Checker Motors, from Kalamazoo, Michigan, is famous for building the iconic but ungainly Marathon Taxi Cab. The model was in production for over thirty years until the company closed its doors in 1982. The army of Checker cabs still terrorized New York City streets for ten years after that.
In 1968, industrialist Alejandro de Tomaso commissioned legendary designer Tom Tjaarda to create what was to become the one and only Checker Ghia Centurion. It debuted at the Paris Auto Show as a pure design concept. One of the interesting features of this car is the fact that the doors open differently on each side. It's a very pleasing and modern design for its era. You have to wonder why it never went into production.
