History of Checker Motors Corporation

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The Checker Cab Company was founded by Russian immigrant Morris Markin in 1922 and produced taxis until 1982. The body style that came out in 1956 and was used until production ended is probably the one most people associate with Checkers.

Checker Cabs were best known for their yellow livery, the black-and-white checkerboard-pattern stripes that ran down their sides, and their roomy interiors, which in addition to the usual back seat, included small collapsible seats immediately behind the front seats to accommodate extra passengers. The Checker was legendary for its sturdiness.

Not all were taxis. Some were sold directly with some modifications to private individuals as personal vehicles. The company even marketed a station wagon based on the 1956 design as well as limousines, known as "Aerobus" and often used at airports. Checker had a showroom at its Kalamazoo plant for sales. The city of Kalamazoo once used several Checkers in its police department.

Today, many taxi companies in the United States and Canada operate under the name "Checker Cabs," although they may have no historical affiliation with the original company, and most likely do not have any Checker Cabs in their fleet, though they may use a checkerboard pattern on the sides of their vehicles.

Checker Motors today operates as an automotive subcontractor, primarily for General Motors, building mostly body components. The last Checker Cab was retired from New York City's taxi fleet in 1999.