Checker Marathon 250 CID inline 6 1972
General description :
1972 Checker Marathon 50th Anniversary Model
One of 45 50th Anniversary models built out of 6,000 total Checkers for 1972
Same owner for the past 45 years and garage-kept for the last 40 years!
Anniversary Gold exterior (code 1092) with full black vinyl roof and masked rear quarter windows plus brown interior (code 24)
Chevrolet 250 CID inline six-cylinder engine (code F0315CB)
Turbo Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission (code PA) and 3.31 gearing (code 33)
Power front disc brakes (code DDP)
Documentation includes original window sticker; original car invoice; the original vehicle order plus a copy; original bank draft application receipt; original deposit ticket stub related to purchase; original authorized Checker dealer’s owner service certificate; letter dated May 31, 1974 to original owner from Checker regarding number of similar Checkers; two copies of The Checkerboard News, Winter 2010 issue, which outline the original owner’s history with the car; a laminated October 1972 copy of Changing Times, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine about Checker and its vehicles; an original sales brochure plus a copy; a cross-referenced Checker parts list; Checker photo collage; and a hand-held scale model of an identical Checker
Own this Vehicle from $269 per month-call 636-600-4600
If you’re 45 years old or older and do not live in a large metropolitan area, as soon as you see a Checker, you might hear that theme music and see the characters – dispatcher Louie DePalma, cabbies Latka, Alex, Reverend Jim and the others from that late 70s and early 80s situation comedy, “Taxi.” MotoeXotica Classic Cars is pleased to offer this rarely seen 1972 Checker Marathon Golden Anniversary model. It is one of only 45 anniversary models made in 1972. Anniversary models are denoted by the full vinyl roof, deletion of the rear-most quarter windows and Anniversary Gold exterior color. Have you ever seen one?
This Checker has had the same owner for the past 45 years, who took loving care of it by ensuring it had a garage for 40 of those 45 years. According to him, he needed a new car in 1972 and he had noted all of the Checkers in use at the airport near his home. He saw the Anniversary Gold version while at a dealer and spontaneously decided to buy that version. His wife became the Checker’s primary driver and she only needed the car on an occasional basis at first, then the car was only driven during summers as it aged.
This example was made in Checker’s Kalamazoo, Michigan factory on March 18, 1972, ordered on March 28, 1972 by Erhart Checker-Jeep-Volvo Motor Car Co., in Tonawanda, New York and delivered to the original owner, who lived in Cheektowaga New York, on April 28, 1972. This unit came with the following options – black vinyl roof, front and rear bumper guards, rear roof pull handles, rear window defogger, AM radio with antenna, full wheel covers, rear chrome fender shields and the Anniversary equipment described above.
The Anniversary Gold paint (code 1092) and trim are in overall very good order with minor imperfections, including the full black vinyl roof, the car’s bodywork is straight and solid, the engine bay is in satisfactory order. The chrome bumpers are in very good order. This Checker rolls on Michelin whitewall radials, size 225/75R15 at all four corners. Each tire is mounted to a steel wheel topped by a factory wheel cover. The tires are in very good order while the wheel covers are in satisfactory shape.
Under the hood is a 250 CID straight six-cylinder engine (code F0315CB) sourced from Chevrolet. It is bolted to a Turbo Hydramatic 400 three-speed automatic transmission (code PA) and has a 3.31:1 rear end (code 33). Driver convenience features include power front disc brakes (code DDP) and a blower-type defroster for the rear window.
Inside is a dark brown (code 24) interior. The front and rear bench seats are in great order. The rear seat area offers passengers more than enough room to stretch out and get comfortable. There are floor mats over satisfactory carpeting. The tach and power antenna are inop. The light gray headliner is in very good shape. GM also supplied the steering wheel, steering column and some of the car’s auxiliary controls. The inner door panels and instrument panel, with its full array of gauges, are all in better-than-average shape. Completing the interior is a factory AM radio with speaker control.
The Marathon was introduced in September 1960 for the 1961 model year, alongside, and later superseding, the Checker Superba Custom and differing from the Superba with its better interior appointments. Originally, it retained the Superba’s A10 body code, whereas A9 was the code used for taxis. The exterior of the Marathon had a full-width egg-crate grille, differing from the Superba’s narrower grille and inboard parking lights. After a minor facelift for 1963, chassis codes changed to A11 for taxis and A12 for passenger versions. Also, in 1963, the Marathon Town Custom, a limousine version on a longer (129-inch versus 120) wheelbase appeared. This version, which seated eight, received the A19E chassis code. A few years later, this was changed to A12E.
With the exception of United States government-mandated and ongoing mechanical changes, the Marathon remained virtually unchanged during its 21-year production run. However, Checker did comply with all safety and emissions requirements while in production.
Notably, the Marathon’s front suspension A-frames interchange with a 1956 Ford. The engines used were originally Continental-built L-head inline-sixes (OHV units for the wagons), but these were exchanged for Chevrolet sixes and small-block V-8s for the 1965 model year.
Checker did not have a nationwide dealer network and sold most of its production for fleet service. Apart from taxicab use, Marathons were also bought by police departments, most notably in Kalamazoo, where Checker had its factory. In late ‘60s-early ‘70s, some black SCV (Stato Città del Vaticano-Vatican City) plated A12 Marathons were used to accommodate Pope Paul VI’s entourage in motorcades.
Documentation includes original window sticker; original car invoice; the original vehicle order plus a copy; original bank draft application receipt; original deposit ticket stub related to purchase; original authorized Checker dealer’s owner service certificate; letter dated May 31, 1974 to original owner from Checker regarding number of similar Checkers; two copies of The Checkerboard News, Winter 2010 issue, which outline the original owner’s history with the car; a laminated October 1972 copy of Changing Times, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine about Checker and its vehicles; an original sales brochure plus a copy; a cross-referenced Checker parts list; Checker photo collage; and a hand-held scale model of an identical Checker.
Checker six-cylinder competition in 1972 included AMC’s Ambassador 258, Chevrolet’s Chevelle 250 with Turbo-Thrift Powerglide, Dodge’s Coronet 225 with TorqueFlite, Ford’s Gran Torino 250, Mercury’s Montego MX Brougham 250, Plymouth’s Satellite 225 with TorqueFlite and Pontiac’s LeMans 250 with Turbo-Thrift Powerglide.
Uncomplicated. Unpretentious. Honest. These adjectives described the Checker in 1972 and they describe it today. If you’re interested in owning a unique piece of American automotive history, please visit MotoeXotica Classic Cars today to check out this seldom-seen anniversary model.
VIN: A12252523023
This car is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 5,676 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!
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1972 Checker Marathon 250 CID inline 6 is listed sold on ClassicDigest in Fenton (St. Louis) by for $19900.
Car Facts
Car type : Car Make : Checker Model : Marathon Model Version : 250 CID inline 6 Engine size : 0.0 Model Year : 1972 Sub type : Sedan Location : Fenton (St. Louis)
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About Checker
He Checker Taxi cabs have a storied history deeply embedded in the American taxi industry. Here's an overview of the Checker Taxi cab story:Origins:
Checker Motors Corporation: The Checker Taxi cabs were produced by the Checker Motors Corporation, founded by Morris Markin in 1922. Originally, Checker primarily manufactured cars for use as taxis.
Iconic Design and Ruggedness:
Distinctive Appearance: Checker cabs are instantly recognizable by their boxy design, spacious interiors, and prominent checkerboard stripes.
Durability: Known for their durability and ruggedness, Checker cabs were designed to withstand the rigors of city driving and heavy use in taxi service.
Dominance in Taxi Market:
Popularity: Checker cabs became a staple of the American taxi industry, especially in cities like New York and Chicago, due to their reliability and practicality.
Longevity: Some Checker cabs remained in service for decades, which contributed to their reputation for durability.
Changes in the Industry:
Decline: As the automotive industry evolved and regulations changed, the Checker Taxi cabs began to face challenges. The fuel crisis of the 1970s and the shift towards smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles impacted their popularity.
Production Ceases: Checker Motors Corporation ceased manufacturing automobiles in 1982, marking the end of the iconic Checker Taxi production.
Cultural Significance:
Cultural Icon: Checker cabs have attained a cultural icon status, featuring prominently in movies, television shows, and as symbols of city life in the United States.
Nostalgia: The Checker Taxi cabs evoke nostalgia for a bygone era and remain a symbol of traditional American taxi transportation.
Legacy:
Collector's Items: Some Checker cabs have become sought-after collector's items due to their iconic status and historical significance in the taxi industry.
Enduring Reputation: Despite no longer being in production, Checker cabs remain remembered and celebrated for their robustness, spaciousness, and their impact on the taxi industry.
The Checker Taxi cabs, although no longer in production, have left an enduring mark on American culture and the taxi industry. Their ruggedness, iconic design, and widespread use in cities across the country solidified their place as an integral part of transportation history.