Checker Marathon Wagon!

You know how cool this would be?


http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/cto/2126738731.html

 

Now....you, TOO, can own a tank. Yup.....it would be cool to drive around in one of those. Only time I ever saw these (and I've been around awhile) was in taxi use. I don't know anything about them except that I HEARD that they lasted a long time. Anyone know what engine was in these? Tranny? Who built them?

 

I know that a lot of them used small block Chevrolet engines and Turbo 400 transmissions.

 

Really? Didn't know that. Bet they're gas hogs.

 

My dad worked for Checker Motors in Kalamazoo, MI years ago. The company would give him a Marathon to drive home for the weekend. They had Chevy drivetrains, so this one could have either the 327 or 350, Turbo 400. Not a bad deal on this car. It's big, heavy, and lots of fun. A party on wheels!!

 

I've seen these with an inline 6 as well.

 

Anybody know what engines the Checkers used before they started buying Chevy motors?

 

Continentals.

 

Continentals??????

 

Yup. Checker had been buying them for a long time. Continental was losing money on each one they sold to checker. Checker wasn't interested in paying more money for them so they looked elsewhere.

the design of the Checkers were dictated by the use of the tall Continental engines. Markin, the owner of Checker, didn't want to spend the money to redesign the car so they just left it.

 

um...I have never heard of a Continental engine??:confused: This is getting more and more interesting. Guess I'd better do some searching.

 

Checker had an interesting story....

 

Continental manufacturered (or still manufactures..) small airplane engines - Piper Cubs, etc......

 

Not much info on the original company that I can find, KK. But there is still another spring off company that is now building aircraft engines of 500 HP and up.

 

My mom didn't drive either and dad worked so we took taxis a lot, too. The one thing that sticks in my mind about these Checkers was (aside from the fact that they seemed huge inside to a little kid)....if you went over a big bump you could hit your head on the headliner! They were like a tank but the ride was like a bouncy ball.
Still....I think it would be cool to have one. In searching Continental motors and Checker....I never did find the type of engine that was in the early models that were supplied by Continental. Among others, they built a huge 8 point something liter engine but didn't say what it was used for.