CHECKER CABS RETURN TO NEW YORK

Revered symbol of the city to be on public display in Greenpoint, Brooklyn on Friday, June 20, 2014

Mobility Ventures, the MV-1, is a sponsor of this event.


The Checker Car Club of America today announced a free public event to celebrate the most distinctive taxi to ever grace the streets of New York City, the Checker Cab.

On Friday, June 20 from 3 p.m. to sunset, New Yorkers and visitors will have the chance to see over 50 Checker taxis, limousines and cars at the Checker Corral on Box Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY.

The cars, first introduced to New York in 1922, will be coming to the city from all over the United States including Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, New Hampshire and the NY tri-state area. Their owners will be on hand to discuss the history of their cars with the public.

Jim Garrison, President of the Checker Car Club, said that “we are excited and honored to be able to bring these cars back to New York, the city that was vital to the success of Checker Motors Corporation and the growth of the American taxi industry.

Our members are looking forward to having their cherished Checker cars on the streets of New York and will love showing them off to anyone who comes to see them.”

The Box Street car show location was chosen to bring the Checker Car Club members close to the taxi industry centered in Long Island City and North Brooklyn. These two neighborhoods were also home to many immigrants who started their American dream by becoming taxi or livery drivers, including those from the large Polish population that still lives in Greenpoint.

Michael Angelich, a club member and taxi historian, stated that “Greenpoint is a wonderful location for us and the car show since it’s a historic area and the next hot neighborhood in New York. You can get there on the G train to Greenpoint Avenue or the 7 train to the Vernon/Jackson stop in Queens. Box Street is a short walk from either of those stops. Several buses (B24, B32, B43, B62) also travel to this part of Greenpoint and stop on corners close to Box Street. Taking a cab, of course, is always a good option.”

Checker Cabs have a rich history in New York City. Having first appeared in 1922, they continued to serve both residents and visitors for close to 75 years. In 1928 there were 8,000 Checker cabs in the city. In 1952 there were over 9,000. By 1959 the number dropped down to under 2,400 and increased again to about 4,000 in the late 1960’s. By 2000, there were just over 12,000 taxis in New York, none of them a Checker.


The last A11 taxi model was produced in 1982 but continued to serve the city until 1999. Economic downturns, stricter safety and emission regulations and increased competition eventually forced Checker Motors to stop making taxicabs but continued to do automotive contract work until it went out of business in June 2009.

While it is impossible to know how many Checker cabs and cars still exist, the number is most likely less than 1,000 worldwide. Without the Checker Car Club, New Yorkers would be lucky to see, perhaps, one or two per year when used for a wedding or a movie shoot.

Mae King, of the Box House Hotel, which uses several Checkers as courtesy cars for its guests in Greenpoint, said that “I’m always amazed by the reaction we get from our guests when they see one of our Checkers. You see the
smiles on their faces and get all sorts of stories about their experiences riding in these taxis. I’m thrilled that we can give our guests the chance to use these cars.”

“Our Club members know how important it is to keep these cars and the history of Checker taxis and cars alive,” said show organizer George Laszlo. “They also know that progress is inevitable and progress leads to newer car models serving the taxi industry. This is why our sponsor Mobility Ventures will be showing their wheelchair accessible cab, the MV-1, at our car show."

“In fact, we are grateful to all of our sponsors since they are the ones that are making it possible for us to put on a car show that is free to the public. They include:

  • Valera Global, the Executive Car Company;

  • Cab Management, the yellow taxi company;

  • Taxi Depot, a taxi industry service and meter company;

  • Greenpoint Landing Associates, the real estate development company;

  • New York Waterway, which operates the East River Ferry service;

  • The Box House Hotel of Greenpoint;

  • North Brooklyn Boat Club; and

  • The Taxi & Limousine Research Center.


Information about the June 20 Checker Car Show can be found at the show web site, www.checker2014.com.

 

 

 


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