The Checker Taxi Stand

oldcarguyone · Depot Hack Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 5

Does anyone know if there is a Checker model, either diecast or plastic?

john_w · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 9:17 pm Post subject:

Depends on what you mean by model and what size you want.

Franklin Mint makes a mid 60's (1/24) NYC for about $120 but you probably wouldn't want to tear one of those apart to customize it.

Sun Star sells four different (1/18) diecast Checkers. They come in NYC, Chicago, Atlanta and one other color combination I don't remember. It's a 1980's model and they can be bought for $15 - $25 depending on where you get them. The quality is impressively high, almost Franklin mint level, at a bargin price.

The Sun Star can be a starting point for a custom model. with careful disassembly. It took me about 2 hours last Sunday to take one apart, unscrewing what you can, then grinding off the melted plastic inside the body to save the various "chrome" plastic trim pieces. In some cases (inner door panels, front grill, front headlights, tail lights) you just have to carefully and gently (inner doors take more force) pry it apart and if the mounting pins break, you will just have to glue the piece back on later. You will also have to drill out the metal rivits holding the front and rear "glass" in and probably glue it back in also.

I started with a NYC and after disassembly removed the checkerboard stripes, door logos, etc. through a combination of scraping under water and wet sanding with 400 grit alum ox paper. I then spray painted it the color I wanted. Once we get some lettering on it, we will add some trim like the black around the windows and then clear coat it before reassembly. It's going to be a visual guide to what we do with the 82 as to paint and lettering.

Back to other models ...

Ertl used to make a nice (1/43) scale mid 60's NYC; they turn up on eBay now and then.

There is also a clear plastic resin HO kit that turns up on eBay every so often.

Matchbox recently (last couple of years) brought out a diecast HO that should still be available in stores.

They are no longer made but there is a Micro Machine Checker in a couple of colors. These are pretty rare, especially the one that is NOT yellow.

And there are a number of recent Chinese made fair quality diecast Checkers in both 1/43 scale and HO. Some of the HO ones are in boxes labeled 55 Chevrolet, painted odd colors, and can be found in close-out shops.

Plus there are some European models that I am not very familiar with.

John W

Surge22 · Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 6:11 pm Post subject:

The checkered Checker in my gallery photo is one of the SunStars.
~Will

oldcarguyone · Depot Hack Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 5

Thanks for the information.

Rick

Guest · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:03 am Post subject:

Hi Rick,

have a look at my website. I've got almost all available Checker models.
Enjoy!

http://www.lossis.com/checker_model_cars.htm

Regards

Dieter

oldcarguyone · Depot Hack Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 5

Thanks for the info.

You have a great web site.

I did find a diecast at the local hobby store that they have ordered for me. I will have to paint it, because I need one that is white.

Rick

john_w · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:24 am Post subject:

Update

Some time back this past year Sun Star quit making their die cast Checker models ... you can still find one if you really hunt for them ... I think Joe Pollard may have on or two new ones left.

John W