by Mike –
We all remember the Checker taxi cabs that were made specifically to be taxi cabs. They were durable and more comfortable than a taxi that was converted from a production car that was not designed to be a taxi. The last Checker was made in 1982.
Checker Motor Cars™ has announced plans to produce two second generation Checker vehicles. The Sport Pick-up Crossover model will combine the usefulness of a pick-up truck with the fun of a full size vehicle, reminiscent of the El Camino or Ranchero of days gone by.
The Aerobus model will offer features of the iconic Checker sedan, as well as from a sport pick-up body and the early generation Aerobus V1 (a six-door, twelve-passenger sedan). The A888 will offer four full rows of seating through four standard length doors and two extended rearward doors. The 3rd row seat will fold to allow for additional leg room when not in use.
Both new designs will offer second generation technology with a 1980’s retro appearance. Checker vehicles will be fully manufactured in the United States with anticipated build scheduled to begin in the fall of 2018.
Checker Sport Pickup Crossover Concept
Checker A888 Concept
Checker A888 Concept
I think this is pretty cool.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
Checker Motor Cars™
Located 25 miles north of Boston in Haverhill, MA, the Checker Motor Cars™ facility provides a service and restoration center with on-site parts warehouse. The company is owned and operated by longtime automotive collector and enthusiast Steven Contarino. All vehicles will be manufactured in the United States.
For more information contact Cindy A. Meitle by email – click here
Love it! If I had a large fortune to sink into reviving a car company it would be Checker or Studebaker. We had a 1973 Marathon, bought new from the factory (about 300 of the 6000 annual production were direct sale personal cars).
I think the proposed styling of the re-boot needs a lot of work however. Would love to see some renderings from the guy that did the HHR, and perhaps Chip Foose.
Capturing the iconic retro elements into a modern car is a tough job. Mustang did it fairly well lately but the Thunderbird really fell flat (IMO). The new London taxi design did a decent job of portraying the sense of the traditional 50’s-60’s London taxis (again, IMO).
Integrating aerodynamic sensibility with the Checker theme is a huge challenge.
Have to agree with Mike Miles: Revive Checker and Studebaker. But Checker, please go back to the drawing board. These early stage sketches are a tad disappointing – IMHO.
Always a toughie.
The retro look for Mustangs, Challengers and Minis was hugely successful, as was the VW beetle.
Less so for others, however,………. (IMHO) the New York cab is not (or has it ever been?) a stylish mode of transport.
I would go the ‘original retro’ Checker cab, updated with a motor that doesn’t rattle quite as badly, a transmission that shifts smoother and suspension that doesn’t clatter over potholes.
Checker cab yes.
Sport pickup: Definitely been struck hard and several times with the ugly stick, but hey, that didn’t kill the Aztec.
Go for it boys. There is a place for Cuban style nostalgia.
Checkers should stick to the formula that brought them success – ability to transport passengers in relative comfort through all the nasties of the urban jungle. Having a large family I’d definitely be interested in the updated revision. The SportUte’s timing is too early in the game. Chevy SSR should be a good lesson to review. However an extended wheel base 4 door sedan would be of much interest to many, including the limo companies who have been deprived of their Lincoln Towncars.
If you want to see the last days of the original Checker production line in Kalamazoo, please check out the film, “Blue Collar”, starring Richard Pryor (in a serious role), Harvey Keitel, and Yaphet Kotto. The auto factory they work out in the film was filmed at the Checker plant. Checker continued on as an OEM automotive supplier, stamping out parts for the Big Three, until the economic crisis in 2008 finally did that end of the business in for them. As a final sad note, David Markin, son of Checker founder Morris Markin, happened to be a victim of Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, and lost millions of dollars investing with him. Personally, I don’t think that the new Checker will ever take off, as safety and emission requirements, as well as consumer expectations are much higher these days. A bare-bones Chevy Biscayne could not be sold in today’s market. Glenn in the Bronx, NY.
I’d like to see a bit of modernization with the styling(Though not too much). Other than that I do think the pickup is pretty nice to look at. In response to Georgeg20 I don’t think the Chevy SSR is really a good example to go off, considering 1) Chevy is used to big-volume sales, not the small numbers produced by replica and kit car companies 2) The SSR was never favorably looked at when it first came out.
I must admit though, I’d like to see a sedan or wagon version on sale. I’d definitely buy a traditionally styled checker with a modern interior and components. I love classic cars like the old checkers, but not being mechanically inclined buying a vintage one isn’t an option. And there are very few new cars that appeal to me. Like I mentioned above, a few updates to the exterior would be appreciated, but I’d prefer it still more or less kept the same sheet metal. I take it they’re catering more to the replica and leisure market anyway. So I don’t think there are any grandiose plans of competing with GM and Ford
Either way, its good to see there are plans to produce cars like this again.
I’d like to see the model as it was ( cab and marathon ) but make it technical modern. New engines: Diesel or hybrid. When they do that i would sell a lot for them here in Europe.
I would consider buying the model as it was – just as Mr. van Dalfsen described above.
I recommend that you build the original version as well as the six door.
My dad and I loved the Checkers.
Many more of us would consider buying the original version of the pick up concept.
So where’s the update on this? No new Checkers were ever made? Its 2020.
So what happened? Nothing? When are we going to see the new 2021 Checker? Still waiting? Was this ever a real story or just a publicity stunt?