Even today, if you ask people to imagine a New York City taxi, the image that will pop into their heads is very likely to be a Checker Marathon, a vehicle that has been extinct for decades. Sure, some younger people might imagine a Crown Vic, but when it comes to iconic cabs, the Checker is still the image burned into our brains. This is all the more incredible when you remember that the Checker Marathon was in production, virtually unchanging, from 1961 to 1982. That’s also why The Bishop, our own Autopian contributor who was trained as an auto-designer but who now does Other Design Things, has spent so much time imagining what would have happened if, somehow, Checker had managed to get its shit together enough to design a whole new taxi using all of the technological advancements of the 1980s.
Keep in mind, in reality (not the alternate reality that we’ll get to in a moment), Checker actually did realize that at some point it would have to finally update its ’50s-era design to something more modern, and experimented with some all-new, more efficient, more modern Checker cab designs in the late 1970s, using a stretched Volkswagen Rabbit and similarly-elongated Chevy Citation as bases. Check also tried designing a new cab from scratch (well, Checker-scratch, which meant liberally borrowing mechanical components from all of the Big Three) called the Galva (middle bottom):
The VW and Citation options were found to be unsuitable as cabs for a variety of reasons, because being a city cab is a very specific combination of ruggedness, roominess, ease and economy of repair and maintenance, and a general willingness to withstand abuse, all while hauling around a lot of people and a lot of stuff. The old Marathon, while severely outdated, was rugged and roomy and well-understood.
The internal Galva project was highly informed by decades of practical experience working with taxis, and had features like cheap, easily replaceable flat-glass windows and possibly plastic, easily removable fenders and hoods. There were solid ideas, but Checker wasn’t in a position, financially or otherwise, to pull off a project of that scale.
That’s where The Bishop comes in, full of ideas and the grand benefit of not having to deal with reality to make them happen. Our Bishop imagines a reality where Checker actually did manage to pull off a new taxicab design — one based on the lessons the company learned, and one that is clearly derived from their Galva project experience.
And, speaking of reality, let’s take a moment to remember what mid-’70s to early ’80s New York City, the native land of this cab, was like: a craphole. A dirty, crumbling craphole where everyone seemed to be incredibly pissed off all the time. The opening scene from the 1976 movie Marathon Man I always felt kind of encapsulates what the perpetually-pissed streets of NYC were like:
Big, lumbering cars, driven by assholes over poorly-maintained roads, recklessly. That’s the environment.
So, here’s the car The Bishop imagines for The Next Checker: the Millenium.
Built on a GM 1977-1990 B Body (like the Chevy Impala) or C Body (Cadillac Fleetwood) chassis, Checker could leverage GM’s industrial might and avoid the hassle of developing its own platform. Here’s how The Bishop describes it:
The 1983 Checker Millenium would be so named to evoke a cab design that could make it from 1983 to past the year 2000, which the Panther chassis cars ultimately did. The issue of styling getting dated would be solved by giving the car essentially no styling at all which really means a form-follows-function box (Volvo, Talbot Tagora, the B Body Impala itself).
While a hatchback/wagon makes the most sense for maximum space, there is some kind of unwritten rule taxi/limo rule that passengers want to be seperated from their cargo…smelly wet suitcases should be neither seen nor sniffed. The New Checker would be a sedan with a slight wedge shape front to back for a large trunk (sort of like they did with the criminally underrated design of the Leyland P76 which can hold a 55 gallon drum in its boot).
The boxy body there is actually hiding an awful lot of really clever taxi innovations:
Note the elevated rear roof for maximum headroom and that features built-in TAXI/OFF DUTY lights, plus repeated turn signals front and back (plus repeated brake lights in the rear). Above the rear quarter window, built in spotlights would provide illumination in super dark suburban locations or shine on house numbers. Those are taillights off the by-then discontinued 1982 Malibu ….note the cutout window in the bumper for side marker lights.
The sort of targa-bar looking thing on the B pillar houses tall, skinny mirrors for passenger to look into so they do not open their door onto a moving bicycle or something
You have to take into account people that might have lots to carry, so there would be a luggage rack on the trunk lid (maybe with retracting straps?).
Of course I’m a huge fan of the dual-taillight setup, which really would be useful in this car’s native habitat of bumper-to-bumper traffic, and those tall mirrors on the B-pillar are an absolutely brilliant idea that probably could have saved so many cyclists from taking a cab door right to the face.
Those big rubber bumpers, looking a lot like the experimental safety cars of the 1970s, are designed to really deal with the misery of big city life, absorbing impacts and self-restoring, like the 5 mph bumper standards of 1974 demanded, anyway.
There’s a lot in this design that’s very specific to the brutality that taxis face, so body parts should be cheap and easy to replace:
“Note the seam above the rear fender..all fenders are bolt on components.
No wheel covers, of course..they’d just end up being stolen or in the bushes at the end of that turn near the Holland Tunnel.
The side and back glass is flat (windshield could just a GM B Body piece), BUT the frames it sits in is slightly curved and painted black to give the illusion of curved side glass. Checker would have needed to keep costs down, and flat replacement glass would not only cost less, but it makes it easier to retrofit the panels with ballistic material if needed (add some teargas dispensers, primitive run flats, land mine floor plates and we’re ready for a security force of a third world despot).
At the back the bumper does not make a full loop since the trunk lid is there, but a built-in illuminated banner above the taillights would make some ad revenue from gentlemen’s clubs and be easy to change out. It’s not like you need to access a keyhole since the trunk (and both rear doors) could be solenoid released by giant buttons up front.”
That luggage rack The Bishop mentions has an even cooler element to it, too:
Look how clever this is:
Also, the luggage rack surface lifts up (but the trunk stays closed) to reveal a soft, zippered cargo carrying case (like a roof cargo bag) for emergency use to effectively double the carrying capacity of the cab (but still separating the luggage from the passengers).
I love that. Simple, but effective for occasional over-loaded luggage use, even if it’d cut into rearward visibility.
Checker would be building the bodies for these, and as such would be quite different from what GM was building for these chassis on their cars. For example, they’d have the raised rear roof:
“The elevated roof allows for an elevated rear seat, which means less space needed for legs and more floor space for jump seats. Honestly, the rear space would be smaller than a Marathon so the driver might need to slide his seat forward if he is carrying four or five large people in back…but that would be such a small part of this car’s use that it should not rule things. “
The Bishop has also imagined some different-length wheelbase versions and a wagon version, all of which parallel variations of the Marathon Checker made over the course of its working life:
The interior also reflects the grim reality of the time and place, and is designed accordingly:
“Note the sliding money exchange drawer (be aware…the KFC near Pratt in 1987 had 1” thick plexiglass at the counter and a turnstile where you placed your money and then got your chicken spun around to you).
The front door armrests are actually ‘tunnels’ to channel A/C to the rear passengers (which leaves a void where drivers would likely be bound to hide a billy club, pistol, etc.)”
While most of the dashboard and instruments would be stock parts-bin GM stuff, Checker would also include a taxi-specific Checker Command Center on a positionable arm:
This pod would include the expected fare meter, buttons to open the solenoid-actuated rear doors and trunk lid, rear A/C controls, rear window/lock controls, a display area for the driver’s Taxi License, and even an optional installation of an Etak Navigator, the first commercially-available nav system for cars, first released in 1985. Here’s a little video of what the system looked like, in all its green-phosphor vector goodness:
The Etak Navigator was actually bankrolled by Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, for an extra little bit of ’80stastic trivia.
I have to say that of all the what-if, alternate-world car scenarios The Bishop has given us, I feel like this one could have been the most successful. If Checker had been in just a bit better of a financial position, a rugged, well-thought-out, highly purpose-designed vehicle like the Checker Millenium could have actually lived up to its name, keeping Checker the default choice for cabs well into the early 2000s, when they’d likely have to consider a new, more fuel- and emissions-efficient update.
Of course, New York became a more gentle place in the 1990s and later, so perhaps the almost brutalist utility of the Millenium would have seemed out of place. Or, perhaps it could have become a design icon like its lumpy ancestor?
Our reality prevents us from ever knowing, but I can say I’d find a Checker Millenium to be a welcome safe, wheeled haven in the alternate-universe 1980s New York shithole.
As the owner of a Checker and someone enamored with their history, I often daydream about how someone could have saved the car production aspect of the company in 1982.
A new car wouldn’t have done it – they didn’t have the marketing or the tooling budget – or at least, Markin didn’t want to spend the money. He cancelled production the very first year of losses after decades of profits – he was a great business man, but his risk tolerance appeared average at most.
They should have merged operations, but not names, with Excalibur – who had zero market overlap, were within driving distance, and were the only other American independent frame-up car after AMC was acquired – and refocused their efforts on being an exceptional product in an average market. They should have gone all-out on interiors and trimming and positioned themselves as the Rolls Royce/Morgan combo of America, while still offering both units in a basic trim for folks who saw the value in paying for a car that didn’t “age out.”
And lastly – the change I lament most not being around to suggest – they should have, in the 60s, taken the long rear door skin from the E model and mounted it to the front door, moved the B pilar back, put a short rear door on, and made a Driver’s Sedan. Nobody wants to feel like a chauffeur for their own family. Had they put a small rear door on but kept the ability to pile 8 kids back there, they’d have had a unique product. On the regular wheelbase A11/A12, the doors are the same length but the window sweep makes the back door appear larger. All they needed to do to sell a lot more civilian cars was make the back window appear smaller than the front window so Dad could at least pretend like he had the most luxurious seat in his own car.
Back when I lived in Texas I knew a girl named Sabre; she worked at Hastings (remember those) and drove a gorgeous Dark Green Checker Marathon, i tried to buy that damn thing off her so many times but she’d never sell, don’t know whatever happened to it, I’d love to own one but haven’t had any luck.
As a former owner of several Leyland P76s, I appreciate the reference. The styling of the P76 was originally done by Michelotti, but somebody at Leyland Australia decided it needed the bootlid raised up a bit, which allowed the spare to sit vertically in the side of the boot. This meant you could easily fit a complete spare set of wheels/tyres in the boot, even the bigger wheels I had on mine (10″ wide wheels easily fit in the rear wheel wells!)
This needs to be a Hotwheels car. And it should be called “The Torxi”.
Yeah, me too. The language seems a bit stilted or awkward. It’s like you want to emphasize that “The Bishop” (assuming male) knows his stuff and isn’t some hack.
It’s like saying “person trained in the field of medicine” instead of just doctor.
You could just describe him as he claims…i.e., car designer, automotive designer, automotive stylist or some such.
Like saying doctor, you don’t need to know his credentials unless you curious if he is medical doctor, chiropractic doctor, PhD doctor or other. You certainly don’t need to put that in the title of the article.
This seems very realistic, don’t think it’s at all far off the direction Checker would have taken.
What really killed their car production was David Markin deciding it was no longer worth the hassle, given how profitable their sheet metal stamping contracts with GM were and how many labor problems they had been having on the assembly line (Checker had probably the worst relations with the UAW in the industry, rivaled only by International Harvester, which is saying something for the time). I think there was concern over the relations with GM, too, in that they were starting to get more serious about wanting Checker out of the police and taxi market and had been steadily raising prices on engines to either push Checker’s MSRP too high to compete or squeeze their margins, and there was a question over whether it was worth risking further antagonizing GM with a barely profitable new car when they were getting so much valuable business from them with the stamping
Ranwhenparked- I totally agree. I knew that someone would ask why would GM sell B or C body frames and mechanicals to Checker to sabotage sales of their own Chevy taxis. The answer is that in the early 1980s, gas prices meant that big 3 manufacturers were interested in phasing out all large RWD cars (nothing bigger than Fox body/Dodge Diplomat sized). The drop in gas prices by around 1983-4 was the only reason why Ford and GM granted a stay of execution and kept Panthers and B Bodies around (with virtually no new development) for another decade (or two, or three in Ford’s case).
So for GM to farm out this big-fleet-car production to someone else and free up space for FWD civilian stuff would make sense for them…sort of. Anyway, this is fake reality, right???
Also, years after he stopped cab production at Checker, David Markin was a victim of Bernie Madoff, which is supposedly what finally put the nail in the coffin of Checker in any form. The factory has been torn down but the Checker test track still remains!!:
https://wrkr.com/checker-test-track-kalamazoo/
Mini vans are much better than sedans or station wagons: sliding doors, step in headroom, lots of luggage room with no 3rd seat, can be arranged with 2×3 or 3×3 club seating.
2 things.
1. Had to look up the Leyland P76. That’s an unfortunate looking car.
2. The sketch of the Command Center shows the dash of a Caprice Classic behind it. I grew up in those (green ’77, white ’80, black ’85ish, maroon ’89). I can still see the Fleur de lis logo on the dash between the vents.
MATTinMKE- yes, that is the Chevy dashboard….no way that Checker would be able to afford to pay for tooling of a their own instrument panel. Plus, that dashboard has that big blank space for an airbag that never came above the glovebox which is perfect for mounting the Command Center
I’m seeing a fair amount of 700-series Volvo here. In fact, it strikes me that said Swede-mobile would pretty much take care of the needs of taxi drivers and passengers pretty well as-is.
Of course being strictly Old Skool, I was sad to see the original Marathon design go away. Retiring them made practical sense, but they were as iconic as San Francisco cable cars. They also could take a lot of beating and banging, more probably than any of their replacements.
Always wondered if it would have been a good idea to do fiberglass Checker replica bodies on Ford F-Series chassis for use in touristy areas, like those National Park buses that are just vintage bodies on modern frames and running gear . It was an iconic New York look
So a mix between a Fiat 131 (with a bit of 70ies Fiat safety car, look those up, they’re fun!) and an Aston Martin Lagonda, but with sturdy old US technology?
I’ll buy that for a dollar!
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/robocop/images/3/37/Bixby_Snyder.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180405011326
Yes! Indeed, the SUX6000 was on my mind during the design process as well, but a more ‘brutalist’ functional version of that thing.
Man, I love this series. I’m so glad you guys created this site. Such a weirdly specific type of car appreciation nerdiness warms my heart.
Don’t get me wrong, but the used title “a trained designer” simply annoys me.
THANK YOU! Thought it was just me. Most of us are “trained” for something…the Trained Designer label is just….irritating for some reason.
All it needs is a rear seat death-ray/disintegrator.
https://youtu.be/6FqcJNOFL3A
Mike P- I was actually partially inspired by the fact that Isaac Hayes had a C-body Cadillac in Escape From New York, and the Duke’s henchmen had a B-body sedan or two. However, I did not add chandelier holders to the front fenders.
You’re still A-Number One with us!!
Shout out for the Marathon Man reference!
Seriously, it’s one of the best movies of the 1970s that not everyone knows about but totally should. Amazing cast, insanely good plot, and every single scene just works (and then some). It’s nearly perfectly executed.
Or maybe should I just say…it’s not safe.
It’s still one of my favorite movies.
I’m liking this version of the past that could have been.
I vote for a sedan-delivery version of the wagon.
I knew someone with a relatively new at the time civilian spec Marathon and I drove it a couple times. What a miserable chore. That thing was stone age, even for the seventies. I gained a lot of empathy for cab drivers.
Also, you cannot design a NYC (or other big city) cab without a drain hole for the passenger section. It’s just a standard requirement.
Definitely pat yourself on the back for patting yourself on the back in this one Poachy Poacherson! This was hilarious! I too, join the club those that love the series.
I’ll take the shaggin wagon please!!!!
This is awesome and I think pretty close to the mark. For an alternate universe equivalent have a look at the MCW Metrocab which was introduced as a “modern” version of the venerable London black cab in 1987 (although they started development in 1970 so very contemporary to this exercise)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCW_Metrocab
Although it wasn’t the Robocopian dystopia of NYC, England in the 80s under Thatcher was no picnic either, and the squareness of this thing recalls a certain ugly brutality of the time.
We eventually got our real-life dystopic Detroit, just in the 2000s.
Even had Ford Taurus police cars.
I would love to see a timeline of how the design would have been updated into the 2000’s, like how the panthers went from square to more rounded.
Loving this series, keep up the good work!