There’s a good chance you don’t know that Checker Cabs were made in Southwest Michigan. That’s right, all those unique, boxy-looking Checker Cabs (with the gigantic back seat legroom area), which roamed the streets of America’s cities for decades, were made in Kalamazoo. Now, they are only seen in movies and old TV shows. Except for this week!
It’s one of the things that helped put Kalamazoo on the map. Checker cars were made in Kalamazoo from 1923 until 1982, and they will be returning during this first week of August – the 3rd to the 6th — as part of the Checker Car Club of America 100th anniversary national convention. Dozens of Checker owners from around the nation will make the trip to participate.
Hundreds of people in the Kalamazoo community worked at Checker or know someone who did. Many people thought that Checker went out of business when they stopped making taxicabs, but quite the opposite is true. Checker was a world class supplier of automotive body and frame parts and assemblies for twenty-seven years after the cabs. They ceased all operations in June of 2009.
The Gilmore Car Museum currently has an exhibit running this summer which proudly displays several rare old Checker cars, and also shows some of the automotive parts that Checker made. This is a unique opportunity to present that relevant part of the Kalamazoo community’s history.
Checker Motors Corporation was a significant part of the Kalamazoo community from 1923 until 2009. The Checker Car Club of America is dedicated to the preservation of the vehicles and the history of Checker Motors. The Gilmore Car Museum is a major attraction for car enthusiasts. The Checker Car Club of America hopes this event will present interesting history and special vehicles for everyone in our community to appreciate.
On Thursday, August 4, Checker cars and owners will be at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo in the morning, and at Old Dog Tavern, 402 E. Kalamazoo Avenue, for public viewing after 4:00PM. On Friday, August 5, Checkers will go to Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. Then on Friday, August 6, Checkers will be the featured marquee at the Red Barn Spectacular Show held at the Gilmore Car Museum, North ofr Kalamazoo off M-43. More information can be found online at www.checkerworld.org
Photo Credit: Kalamazoo Public Library
