Vehicle Description
1970 Checker Marathon Sedan� One of only 397 non-taxicabs Checker
made in 1970 Marketed as a passenger car for consumers, as opposed
to the similar Taxi Correct optional GM 250HP 350 CID V-8 engine
with two-barrel carburetor Dual-range automatic transmission and
3.31 gearing National Ivory exterior and red interior (code 26-52)
Air-conditioning, power steering and four-wheel drum brakes Sold
new in Mansfield Missouri on November 17th 1969 Remained in
Missouri since new with only two owners Included with the original
owners manual, original service certificate and original parts list
Hoping to be like actors Judd Hirsch, Tony Danza or Jeff Conaway
from the 70s-80s sitcom "Taxi" when you take the wheel of a classic
car? MotoeXotica Classic Cars has a car that could go a long way
toward accomplishing that - a 1970 Checker Marathon sedan. This
particular example was made in October 1969 at Checker's factory in
Kalamazoo, Michigan and it was delivered to R.D Harris of Mansfield
Missouri on November 17th 1969. It was one of the only 397
non-taxicabs Checker produced that year and this one is equipped
with the optional 250HP 350 GM v8! In all the history of the
automobile, there are few more recognizable models than the
venerable Checker Marathon. If you rode in a taxicab in the second
half of the 20th century, chances are good you rode in a
Checker.�What's even more interesting is that you couldn't easily
tell if the Checker you were riding in had been built in the 1960s,
'70s, or the early 1980s � the cars simply never changed very much.
Like a shark � or maybe a cockroach, depending on your point of
view � the Checker Marathon was perfectly evolved to survive in its
environment. Now finished in National Ivory, this car's paint and
trim are in overall good condition but there are some paint
blemishes visible on the trunk. The car's windows are clear and
crack-free while its lights are intact and haze-free. This would-be
taxicab rolls on Michelin X whitewall tires; size P215/75R15 at all
four corners. Each tire surrounds ivory steel wheels with factory
caps. The car's bodywork is straight and solid and the trunk is in
good order despites its age and there is a full-sized spare tire
included. The engine bay is tidy, the battery appears new and the
bumpers fit well to the car's body. Under that hood is the optional
General Motors' 350 CID small-block V-8 engine with a two-barrel
carburetor producing 250HP. It is mated to a dual-range automatic
transmission and backed by a 3.31:1 rear end. Driver convenience
features include air-conditioning and power steering. Inside, the
red vinyl (code 26-52) interior is in overall good order. The red
bench seats are in very good condition, while the gray carpet is in
good order. The contrasting light headliner is in fair order. The
red metal instrument panel is in very good order and maintains that
1960s vibe, however the fuel gauge is inoperable. The two-spoke
steering wheel and locking column look great and are straight out
of the Chevrolet parts bin. The inner door panels, mirror glass and
shift lever are all in good order. Completing the interior is a
factory AM radio. Included with the original owners manual,
original service certificate, hard to find original factory wiring
diagrams and original factory parts list. 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. The
exterior of the Marathon had a full-width egg-crate grille,
differing from the Superba's narrower grille and inboard parking
lights. With the exceptions of United States
Government-mandated�five-mph bumpers�in 1974 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. The final Marathon
was manufactured in 1982, when Checker exited the automobile
manufacturing business. The company continued operations for an
additional 27 years producing body stampings for General Motors,
Ford and Chrysler, until January 2009, when it entered bankruptcy
liquidation as a result of the downturn in the American auto
industry. Notably, the Marathon's front suspension A-frames
interchange with those of 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 V8s�for the 1965 model year.�These continued to
change as Chevrolet introduced modifications, peaking with the
1969�L-48 350 V-8,�which produced 300�horsepower. Checker did not
have a nationwide dealer network and sold most of its production
for fleet service. Police departments, most notably in Kalamazoo,
where Checker had its factory, also bought Marathons. Competition
to this Checker in 1970 included AMC's Ambassador sedan, Buick
LeSabre's sedan, Chevrolet's Impala sedan, Dodge's Coronet sedan,
Ford's Galaxie and Torino sedans, Mercury's Montego sedan,
Oldsmobile's Delta 88 sedan and Pontiac's Catalina sedan. This car
is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri.
Current mileage on the odometer shows 35,933 miles. It is sold as
is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT
AND DRIVE!!! Click here for our YouTube video of the Checker! VIN:
A12578801204A Note: Please see full terms and conditions listed
below that pertain to the purchase of any said vehicle, thank you.
