There was a lady customer at my brothers Sunoco station, in the mid 70's, with a Checker Marathon. It was powered by a 350 Chevy 2 brl. and a Borg Warner 3 speed on the column. It ran like top, never had any issues. Some women told a friend of mine ( he drove a 55 Chevy) that all the cabs in NY were 55 Chevys. This was in 1980! LOL!! True story.

yep Johnny -

the Checker Cabs did have a strong resemblence to a mid 50's chevy... they stopped producing them around 1982. They were all over NYC when I was a kid. You very rarely see them around anymore.. I had my first ride to the hospital in a Checker Cab for some stitches. It was a nice riding vehicle and very roomy. They had these nifty round shaped ... bar stool looking kind of folding seats in them for additional passenger seating. For some reason I remember noticing that during that first trip. Anyway years later I learned that they did have SBC's in em.

An aunt and uncle near Boston had a "civilian" Checker Marathon. I remember riding in it and there was enough rear seat room with those jump seats to fit about seven of us. I didn't look underneath to see if there was space for good 4 link since it never crossed my mind to want one as a Super Stocker! http://www.classracer.com/html/happy.gif

If I am not mistaken many of the body parts on a checker could fit in multiple positions for example the left front fender could be used as a right rear and the doors could be swapped side for side, same with bumpers and windshield and rear window glass. They were indestructible!!!!!! the cabbies in the Chicago area would beat the hell out of them and they would just keep running. Rattled a lot but they served the purpose very roomy inside too ... Comp 387

As a kid in the early 70's I work at a Skelly station in S. Minneapolis.I remember doing an LOF on a Kermet the frog green Checker with a 250 Chevy 6,T400,and 12 bolt posi.....Bullit proof or what?lol