For many people, the Checker Marathon was and always will be “the” taxicab, while everything else painted yellow is just another replacement. For twenty-one years, the Marathon was produced with virtually no visual changes being made. The engines would occasionally change and when Checker upgraded to a newer steering column, they would upgrade the steering wheel, but that was about it. And most of these cars were beat on daily, mostly in fleet and taxi usage. They saw heavy, hard miles and by the time they were retired there was little left to cobble together for a private use car. But Checker did not exclusively sell to fleets and taxi depots. Occasionally, someone actually bought one to use as a private car. Selling on the merits of ruggedness and simplicity, not to mention interior room, the Marathon was a thrifty shopper’s choice.

Now, picture it’s 1970. You’re spoiled for choice in the automotive marketplace, aren’t you? What kind of person walks past Impalas, Torinos, Darts, and everything else you could spend the money on and goes straight to Kalamazoo, Michigan to source themselves a green Checker Marathon, complete with a Chevrolet-sourced 250ci straight six and automatic? What would that person be like? How would that car be, having never been used and abused throughout it’s life? Well, here’s the rare chance to find out what the car is like, because this prime example has surfaced for sale. It’s roomy, it’s pretty clean, and it’s ready for a new home. There’s some minor rust to deal with, but it’s a 1970s car from the East Coast…no surprise there. Overall, this could be someone’s low-dollar classic. Just please, resist the urge to make another New York cab out of it.

Craigslist Link: 1970 Checker Marathon A12