An American icon slowly faded away

[daredevil]

The one I like

 

[SSVDP]

Here ya go, $2,500 & eight doors
http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/4529030781.html

 

[moparmat2000]

If you really wanted a civilian model, you could get one. Kinda pricey.

They also made regular, non airport limos.

I rode in several in VA Beach and DC in the late 70s/early 80s.


Pretty sure the 58 gms were a stop gap design on the 55-57 basic platform, in order to try to compete with the longer, lower, less boxy 57 C/P/D line that outsold the 57 gms like hotcackes.

The 59 and 60 gms actually look like the 57 Mopars.

How often does that happen?

Acrually the 58 chevy was the start of GMs X frame. This,was a complete departure from the ladder type frame the 55 thru 57 used. The X frame was used on GM large pasenger cars thru 1964. It was weak as hell, and was made to try to give GM cars that low n wide look everybody was going for in the late 1950s early 1960s. In 1965 GM dumped the X, and went to a perimeter frame.


Matt

 

[75slant6]

Dang it rani!!! now i want one!! The back seat would make it awesome for traveling!!
Here's a 1979 on Cincinnati cl for $2500!!

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4539135778.html

 

[75slant6]

Here's a nice 79 in Cleveland for $4800!!

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/cto/4514417913.html

 

[75slant6]

Limo in Nevada

http://ames.craigslist.org/cto/4573980442.html

 

[Princess Valiant]

Dang it rani!!! now i want one!! The back seat would make it awesome for traveling!!
Here's a 1979 on Cincinnati cl for $2500!!

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/4539135778.html

if you like these cars then its almost like you have to buy one at least once in your life, if for nothing else but to say you did.

There are so many advantages this car has, like the fact that its built like a tank. I am sure it would win most grocery store parking lot battles and probably muscle its way in and out of traffic.

Imagine that huge almost square front bumper and massive front end in the rear view mirror of a prius. Almost worth buying a checker just to get in that situation....at least once.

 

[1968dartman]

Here is a picture of my buddy's wife's car. It is a 64 checker wagon that he hot rodded for her.

 

[Frankie]

Here is a picture of my buddy's wife's car. It is a 64 checker wagon that he hot rodded for her.

Good looking rife!

Did he really hot rod it for her, or for himself? lol

 

[1968dartman]

No it was for her. He has a 47 ford and a 41 Willys that are his.

 

[kazooom]

Love the Checkers Rani... that hot rod wagon is a keeper 1968dartman

 

[75slant6]

if you like these cars then its almost like you have to buy one at least once in your life, if for nothing else but to say you did.

There are so many advantages this car has, like the fact that its built like a tank. I am sure it would win most grocery store parking lot battles and probably muscle its way in and out of traffic.

Imagine that huge almost square front bumper and massive front end in the rear view mirror of a prius. Almost worth buying a checker just to get in that situation....at least once.

Maybe someday got too many cars on my "want list"!! Lol

 

[Frankie]

No it was for her. He has a 47 ford and a 41 Willys that are his.

Cool.
Most women really don't care if it's hot rodded or not, as long as it runs well, and is reliable.

 

[1968dartman]

She WANTED it to be a hot rod! She picked out the color and decided on interior color as well.

 

[Frankie]

Very cool.

 

[cannucky]

A cab company in Vancouver was buying them up in the late eighties after they went out of production , I remember a bunch of them were adapted to be wheel chair accessable by adding a pope bubble on top and changing the rear bench to a single seat with lock down points for the wheel chair beside it and a fold down ramp . I still see the unmolested ones come up for sale around here quite often and we won't talk about how and what I know you could do in the roomy back seat area of those cars eh LOL !

 

[SpikeWills69]

Very interesting thread. My best buddy, who was a very large guy was having trouble finding a car he could be comfortable in. This must have been near the end of production, maybe 80 or 81? So he bought a civilian model Checker 4 door in navy blue. He had it quite awhile and that thing was a cross between a car, a truck and a tank. Served him well.