The Checker Marathon is an automobile produced by the Checker Motors Corporation of Kalamazoo, Michigan, between 1961 and 1982. It was marketed as a passenger car for consumers, as opposed to the similar Taxi, which was aimed at fleet buyers. History Marathons were produced in both four-door sedan and four-door station wagon forms, and the rarer six-door 9-seater and eight-door, 12-seater "Aerobus" sedans and wagons. The Marathon was introduced in September 1960 for the 1961 model year, alongside, and later superseding, the Checker Superba Custom and differing from the Superba with its better interior appointments. Originally, it retained the Superba's A10 body code, whereas A9 was the code used for taxis. The exterior of the Marathon had a full-width egg-crate grille, differing from the Superba's narrower grille and inboard parking lights. After a minor facelift for 1963, chassis codes changed to A11 for taxis and A12 for passenger versions. Also in 1963, the Marathon Town Custom, a limousine version on a longer (129 versus 120 in) wheelbase appeared. This version, which seated eight, received the A19E chassis code. A few years later, this was changed to A12E. Checker did not have a nationwide dealer network and sold most of its production for fleet service. Technical Changes With the exception of United States government-mandated 5 mph bumpers in 1974 and ongoing mechanical changes, the Marathon remained virtually unchanged during its 21-year production run. However, Checker did comply with all safety and emissions requirements while in production. Notably, the Marathon's front suspension A-frames interchange with a 1956 Ford. Some of these changes help in identifying the year of a Checker, and included: 1963: Front parking/directional lamps changed from white to amber 1964: Standard front lap belts 1965: Engines switched from Continental inline-6 to Chevrolet OHV-6 and small-block V8s 1966: Standard front and rear lap belts 1967: Interior safety package, including energy-absorbing steering column and wheel, padded dash, recessed knobs 1967: Dual-chamber brake master cylinder 1968: Side marker lamps on all fenders, amber in front, red in rear (round on all Checkers) 1968: Front shoulder belts for outboard passengers 1969: Headrests 1970: Locking steering column (Checker used full-size Chevrolet steering columns and wheels) 1974: Larger, heavier silver-painted "girder"-style bumpers 1975: Catalytic converter required unleaded fuel 1976: Radiator (AMC Matador), engine (Chevy 350 V8 2-barrel carb, cylinders were over-bored, requiring larger pistons and rings), transmission (TH 400: Turbo Hydra-Matic), differential (Spicer 44), front lower