Station Wagon or Limousine?

There was an article in my local paper recently about a man who was loaning his unique car to film-makers. The article didn't include any pictures, however, so I went online to see what made the car so original. I admit that I am not much into cars, even though I love the television show Top Gear. But I know weirdness when I see it, and this car definitely qualifies. This is the 1969 Checker Aerobus (pictured). As you can see, it has four doors on each side. Back then they called it a station wagon, but it is now classified as a limousine. The Checker Motors Corporation is more famously known for manufacturing the iconic taxi cab. The Wikipedia article can tell you more (and it's worth reading).

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Comments

I apologize for the blurry image, but it was one of the best I could find. And the wikipedia article is great... there was a lot of violence around the Checker company. Makes for interesting reading.

Posted by Nethie on 08/22/10 at 08:42 AM

Here's a link with more details and also a larger picture link:

http://www.carsplusplus.com/specs1969/checker_aerobus.php

Posted by ANON in Nowhere on 08/22/10 at 09:11 AM

what a cool car. i'd love to ride in one.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 08/22/10 at 09:52 AM

I figured you'd be more interested in the fact it has three back seats :red:

Posted by ANON in Nowhere on 08/22/10 at 10:06 AM

oh honey I've done it on the front seat before too.

Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 08/22/10 at 11:44 AM

Boy, I'm glad I wasn't anywhere near that lot while the violence was going on.

Thanks for the link, BD. 3-speed manual. I bet it had clutch springs you wouldn't believe - my left thigh is protesting, just reading about it. Wouldn't that be a great car for going to the drive-in? Four bench seats, no waiting...

I found it interesting about the requirement to pick up non-white fares. It sounds as though that happened in the 1920s, from the way the article was worded. I'm surprised white passengers didn't boycott them as a result. (Or maybe they did, and the article doesn't say so). Requiring that took a lot of courage. But then, so did picking up from Russia in 1912 and emigrating to the USA, so there you go.

Posted by TheCannyScot in Atlanta, GA on 08/22/10 at 02:09 PM

Хорошо, что Вы - здесь теперь CannyScot 😊

Posted by ANON in Nowhere on 08/22/10 at 04:19 PM

Я соглашаюсь!

You know, those old monks really didn't do Russia any favors when they created their alphabet!

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 08/22/10 at 11:54 PM

Thank you for the better picture, BD!

People were supposedly driving these when I was a kid, but I don't remember ever seeing one.

Posted by Nethie on 08/23/10 at 01:05 AM

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