With a history dating back to 1922, the Checker cab is an American automotive success story which was started by an immigrant, Morris Markin, who had come from Russia in 1913. From that beginning until about 1940 the Checker factory built speciality cabs with unique features, specifically for the people transport business. However, when America went to war, all civilian car production was suspended and Checker (located in Kalamazoo, Michigan) joined the other American auto manufacturers in making war equipment. Company founder Markin donated his taxicab bodies from the factory to the war effort, and also did prototype work on four-wheel-drive Jeep-type vehicles (which were equipped with four-wheel steering) for consideration by the government. While it didn’t get that contract, Checker did build other military equipment for the government, including specialised truck bodies and enclosed trailers.
The focus of this story comes within the time frame following the Second World War, which saw the company ready to tackle the lucrative taxicab market again. Starting with a clean sheet of paper (and after experimenting with a front-wheel-drive prototype), a completely new model of the Checker was designed: the A2 and released in 1947. This was a big, sturdy car designed to be comfortable for its passengers. The A2 had the general look of carried-over GM products (a Cadillac Series 67 in particular) as well as some styling cues from the Dodge Custom Series from 1946.
The 124-inch wheelbase vehicle was powered by the Continental Red Seal Six 226cu in inline six-cylinder, with three-speed manual transmission shifted on the tree, and two-piece driveshaft. The 3650lb sedan ran on 16-inch diameter wheels with 6.50-16 six-ply balloon-type tyres. Up front, an I-beam front axle was
