For those not born in the US, the classic looks of the
New York cab do not give any hint as to the manufacturer
of the vehicle.
Rugged and reliable, it was in fact manufactured
by Checker and was even available as a passenger car from
1960 to 1982.
The donor engine was sourced from Chevrolet, and although
a V8 option was available most cabs preferred the more
economical 6, while 6 or 8 seat configurations were available.
The styling of the car did not change much over the years
of production, and slowly cab drivers found favour with
more traditional large sedans - which ultimately caused
the demise of the Checker Marathon.