Good eye. That's right in 1968 the auto industry was made to put side marker lights or reflectors on the car's front and back side fenders.
In 1991 NYC only had 5 of these left as working taxicabs. The reason I know this is because at the time I had an opportunity to see a CHECKER taxi gassing up on the Palisades Interstate Parkway & as a result I asked the driver/owner about the CHECKERS. In 1998 I believe there was only two left. I remember I hailed one of them in the summer of 1998. I purposely did it just for the opportunity. I believe that particular driver made the newspapers when he retired the cab. Kind of amazing that one could drive around in a sixteen year cab, can't do that anymore either.
Man, what a treat! Haven't seen one since the '90's when I missed my chance to buy one. hope Don sees this, as he sent me some photos of different Checkers he saw in NYC. Looks like this 'un might've been a taxi in its former life. No matter what it was, it's great to see one still on the road.
I never owned one, but I was told by a Checker owner that she had a secure feeling driving her car. And why not,..these cars were built to last. Imagine driving a tank and you'll know exactly what driving one of these cars must've been like. Most of these cars were powered by GM drivelines that were also bulletproof. Truly the ultimate survival vehicle.
I rode in one of these in the summer of 1996 in NYC just so I could say I rode ina checker cab :) They need to bring them back and get rid of the crappy, boring, no character, jap-crap minivans they mostly use now. It's one of the resonas i won't go to NYC anymore.
Best of OPC. 
9 comments:
pre-'68 (no side markers)
Good eye. That's right in 1968 the auto industry was made to put side marker lights or reflectors on the car's front and back side fenders.
In 1991 NYC only had 5 of these left as working taxicabs. The reason I know this is because at the time I had an opportunity to see a CHECKER taxi gassing up on the Palisades Interstate Parkway & as a result I asked the driver/owner about the CHECKERS. In 1998 I believe there was only two left. I remember I hailed one of them in the summer of 1998. I purposely did it just for the opportunity. I believe that particular driver made the newspapers when he retired the cab. Kind of amazing that one could drive around in a sixteen year cab, can't do that anymore either.
I love you guys. Not sure why this post disappeared briefly.
Reverend Jim: "What does a yellow light mean"
"Slow down!"
"What....does...a.....yellow....light....mean"
Man, what a treat! Haven't seen one since the '90's when I missed my chance to buy one. hope Don sees this, as he sent me some photos of different Checkers he saw in NYC. Looks
like this 'un might've been a taxi in its former life. No matter what it was, it's great to see one
still on the road.
That one blackwall with a steelie with no dogdish gives the car a lot of personality, as does the shade of yellow.
i want to see one that isn't taxi cab yellow. i mean, they weren't just cabs, right? i wonder what it was like owning one.
I never owned one, but I was told by a Checker owner that she had a secure feeling
driving her car. And why not,..these cars were built to last. Imagine driving a tank
and you'll know exactly what driving one of these cars must've been like. Most of these
cars were powered by GM drivelines that were also bulletproof. Truly the ultimate
survival vehicle.
I rode in one of these in the summer of 1996 in NYC just so I could say I rode ina checker cab :) They need to bring them back and get rid of the crappy, boring, no character, jap-crap minivans they mostly use now. It's one of the resonas i won't go to NYC anymore.
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