Vehicle exhibits

The Checker Marathon was produced by Checker Motors Corporation from 1961 to 1982. It is best known as the quintessential American taxicab, particularly in New York City, where it became an icon of the urban streetscape. Its generous interior space, rugged body-on-frame construction, and simple, no-nonsense design made it ideal for commercial service.

One of the Marathon’s key strengths was its durability. The design changed very little year to year, which made parts easy to source and repairs straightforward. Features such as bolt-on rear quarter panels helped simplify bodywork replacements after collisions. While not built for style, the Marathon was famous for its practicality and longevity, many examples reportedly exceeded 400,000 miles in taxi service.

Due to the intense use most of these cars endured, surviving examples in good condition are now relatively rare. This particular vehicle has a unique history: it was once the official car of the Queen of Tonga. It was later acquired and restored by Southward Car Museum, where it has been transformed into a period-accurate New York City taxicab replica, complete with yellow paint and authentic detailing from the 1960s era.

It now serves as both a display and a rolling tribute to one of the most recognisable and hardworking cars in American automotive history.