Model History
A rare Checker vehicle, this A8 is 1 of only 3 restored of this model in the US. Approximately 10,000 were produced between January 1956 and
September 1958 by the Checker Cab Manufacturing Company of Kalamazoo, MI. By definition, the vehicle is an assembled car rather than a manufactured car. Checker made the body and frame and purchased mechanical parts from other vendors. This makes the car unique. This first model of the iconic modern Checker design had single headlights, and with only minor body changes, it lasted through the end of production in 1982.
Restoration and Maintenance
This car was purchased in 1996 and was professionally restored in a local shop between 1999 and 2004. It has been garage kept and driven regularly. The PA Historic license plate exempts the vehicle from inspections and qualifies for antique automobile insurance. • The Continental F226 6-cylinder engine is original to the car, as are the interior door panels, hood ornament, and hood and trunk emblems. • New matching vinyl material was used to recover the front and back bench seats as well as the jump seats. • The headliner was replaced with period materials. • The car was kept original with a 6-volt battery. • The roof light is “CHECKER” and works off a dash switch. • A Viking taxi meter in the dash is authentic to the period, but not connected. • The hard-to-find wheel covers are unique to the A8 
model. • A stainless-steel gas tank was installed in 2014. The engine runs well on premium fuel. • The headlights were upgraded to 6-volt sealed beam halogens (high and low beam). • Recent maintenance and repairs include tune-up, brakes, radiator, clutch (rebuilt) and carburetor (rebuilt). The complete history of the restoration and repairs is documented, as well as mileage from 2004 to present. The taxi is painted in the classic two-tone Checker factory photo colors of bright green and yellow and features NYC rates of the period. (Taxi cabs in the 1950s through the late 60s were many colors which indicated fleet ownership and independent ownership. The NYC Yellow law did not go into effect until the late 1960s.)
Sale Information
Included with the sale of the car: • A very rare 1955-56 NY Taxi license plate • An authentic early 1960s NYC Medallion • A 6-volt Battery Tender • Extra A8 front and rear outer fenders • An original Parts Catalogue for Checker Model A8 Car • A cotton car cover. The vehicle is located in the Philadelphia area and is available for inspection. Asking price is $49,900 OBO received by April 30th. Payment is requested by cashier’s check and/or cash. Contact Bruce Uhrich buhrich56checker@gmail.com
Accolades and Awards
Featured at the TAXI 07 exhibit at the New York International Auto Show at the Javits Center in 2007. Shown at National Checker meets in 2002 and 2004 at the Gilmore Museum in Michigan. It was also at the National Checker meet in Brooklyn NY in 2014. The car is highlighted on the cover and inside the book The American Taxi: A Century of Service published in 2006. It was also featured in the 2013 Old Cars Weekly national calendar and the 2019 WMGK (Phil[1]adelphia) Classic Car calendar. It has received many regional and local car show awards, including “Most Unique”, “Best of Show”, “Top 30”, “People’s Choice”, and “1st Place” at the prestigious New Hope Auto Show.
