Whenever I hear the word limousine, I usually think about fancy stretched sedans or presidential vehicles. But needless to say, the term is not restricted to these types of cars. Any long-wheelbase rig can be a limousine as long as it was designed to haul people. It doesn't need to be fancy or offer enhanced comfort.
These types of no-frills haulers were usually used as airport shuttles back in the day. They were stretched versions of familiar production models put together by coachbuilding companies like National Coaches and Ambruster Stageway. This derelict, seven-door Pontiac Catalina is a good example. Checker Motors Corporation also built shuttles for more than a decade.
That's right, I'm talking about the company that manufactured America's most iconic taxicab. Checker dominated the cab market after World War II with models A2/A3 through A11/A12. The latter was produced from 1963 to 1982 and spawned the Marathon, one of Checker's few passenger cars for consumers.
The Aerobus, manufactured from 1962 to 1977, was an extended version of the latter. Checker offered four different versions of the limousine, including six- and eight-door sedans and seven- and nine-door station wagons. Two wheelbases were available: 154.5 and 189 inches (3,924 and 4,801 mm). The latter version was a whopping 269.7 inches (6,852 mm) long and tipped the scales at 5,082 pounds (2,305 kg).
Unlike the standard Marathon, which used a Continental inline-six, the Aerobus was fitted with Chrysler's 318-cubic-inch (5.2-liter) small-block V8. In 1965, Checker adopted the Chevrolet 327-cubic-inch (5.4-liter) V8 for the Aerobus. Four years later, it was replaced by the larger 350-cubic-inch (5.7-liter) unit. Output ranged from 160 to 215 horsepower, while top speed reached 99 mph (160 kph).
Despite its 15-year production run, the Aerobus saw daylight in limited numbers. When the final limousine left the assembly line, Checker had built only 3,568 examples. And because many of them were left to rust or scrapped when retired from service, only a few are still around. This 1974 nine-door wagon showcased by YouTube's "Mortske Repair" is one of them.
Purchased off Facebook Marketplace, this long-wheelbased wagon had been sitting for years. And it looks like a vehicle that has been retired for a long time. It has weathered paint, scratches and dents, a few rust issues, and a Chevrolet engine that refused to fire up. But none of these issues stopped our host from getting the limo running and driving again.
Of course, the Aerobus is far from road-worthy at the moment. It needs a fuel tank, a fuel pump, and new brakes among others, but this Checker is obviously not ready to go to the crusher just yet. And while it's an expensive restoration project, it's a rare gem that would stand out at any car event. Hopefully, someone will give it the attention it deserves.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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