The Checker Taxi Stand

RS · Guest

Just playing around with the Inflation Calculator on westegg.com and the 1982 Checker pricing list on this site.

It seems that the most basic Checker Marathon, which cost $10,950 in 1982, would translate to $22,213.56 in today's money (2005), while a fully-loaded A12-E Marathon Deluxe would go for $34,063 with propane engine and all the trimmings.

Granted, other factors have changed in the past 23 years that might have made the real-world cost rise independent of inflation, but still
$22,213 doesn't see that bad for a car as large and well-built, not to mention unique as a Checker, especially when you consider that the Ford Crown Victoria (the Marathon's spiritual successor) starts at $25,285- that means that if the Checker Marathon were still in production today, it would theoretically cost LESS than a new Crown Victoria!

Sort of calls into question the old argument that Checker was forced out of the car business due to the high price of their products doesn't it? 22 grand is a real bargin, it would literally put Checker up against top-spec Hyundai Sonatas! Given the choice, I know what I'd rather have.

(RS: Since you got the same post up twice for some reason, I took the liberty of deleting one of them ... admin flunky Jw)

john_w · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:06 am Post subject:

I decided to update this using the same calculator.

The most basic Checker Marathon, which cost $10,950 in 1982, would translate to $$24,678 in today's money (2007), while a fully-loaded A12-E Marathon Deluxe, which cost $15,926 in 1982, would go for $35,892 with propane engine and all the trimmings.