Gonzo's Yellowcab

- 3 -

It was about this time that I had my first experiences with the internet. I decided to have a look at what the net had to offer to a Checker-fan, and I wasn't disappointed. At the “links” page of this site the reader will find a few sites about Checkers. On one of them, the Checker stand, I posted an advertisement. At first, there were no reactions at all, and when I found out that the last remaining Checkercab had disappeared from the streets of New York, and was sold for a small fortune at an auction, I though that I probably had to keep dreaming. Though after a while somebody offered me a dark-red Marathon A-11 from the state of New York. The colour wasn't right, but a yellow repaint-job would solve that problem. When I received pictures of the car a few days later, I thought that the guy was pulling my leg; what a piece of junk. A couple of days later, about 3 am, the phone rang, and I answered half asleep. “Hiiiii, This is Mr.X! You just got yourself a great Checker cab!”. Are you aware what time it is in Holland?”, I replied. Not in the least impressed the man rattled on, trying to convince me of all the advantages of the car. “What's the price”, I mumbled, and I wrote down the amount of 18.000 US dollars. After I promised the man to call him back I went back to bed. Just before my head hit the pillow I thought: 18.000 dollars?! That is about 40.000 Dutch guilders, and after that I have to ship it over from Manhattan to Amsterdam……. No sorry, a total amount of at least 50.000 guilders was too much for me. After a couple of days intense E-mailing I received some very interesting offers. Another one from New York, and one from Pismo beach California. I preferred the one from Pismo because of the bumpers. It was a 1968 Marathon A-11 “done up like a taxi” and in these production years, Checkers were equipped with chrome rounded bumpers with “tits”. This yellowcab was covered with Ads for BAGEL AND COFFEE, the restaurant of the present owner of the Checker. As part of the service to his customers he picked them up with the Checker to take them to the restaurant and home again. In a later update I'll tell you more about the history of my Checker.