An ideal cab, a doubtful household automotive choose.
What would an eccentric however status-conscious weirdo drive in 1964? The advert seen right here proffers one choice, albeit a doubtful one. And whereas the Checker commercial options (from left to proper) the silhouettes of a Rolls-Royce, a Bentley, and a Mercedes-Benz working alongside the highest of the web page, the producers of the Checker Marathon proposed a substitute for these autos: The Checker Marathon.
Extra Favourite Automobile Adverts
1964 Checker Marathon
At this level, it’s possible you’ll be confused. There’s a very good probability that you simply’ve by no means heard of the Checker Marathon, and you probably have, there’s a very good probability you didn’t know that actual folks—versus taxi firms—bought the Marathon.
However actual folks did buy Marathons, although not very a lot of them. The as soon as legendary purveyor of robust, dependable, and extremely roomy cabs, Checker periodically tried to make their fleet autos palatable to the plenty. The response was typically poor.
Historical past
For these not within the know, the Marathon, a big, ugly, and significantly strong sedan goal constructed for taxi-cab service, was manufactured between 1961 and 1982. The cabs featured big trunks, dependable off-the-shelf engines and transmissions, and seating for eight folks. Actually, eight folks.
Beneficiant bench seats within the first and second rows accommodated three folks every, whereas a pair of wierd, diner-counter wanting seats made up what was ostensibly a center seating row. The center seats would disappear from the Marathon when seatbelt legal guidelines kicked in.
From 1956 to 1963, the Marathon was supplied in a particular shopper pleasant trim degree known as Superba. The Superba featured a nicer inside than the work-a-day Marathon, in addition to distinctive exterior trim. A wagon model of the Superba was briefly supplied. Unpopular with the overall inhabitants, the wagon discovered use as a stretch limousine, typically employed by lodges for airport runs.
Specs
By 1964, the Marathon featured both a Chevrolet 6-cylinder or V8 engine, fitted to both a 3-speed column-shift handbook, or 3-speed computerized transmission. The automated was additionally a Common Motors unit. Because the Marathon had a fame for repeatedly working 500,000 miles earlier than decommissioning, the usage of easy and inexpensive drivetrain elements was a plus for operators.
Trying again for consumer-oriented advertisements for the Marathon, one will get the sensation that the corporate solely tried to promote a number of automobiles to common shoppers when the board felt they wanted to goose earnings a bit.
Execs and Cons
One downside with the Marathon was that over its lifespan, the automotive’s exterior was solely tweaked gently, after which solely not often. Launched in 1956, the automotive regarded previous from day one, and aged poorly after that. Whereas the distinct ugly dullness of the cab labored within the favor of taxi fleets—the automotive, particularly in yellow, was simply acknowledged at nice distances—it’s total appears to be like have been Kryptonite to common shoppers. Recall, too, that a number of the best-looking American automobiles ever constructed have been rolled out within the Sixties.
Couple the Marathon’s boring exterior with an inside designed to endure Steamer trunks, agitated drunks, and vomit, and you’ve got a automotive that was just about unsellable. Word, too, that Marathons didn’t come low cost; costs began round $3100 in 1963, comfortably greater than a base Chevrolet ($2700).
Ultimate Ideas
Whereas we’re fairly certain that this advert did not lure even a single Rolls-Royce, Bentley, or Mercedes-Benz Purchaser away from their rides, it could have satisfied a number of low cost and pragmatic shoppers to have a look at used examples of the Marathon—they definitely would have been inexpensive to function.
Marathons at the moment are fairly collectible, with latest examples promoting for as little as $6000, and pristine wagons approaching six figures.
Nonetheless, this advert makes us giggle. Everyone knows that weirdos within the Sixties smoked pipes, learn magazines about FM radio, and drove Saabs. Or, for the superior weirdo, a Peugeot.
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1964 Checker Marathon Footage
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