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词条 Checker Marathon
释义

  1. History

  2. Classic New York City taxicab

  3. Engines

  4. References

  5. External links

{{Distinguish|Checker Taxi}}{{Infobox automobile
| image = Checker-Marathon-2.jpg
| caption = Checker Marathon sedan
| name = Checker Marathon
| manufacturer = Checker Motors Corporation
| production = 1960–1982
| assembly = Kalamazoo, Michigan
| wheelbase = {{convert|120|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
{{convert|129|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} (limousine)
| body_style = 4-door sedan
5-door station wagon
| layout = FR layout
| related = Checker Superba
Checker Aerobus
}}

The Checker Marathon is an automobile produced by the Checker Motors Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan, between 1961 and 1982. It was marketed as a passenger car for consumers, as opposed to the similar Taxi, which was aimed at fleet buyers.

Marathons were produced in both four-door sedan and four-door station wagon forms, and the rare eight-door, 12-seater "Aerobus" wagon.

History

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. Originally, it retained the Superba's A10 body code, whereas A9 was the code used for taxis. The exterior of the Marathon had a full-width egg-crate grille, differing from the Superba's narrower grille and inboard parking lights. After a minor facelift for 1963, chassis codes changed to A11 for taxis and A12 for passenger versions.[1] Also in 1963, the Marathon Town Custom, a limousine version on a longer (129 versus 120 in) wheelbase appeared. This version, which seated eight, received the A19E chassis code.[2] A few years later, this was changed to A12E.

With the exception of United States government-mandated 5 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. Some of these changes help in identifying the year of a Checker, and included:

  • 1963: Front parking/directional lamps changed from white to amber
  • 1964: Standard front lap belts
  • 1965: Engines switched from Continental inline-6 to Chevrolet OHV-6 and small-block V8s
  • 1966: Standard front and rear lap belts
  • 1967: Interior safety package, including energy-absorbing steering column and wheel, padded dash, recessed knobs
  • 1967: Dual-chamber brake master cylinder
  • 1968: Side marker lamps on all fenders, amber in front, red in rear (round on all Checkers)
  • 1968: Front shoulder belts for outboard passengers
  • 1969: Headrests
  • 1970: Locking steering column (Checker used full-size Chevrolet steering columns and wheels)
  • 1974: Larger, heavier silver-painted "girder"-style bumpers
  • 1975: Catalytic converter required unleaded fuel
  • 1976: Radiator (AMC Matador), engine (Chevy 350 V8 2-barrel carb, cylinders were over-bored, requiring larger pistons and rings), transmission (TH 400: Turbo Hydra-Matic), rear end (Spicer 44), front lower A-frame (Ford 56 Thunderbird), front upper A-frame (63 Lincoln Continental), steering was rear draglink until 1980, pittman arm bushing tends to loosen and should be tightened every 10k miles.
  • 1978: Parallel action windshield wipers introduced
  • 1978: New "Delta"-style Chevrolet steering wheel (sans the Chevy bowtie)

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 USA auto industry.[3]

Notably, the Marathon's front suspension A-frames interchange with 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.[4] These continued to change as Chevrolet introduced modifications, peaking with the 1969 L-48 350 V8 which produced {{convert|300|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} (gross).[5] In 1969, a Perkins 4.236 L diesel nonturbo engine was available as an option for all models, but for only one year. By 1973, power for the 350 had decreased to {{convert|145|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} and in 1975 catalytic converters were introduced. For 1980, the engine lineup was changed entirely, with a 3.8-litre V6 replacing the old inline unit, and a smaller 267 ci (4.4 L) standard V8. The big news was the Oldsmobile LF9 engine, a {{convert|5.74|L|cuin|0|disp=flip|abbr=on}} diesel V8.[6]

Checker did not have a nationwide dealer network and sold most of its production for fleet service.[7] Apart from taxicab use, Marathons were also bought by police departments, most notably in Kalamazoo, where Checker had its factory.[8]

In late '60s-early '70s,some black SCV (Stato Città del Vaticano-Vatican City)plated A12 Marathons were used to accommodate Pope Paul VI entourage in motorcades.

Classic New York City taxicab

For decades, Checker was the taxicab of choice for New York City and many other American cities. The size of the car (seating many passengers), the robust construction, the lack of yearly changes to the styling (Especially the 1958 and later models, simplifying parts management), and the bolt-on rear quarter panels all contributed to the Marathon's ubiquity on the streets of Manhattan. For example, virtually any film set in New York City in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s will show a Checker Marathon. A knowledgeable Checker viewer, however, will note that many 1950s and 1960s movie scenes use Checker cabs built in the 1970s and early 1980s, since the bodies were virtually the same, and due to the lack of usable early specimens. Also, in works depicting the Soviet Union or East Bloc countries, such as the film Gorky Park and the original Impossible television series, Checker Marathons were used to depict Soviet-made Chaika 13 (GAZ 13) automobiles.

{{Clear}}

Engines

Six-cylinder engines
Model YearsLayoutSizeFuel systemPowerOriginNotes
1961–1964L-head I6{{convert|3707|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on|disp=flip}}single carb{{convert|80|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 3,100 rpmContinentalSedans only until 1963
1961–1962OHV I6{{convert|3707|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on|disp=flip}}single carb{{convert|122|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,000 rpmContinentalStation Wagon only
1963–1964OHV I6{{convert|3707|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on|disp=flip}}2-bbl carb{{convert|141|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,400 rpmContinental$57 option
1965–1968OHV I6{{convert|3769|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on|disp=flip}}single carb{{convert|140|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,400 rpmChevroletbase
1969–1970OHV I6{{convert|4095|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on|disp=flip}}2-bbl carb{{convert|155|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,200 rpmChevroletbase
1971–1972{{convert|145|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,200 rpm110 hp SAE net
1973–1975{{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 3,600 rpmlow-comp, EGR
1976single carb{{convert|105|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 3,800 rpm8.2:1
1977–1979{{convert|110|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 3,800 rpm8.3:1
1980OHV V6{{convert|3751|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on|disp=flip}}2-bbl carb{{convert|115|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,000 rpmChevrolet
1981–1982{{convert|110|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,200 rpmLC3
V8 engines
1965–1967OHV V8{{convert|4638|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on|disp=flip}}2-bbl carb{{convert|195|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,800 rpmChevrolet
1966–1968OHV V8{{convert|5354|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on|disp=flip}}4-bbl carb{{convert|250|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,400 rpmChevrolet10.5:1
1969{{convert|235|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,800 rpm9.0:1
1968OHV V8{{convert|5025|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on|disp=flip}}2-bbl carb{{convert|200|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,600 rpmChevrolet
1969OHV V8{{convert|5733|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on|disp=flip}}4-bbl carb{{convert|300|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,800 rpmChevrolet10.25:1
1970{{convert|250|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,500 rpm9.0:1
1971–1972{{convert|245|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,800 rpm9.0:1, 165 hp SAE net
1973–19762-bbl carb{{convert|145|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,000 rpm
{{convert|145|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 3,800 rpm
8.5:1, EGR
catalyzed from 1975
19774-bbl carb{{convert|170|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 3,800 rpm8.5:1
1978–1979{{convert|160|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 3,800 rpm8.2:1
1977–1979OHV V8{{convert|4999|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on|disp=flip}}2-bbl carb{{convert|145|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 3,800 rpmChevrolet8.5:1, 8.4:1 after 1978
1980{{convert|155|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,000 rpm8.6:1
1981{{convert|150|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 3,800 rpm8.6:1, higher torque (LG4)
1980OHV V8{{convert|4390|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on|disp=flip}}2-bbl carb{{convert|120|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 3,600 rpmChevrolet
1981–1982{{convert|115|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 4,000 rpmL39, electronic feedback carb
1980OHV V8{{convert|5737|cc|cuin|0|disp=flip|abbr=on}}diesel{{convert|125|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 3,600 rpmOldsmobile
1981–1982{{convert|105|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} at 3,200 rpmimproved "DX" version (LF9)
{{legend|#faebd7|: SAE gross figures, others are SAE net}}
{{Clear}}

References

1. ^{{Cite book | title = Standard Catalog of Independents: The Struggle to Survive Among Giants | author = Naul, G. Marshall | editor = Ron Kowalke | publisher = Krause Publications, Inc. | location = Iola, WI | pages = 32–33 | year = 1999 | isbn = 0-87341-569-8 }}
2. ^Standard Catalog of Independents, p. 34
3. ^{{cite web |title=Checker Motor Corp., Former Taxi Cab Builder, Files for Bankruptcy |url=http://wot.motortrend.com/6425593/industry-news/checker-motor-corp-former-taxi-cab-builder-files-for-bankruptcy/index.html |last=Evans |first=Scott |date=20 January 2009 |work=Motor Trend |accessdate=7 April 2009 }}.
4. ^Standard Catalog of Independents, p. 35
5. ^Standard Catalog of Independents, pp. 36–37
6. ^Standard Catalog of Independents, p. 41
7. ^J. "Kelly" Flory (2008). American Cars, 1946-1959: Every Model, Year by Year. McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-3229-5}}. p.1
8. ^Policeyskye mashiny mira. Nr. 35. Checker Marathon (in Russian). De Agostini, 2014. ISSN 2305-3992.

External links

  • The Internet Checker Taxicab Archive
  • [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUgVySZdnTrz3AmQ2_pdzJQ/ The ICTA's Checker Taxi Stand, Youtube Channel]
{{commons category|Checker Marathon}}

9 : 1960s cars|1970s cars|1980s cars|Cars of the United States|Checker vehicles|Rear-wheel-drive vehicles|Sedans|Station wagons|Cars introduced in 1961

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