was spent in Kalamazoo, and the father of one of my closest friends was a vice president of Checker Motors. However, unlike a number of Checker Motors employees in town, his family did not own any Checker vehicles. I never asked my friend why that was, but now I wish I would have asked him. Sixty years ago, it was a fairly common occurrence in Kalamazoo to see Checkers being driven by private individuals. They had a reputation for being solid but thirsty, and some of its features were antiquated. Example: the turn signals had to be turned off after a turn was completed -- they didn't turn off by themselves as the steering wheel returned to center.

[@glennnel3570]

What lovely walk-through of taxicab history for 28 minutes. Thank you Ruairidh. Time well spent.

[@fobbitoperator3620]

I knew an insane mechanic back in the early 90s, who resto-modded 1 of those old Checker cars. He dropped a turbocharged 383 Commando, (all over-built internals) with a build-to-the-hilt 727 Torque Flight tyranny, & had a Bulletproof rear diff in it. He painted it dessert tan, with back Cragar rims, chrome lugs/center cap, limo smoked glass all 'round, & a black Spartan chevron on the driver's door. Down the rear fender he had "Molon Labe" in black classic English calligraphy. When the turbo spooled up, it was like hearing an 747 taxi down the runway. (ba'dooomp TTSSSHHHH) That mutherfVcker was HELL on wheels to drive. God I loved that car!

[@elizabethcherry920]

Excellent video, I miss those Checkers and if you noticed that they all had a unique smell to their interiors.

[@chrispraz877]

Checker cabs were the best. You could fit a party of 5 comfortably in the back. In the 80's I used to put all my drums into a checker, plus me to play gigs.

[@samheumann5640]

Nicely done. I've always loved the classic body lines of a Marathon.

[@eggboy-uk]

Watched several of your videos. They are really excellent, educational and very well produced. I especially appreciate the lack of background music, so much easier to attend to the information. Great stuff, thanks for uploading and sharing such good work 🙂

[@marcoluoma3770]

I grew up in Kalamazoo several decades go, and seeing Marathons as private cars was relatively common. They had a reputation for simple reliability and almost indestructible durability.

[@drakefallentine8351]

To weave the long and heart-rendering story of the Checker Cab Company carefully through the History of World events from 1898 to the present, including the backstory of how a simple game of checkers became a National passtime, was truly an unrivalled Masterpiece seen only once.

[@CarswithNash]

I really enjoyed this. As a Canadian I’m not sure I have even seen a Checker in person but of course have seen plenty in movies.

[@carnagegarage6592]

This is so cool to see. I have a 1967 checker. It is a consumer car. It is tapioca pink. I have been slowly putting her back together. Last time she ran was 2006. I have a parts checker from 77 and it’s amazing how much can just swap over even after 10 years apart

[@TomCro73]

Thanks for another great video. Spent a long weekend in NYC in 1992 and saw *one* Checker Cab that whole time... with a little more wit, I've had followed it in another cab until vacant... No surprise that the corrupt NYC city govt ensured the demise of so many fit for purpose, well maintained vehicles - allegedly due to back-handers from auto dealers - though nowadays they seem hell-bent on eradicating *all* cars from the city.

[@davidyoung8521]

Hollywood used to use Checker cabs as Russian limousines in spy movies. Painted them grey or flat black.

[@ravisriram6746]

They were pretty ubiquitous here in the US, decades ago. I used to know someone who owned, also remember many a cab ride in a Checker. Interestingly, it's iconic body style remained virtually unchanged during its 1960-1982 production run. I also recall the wagon and the "stretch", long-wheelbase versions. Solid, sturdy build quality and those jump seats! It truly was the end of an era.

[@justinmccowan2543]

Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg automobiles were all manufactured in my hometown of Connersville Indiana which we nicknamed Little Detroit; had no idea they were connected to the great Checker Cab!

[@tetchuma]

I recreate old car logos as a hobby. I was just digitizing Partin-Palmer and it’s successor, Commonwealth Motors radiator medallions, yesterday. Bizarre! I’ve already finished all versions of Checker Motor Corp. from 1925-1982

[@davegoldspink5354]

Great video thanks so much for sharing. Here in Australia our cabs back in the day like today were basically all normal production cars. It’s funny I was recommended this video around the same time I noticed a 1981 A11 Marathon cab for sale here in Australia for just under $26k AUD. It still even has the all the original taxi gear and really isn’t in that bad of shape..

[@marvwatkins7029]

The extended version was rare and particularly desirable (and still is). I saw one in Chicago years ago: maroon with a vynal roof, and if course with jump seats and all that extra leg room. It was in mint shape and beautiful (ask much as a checker could be).

[@nf1369]

These cars are so iconic. What a shame to see them gone.

[@ehoberg]

In 1978 I was from Upper Bavaria on visiting our very best friend Warren in Kalamazoo. Standing in front of the frabrication hall I admired the famous cabs. People told me that the two bosses drove both a BMW 7-series for private use. But I had eyes for the Checker cabs only.

[@styldsteel1]

You have The Twin towers, Statue of Liberty, and The Checker Marathon. No other conversation is to be had. The End.

[@jean-pierredeclemy7032]

The multi-door Checker Aerobus made a lasting impression on a ten year old me when it was exhibited at the London Motor Show.

[@danielmarshall4587]

Many thanks for this, I've always liked these (Marathon) Taxi cabs.

[@antsteradams]

Thanks for the hugely informative film - you make some great content I have to say. Much appreciated and always looking forward to the next one.

[@calvingreene90]

I drove a Marathon a few times it is one of my favorite cars to drive. The trunk is particularly easy to access as you don't have to lift bags higher than the bottom to put it in.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Always been a fan of Checker. I tried to convince my Dad to buy a Marathon in 1977 because I could sit on the floor of the back seat - but instead he bought a Datsun. A bit of movie trivia - when you see a Checker in a movie that takes place before 1974 - the bumper should be a smaller, roundish chrome bumper. The bigger 'girder style' bumper (like in the thumbnail) was introduced in 1974 to comply with 5 mph US crash safety regulations. Many movies and TV shows just get a Checker, and don't often get the correct version.

[@Santor-]

Thats true, the crap movies do. The good films hire auto consultants, that make selection for proper year models if say its set in tbe past, with minor tweaks if needed, such as a different bumper, if thats easier than getting ahold of an actual -68 model or so.

[@madderanger7838]

Checker had side business with govt. contracts also. They made trailers for the army and the six door option on the cab was popular with the air force.

[@johngaltline9933]

I feel like leaving out the fact that New York required specialized vehicles purpose built to be cabs is a major oversight in the history of Checker. It's easy to just build the same car for 20 years when competition is legally barred from more modern cars.

[@RadioWNEW]

There is a lot historically wrong with this video, you are correct, that was a major factor, that forced the developement of the A8

[@Straswa]

Great video Ruairidh! I had no idea of 'taxi wars' in the 20s and 30s. Fascinating.

[@barrydysert2974]

i remember when The Big Apple was rotten. It got better. my mind boggles at the "labyrinthine" beginnings of Checker... and someone who can explain it. Well done and thank you !:-) 💜🙏⚡️

[@Michael-tz8zf]

wonderful production thank you very much : )

[@jeffreyhunt1727]

Fantastic documentary!! Your work is of a consistently high quality, and this video is a terrific example.

[@macjim]

You could say it had a ‘checkered’ history 🥸

[@VDPEFi]

Fascinating and truly well narrated, thank you!

[@grahambuckerfield4640]

There is another classic 1970's film, though much much less well known, that is partly set in the Checker plant in Kalamzoo. 'Blue Collar' made in 1977, written and directed by Paul Schrader, (the writer of Taxi Driver), starring Harvey Keitel and superbly in a rare straight, non comedic role, Richard Prior. The plant was chosen for the extensive factory location filming, as the then 'big 3' refused, having seen the script, a stark indictment of low wages, trying to make ends meet, union corruption and the perils of going against a 'company town' (Detroit). If you want to see how in the late 70's these cabs were built, it's in itself an interesting film, with a superb drama as well. Someone has uploaded for free on You Tube, I don't know how good it is or how complete, this fascinating history has made me get the DVD out! Trailer kzbin.info/www/bejne/moSnn4Whj7mopLc

[@calmeilles]

Alas that is only a trailer.

[@haweater1555]

@@calmeilles Here is the link to full movie. Strong stuff, includes the infamous spray booth scene. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i56WnWmEhs9qkJo

[@spencerhardy8667]

Brilliant and funny movie. Having worked in a car factory in the seventies and eighties the feel of the production line scenes ring very true, especially how tiny gripes get blown up into big freak outs due to the repetitive nature of the job.

[@crankychris2]

The deep hatred these 3 actors had for each other drove Paul Schrader into a complete mental breakdown after Pryor attempting to kill him and beating Keitel to a pulp after a set disagreemnt.thus shelving the production until 1978. However, the shooting of the movie was mostly complete in the fall of 1975. The hatred of Pryor really added realism to the movie's end. Lots of shots inside the Checker factory, Ford's River Rouge Plant, and Detroit all enhance this excellent movie. Detroit wasn't a paradise 50 years ago either... Wiki has a decent article about this movie, and all the fighting.

[@jmsjms296]

We had a couple of these cabs in Basle, Switzerland until about 20-25 years ago. Both were yellow 🙂

[@ImForwardlook]

Growing up in Finland I still vividly remind the horror of the downsized Chrysler New Yorker in 1979. It didn't make any sense to me, it was like the end of the world.

[@alanmartinez488]

Having grown up in NYC, I have ridden in many Checkers... the best! RIP.

[@scotteakins7203]

A buddy of mine. Had a mid 70's marathon model. It had a straight 6 cylinder. We called it our goin fishin ride. We literally tried to destroy that beast! It had a irritating rattle that would relocate. We would deliberately run into trees etc. To get it to stop. Instead the rattwould move somewhere else. 😂 nevertheless we failed on our quest to kill it. He entered it into a Demolition Derby and won it! The last time I saw it. It was still running sitting in a field with other junk cars. They were using it to fetch & pull parts. I enjoyed the memories and was glad to see it still running. One hell of a car!

[@Byzmax]

Outstanding and very informative as always.

[@whathappened2230]

Thank you for a great vid! You did well!

[@hrothgar014]

There’s a Checker Aerobus still in use at the Glacier Park lodge in Montana. It’s used for train station duty I believe.

[@brian5o]

I was just thinking of Checker last night and looked up a lot of stuff about the company then. Seeing this video pop up was quite a treat.

[@philiptownsend4026]

Surveillance and algorithms,..

[@49commander]

You make some of the best history videos!!! Plus you have a great speaking voice! Great Job!!!!

[@edwardallan197]

Really well done... I was enthralled start to finish..... I rode in a few as a boy......

[@paulsuprono7225]

My Granddad had a Checkers . . . 1st car in my young life to get a GREAT impression/respects ! 🤗🇺🇸

[@CzlowiekDrzewo]

I didn't know that the Vice City Kaufman Cabs missions were based on real life

[@Santor-]

It definitely is. Taxi culture and its problems became so ingrained in the fabric of life that laws were enacted that later, say in 2015 made no sense. In Houston for example, one were not allowed to park any taxi on a city street, immediate tow away. The reason? In the 30's taxi wars had companies cut costs to the bone to stay afloat, so had no land or lots to park them on, and would just clog up many city blocks with taxi's not in service. Other weird rules; taxi lamp on roof needed to have a small orange bulb in addition to the main light, or else $250 fine if it wasnt working. Reason was that in the past, city had a fee, or got a cut, based on miles on the meter. orange bulb goes on if meter is on. So it was basically a way to check drivers didnt drive without the meter. But the lease/meter system had been changed long ago, so city was paid per daylease instead, rendering the orange bulb pointless. Cops would still fine you if it wasn't working though, while Uber had no orange bulb requirement... If one asked anyone why, no one really had any answers, nor cared. Took alot of investigation to find out those two, but there were many many more. There was also a peculiar "Im being robbed" secret button on floor and camera system, with required callback where they pretended to call about something else.... was also an old requirement/union agreement...

[@dogcowrph]

Thanks for making this. Very good job. 😃

[@johnwick-ii6il]

If you were, or are, an old car mechanic, you may have noticed the some small block Mopars and Chevrolets use the same intake and exhaust port gaskets. This happened because they both used part of an unpatented design from Checker motors engineering. Checker motors was said to have developed the very first valve in head....cylinder head design. They were oriented with building components focused on longevity of service. But I have heard from the engineering circles in days gone by that they werent real good at protecting their designs from piracy.

[@tobygoodguy4032]

Yesteryear indeed. An excellent portrayal of that dark decade when the city was flushing itself down the toilet. The Checker will always be missed by those who after clubbing climbed into one of 'em in the wee hours of a Sunday morning. 🤠

[@robertcarmosino6563]

Yes I remember, the 80s Rocked !

[@scallopohare9431]

My parents started buying Checkers in the late 60's. Even painted aqua, people would hail it for a ride. For some reason, my mother was the appointed person at a hospital to tell people when they were fired. So, we had to get a lock fitted on the gas tank. Oh, and they got one of those station wagons for a brief time. Odds are my mother objected to my father improving his garden with sheep manure he hauled in old galvanized steel trash cans in the back of the Checker. We went back to a sedan very quickly.

[@joevignolor4u949]

A popular feature of the Checker was that it didn't have a transmission and driveshaft hump running from the front to the back down the center of the floor of the passenger compartment. In most cars with a hump when two passengers entered the taxi from one side the first passenger to enter would have to step over the hump to get to the other side of the rear seat. But in a Checker the first passenger in could simply sit down on the rear seat and slide over to the other side without having to step over the hump.

[@douglasjackson5007]

Excellent presentation. Thanks very much.

[@stco2426]

No idea why this popped into my feed but a really interesting vid. Thanks for making it. Great work!

[@Charles-ox3yv]

Outstanding video, I love automotive history and have always wondered about the origins of the Checker Marathon. Thank you

[@douglasnieblas74]

Checkers were so iconic in film. Mr. Glass drove one in Unbreakable. There were several in DC Cab starring Mr. T. It’s hard to picture downtown streets all over America without their presence. Rest In Peace Checker.

[@brentsutherland6385]

I remember as a child how great I thought the jump seats were!

[@chomihai]

Your videos are so relaxing and enjoyable to watch

[@RobJaskula]

You might even say they have a checkered history.

[@phloodpants]

Agree! This is a lost punpportunity to call it "The Checkered History of Checker Cab" LOL

[@RobJaskula]

@@phloodpants oh I think ol' Ruairidh subverted expectations on purpose!

[@emilyadams3228]

Also missed by not having intro music by Cab Calloway.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

@@emilyadams3228 Or the enchanting Vanessa Paradis ' "Joe le Taxi."

[@markrossow6303]

know the owner of a Checker sedan in Seattle, one of the last down the production line, ordered when the end was announced

[@kixigvak]

Excellent video! Thank you very much.

[@KabukeeJo]

There will most likely never be another iconic NYC taxi like the Checker Cab ever again. Consider yourself fortunate if you were even lucky enough to ride in one.

[@gerrydepp8164]

I used to be a part owner (my job was to fix it) of a marathon in the late 70's in Sweden - where a lot of "yank tanks" end up. It had a straight 6 that never had a problem - just went - but everything else was in constant repair as it must have had a hard life and as far as I know was never restored. I eventually left Sweden i 83 and I dont know what happened to it other than it being right royally celebrated with thousands of litres of beer and "Explorer" Vodka...

[@38911bytefree]

The Taxi TV Show with Danny de Vito used of course Checker Cabs.

[@henrychubbs2823]

An excellent combination of direct and peripheral facts. You continue to excel in your presentations, especially when compared to some of your competitors. Keep it up.

[@petervitti9]

We used to live in Kalamazoo in late sixities; my mom and I took a brand new 1969 checker taxi downtown once. It had 46 miles on the odometer.

[@TodGemuese]

I've owned a few Checkers over the years, and I love 'em. They're not without their flaws (they rust like nobody's business!) but they are fun to drive, a joy to ride in, easy to work on, and definitely get happy attention from people who see them.

[@yakacm]

I was in NYC in 1988 and the only Marathon I saw was one on display at JFK, yet Hollywood depicted them as ubiquitous in New York well in to the 90's.

[@Slickgoodlin]

When I was in the Army stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina the 1970's, Checkers were the on post taxi service vehicles.

[@lorenzodicapo6305]

Thank you, that was excellent Man I miss those

[@zanelindsay1267]

Well done! I have enjoyed many of these numerous documentaries by Ruairidh MacVeigh about various planes, trains and automobiles!

[@rogerking7258]

Really disappointed a few years ago on going to New York and finding that there were no Checkers and all the cab drivers had small Korean hatchbacks. I guess I've watched too many episodes of Kojak.

[@Santor-]

way too late fo that, they all went out 30 years ago. Crown vics where around until 2021 though, so you only missed them by a year, but now all gone, as last year model was 2011 and there a 6 or 10 year cutoff, depending on location.