<VV> OT: longest-running US car model? - With a CorvairConnection

[J R Read_HML]

Phil,

Thanks for the update.  That's what I get for not reading all the way 
through.
Later, JR


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "P.H. Raker" <n556p at yahoo.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 31, 2010 10:52 AM
Subject: Re: <VV> OT: longest-running US car model? - With a 
CorvairConnection


JR Read wrote:

> Looks like a somewhat "checkered" history from Wikipedia (GRIN),
> but it looks as if they built taxis (cars) from 1922 to 1959.

JR, the portion of the article you quote deals with only one aspect of their 
history.
Checker built cars from 1922 trough 1982, still not as long a production run 
as the GM Suburban (35 to present).

The Corvair connection is through Ed Cole, who went to Checker after 
retiring from GM.

Also quoted from Wikipedia:
> In 1977, seven years after the death of Morris Markin, retired GM
> President Ed Cole bought into Checker with the intent of re-energizing
> the company and developing a new, more modern Checker. Cole's
> plan was to purchase partially completed Volkswagens from VW's
> new factory in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. Cole was going to ship
> the VWs to the Checker Motors factory in Kalamazoo, cut them in
> half, insert a section to lengthen the VW, raise the roof and then sell
> the reconfigured vehicle as a taxi. Shortly thereafter, however, Cole
> was killed when his plane crashed near Kalamazoo.
>

Phil Raker
'65 Corsa Cpe - 140/4
'63 Greenbrier - 110/4