New York Taxis..........

This one looks great ! Both the New York and Chicago Checker 1940-41 taxis are excellent subjects and they appear to be done really well. 

@mikedetorrice I have no particular interest in taxis but when Automodello came with this one, I had to get it. This is a very unusual and interesting piece of automotive history.

It's definitely an unusual and good-looking car and taxi. Later, you could buy a big, solid Checker Marathon for your own personal use and I think they used Chevrolet/GM V-8 engines. I am not sure whether this era (1940-41) Checker could be purchased for one's own use, yet, in any case, it's a very unusual and attractive automobile in both 1:1 and 1:43 form.

@mikedetorrice there is something particularly interesting about this Checker model. The shape of the NYC Yellow Cab logo on the rear doors is the same as the shape of the headlights trim. It brings me to wonder if Checker was committed to exclusivity or if it is just a coincidence.

This model displays very well with my Stamp 1941 Buicks and Cadillacs. It always make the shelve to pop out.

More on Checkers.  The four major generations of taxis from 1939 to the 1982 Marathon.  Note large bumpers on the last generation versus chrome bumpers

Some variations, the Aerobus and a Marathon station wagon from circa 1966

Here's the Automodello green version.

Posted by: @nickies

@mikedetorrice there is something particularly interesting about this Checker model. The shape of the NYC Yellow Cab logo on the rear doors is the same as the shape of the headlights trim. It brings me to wonder if Checker was committed to exclusivity or if it is just a coincidence.

This model displays very well with my Stamp 1941 Buicks and Cadillacs. It always make the shelve to pop out.

They certainly look wonderful and are beautifully done here in 1/43. I think these 1:1 cars as taxis have occasionally been seen in the background of movies during this era. With the top off in back, they are definitely great for sightseeing !

I really, really regret not getting that NYC version. When they came out I was thinking my collection was getting out of hand and so I dawdled.  Mistake.  That model is gorgeous.

Apparently Checker used the same color scheme in Chicago for the Yellow cab company. Morris Markin, in addition to owning Checker Motors, also owned the Checker Cab company and the Yellow Cab Company in Chicago. He controlled over 80% of the cab licenses in that city. He had enough clout to keep O'Hare airport from being serviced by public transportation.

 This is ,I believe, the only Checker model A still in existence. From what I recall it was built for Markin's wife as her personal limo. 

Posted by: @nickies

@mikedetorrice there is something particularly interesting about this Checker model. The shape of the NYC Yellow Cab logo on the rear doors is the same as the shape of the headlights trim. It brings me to wonder if Checker was committed to exclusivity or if it is just a coincidence.

This model displays very well with my Stamp 1941 Buicks and Cadillacs. It always make the shelve to pop out.

In the late '30s and '40s Packard were were producing taxi cabs.  Might Checker have gone for an heraldic look to compete with Packard on the 'exclusivity' front ?

Here's some background on the Checker, 

Posted by: @jkuvakas

Here's some background on the Checker, ...........

An excellent video look at this beauty, John. It's a good-looking and very interesting automobile and that's a pretty good deal direct for this gem, too.