The Champer: A Rare Checker Cab Camper

This is the Champer, and as its portmanteau name implies it’s a Checker Camper, it was first converted into a camper back in 1977 and it features a slew of changes over a regular Checker including an uprated engine, transmission, and rear axle to better cope with the additional weight and drag.

The Checker Taxi is one of the most famous taxicab designs in history, alongside the ubiquitous London Black Cab. Checker had the model in production from 1958 until 1982 with only minimal updates to keep costs down.

Fast Facts – The Champer

• Although the Champer has been painted to look like a Checker Taxi it’s actually based on a 1965 Checker Marathon Station Wagon – a version of the Taxi design meant for regular consumer use.
• The Champer was built in 1977 by a company in California, the rear bodywork was removed to accommodate the camper shell.
• The Checker Marathon was sold from 1960 until 1982 as a regular passenger car for American buyers. It was offered in four-door sedan, four-door station wagon, and “Aerobus” configuration – an eight-door limousine model designed for airport pickups and drop-offs.
• Both the Checker Taxi and the Checker Marathon use the same fundamental parts supply with a few differences. Their distinctive 1950s styling has been made famous by countless films and television shows in which they’ve appeared and they’re popular collector’s items today.

The Checker Taxi: The Most Famous Cab In America

If you watch essentially any film or television show from the late 1950s well into the 1980s that has scenes in New York City, you can’t escape seeing Checker Taxis.

The yellow 1950s four-door sedans are moving landmarks that have become famous around the world, and they’re just as closely associated with New York as the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, or the Brooklyn Bridge.

The original station wagon bodywork was completely removed from the B-pillar back to accommodate the new camper body.

The Checker Motors Corporation has a fascinating history that dates all the way back to 1922. Originally founded by Morris Markin in Chicago the company produced a slew of automobile designs both before and after World War II, but it would be the 1959 Checker Taxi that would make the company a globally recognized brand – even today 39 years after the model left production.

The styling of the Checker Taxi was largely left alone during its 20+ year production run, however there were small changes made here and there and marque experts can often identify the exact year of a car by its bumpers, lights, and other features.

Construction was relatively straightforward, with a body-on-chassis design and a front-mounted engine sending power back to a live axle rear end. A significant number of engine and transmission options were offered over the years from inline-sixes up to larger capacity V8s, with both automatic and manual transmissions available depending on the model year.

The large doors, ample space in the rear passenger compartment, the large trunk, and the general tank-like toughness of the Checker Taxi endeared them to generations of cab drivers and passengers.

Today there are many surviving Checker Taxis and there’s a thriving enthusiast movement dedicated to them and their Checker Marathon siblings. Prices on the open market can vary from $10,000+ on the lower end to $20,000+ for excellent examples, owners report that the only downside is being constantly stopped by people who want to take pictures.

The Champer – A Checker Taxi Camper

The vehicle you see here is the only Champer known to exist in the world, it’s a Checker Taxi Camper that started life as a standard 1965 Checker Marathon Station Wagon.

The Marathon was the regular non-commercial version of the Taxi, the company sold thousands of them to Americans who wanted a simple no-frills daily driver with styling that would never be usurped by the next year’s model release.

In 1977 the vehicle was transformed into a camper by Lynds Camper Service in Cardena, California.

The conversion was relatively in-depth, the entire body was cut away from the B-pillar back to accommodate the camper shell, a Chevrolet small-block 400 cubic inch V8 from a 1977 GMC one-ton van was fitted.

This is the Champer after it arrived in Michigan from Louisiana, before work began.

A mysterious heavy-duty 8-lug rear axle was also fitted to handle the extra weight and drag, the current owner hasn’t been able to identify it yet but he has discovered that the brake calipers match a 1975 Ford F-350, and the master cylinder matches a 1975 International Scout.

It seems that many unusual off the shelf parts were used as needed during construction, as you might expect from a smaller-scale camper company.

Inside the camper you’ll find everything you might need with the exception of a restroom, it has a gas burner stove, an oven, a fridge, a generator, drawers, cupboards, an upper level double bed and a lower level couch section that converts into two more beds.

The Champer’s History

The early history of the Champer isn’t known, the current owner Bill Beurkens acquired it from the parents of the previous owner who was tragically killed in a helicopter accident many years ago. His parents kept it on their property in Louisiana, understandably reticent to sell something that reminded them of their son.

As the years passed and the Champer fell into disrepair due to Louisiana’s regular hurricanes the couple resolved to sell it to ensure it would be repaired and preserved – this is how Beurkens, a nationally renowned authority on Checkers, came to acquire it.

Once he got the Champer back home in Michigan, Beurkens set to work. He rebuilt the braking system first for safety, then rebuilt he fuel system. New tires went onto refurbished wheels, and the engine and drivetrain were given all the maintenance they needed after sitting for so long, including new fluids and gaskets.

Beurkens now reports that the Champer drives very well, and that it gets even more looks than his eight-door Checker Aerobus limousine. His list of jobs is ongoing, next up is some minor exhaust work and refinishing the interior ceiling.

If you’d like to see another unusual camper you can click here to see the Super Bugger, a VW Beetle sample from the same era as the Champer.

Images courtesy of Bill Beurkens, they may only be reused with a copyright credit to Bill Beurkens and a credit and link back to this article on Silodrome.

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For Sale: An Iconic 1986 Toyota 4×4 Xtracab Pickup

This is an original Toyota 4×4 Xtracab Pickup from 1986, it’s powered by the desirable fuel-injected 22R-E engine, a single overhead cam gasoline motor with a capacity of 2.4 liters and 105 hp at 4,800 rpm.

The “Xtracab” model variant was introduced with the fourth generation Toyota Pickup, it included an additional six inches of space behind the seats for in-cab storage – a much needed feature for many owners.

Fast Facts – The Toyota 4×4 Pickup

• This is a fourth generation Toyota Pickup, known as the Toyota Hilux in many other world markets, these trucks proved tough, reliable, and long-lasting – endearing them to generations of owners.
• The most famous example of the fourth generation Pickup is undoubtably the black one given to Marty McFly in the “Back To The Future” movie series. McFly’s truck was a 1985 Toyota SR5 pickup with yellow KC Daylighter spotlights fitted to the roll bar.
• In 1986 the original live axle front end was replaced with an independent front suspension which notably improved on-road handling.
• The fourth generation Pickup would remain in production from 1983 until 1988, however South African production would continue until 1997.

The Toyota Pickup

It isn’t widely known that the company we know today as Toyota was founded by Sakichi Toyoda in 1924 to design and manufacture weaving looms, in fact Toyota Industries Corporation still manufacturers automatic looms to this day.

The interior of the truck benefits from the “Xtracab” which offers six inches of addition space behind the seats for storage.

It would be Sakichi Toyoda’s son Kiichiro Toyoda who would kickstart the company’s automobile operations in 1933 still as a part of Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. The company’s first two vehicles would be the A1 passenger car and the G1 truck which were both released in 1935, the Toyota Motor Company would be set up as an independent company in 1937.

Although the company is best known for its passenger cars, Toyota has been making trucks as long as it’s been making regular automobiles, and the trucks have made a unique mark on the world – favored by everyone from Top Gear presenters and Marty McFly, to Middle Eastern militants and South American separatists.

Known as the Hilux in most world markets the Toyota Pickup is now in its eighth generation, countless millions have been sold around the world, and classic trucks like the one you see here are becoming highly desirable collector’s items.

The 1986 Toyota 4×4 Xtracab Pickup Shown Here

The truck you see here is a 1986 model, this means it was part of the first year of Toyota Pickups offered with independent front suspension in place of the live axle used on earlier models. This change was implemented to improve on-road handling and it proved successful, becoming a staple on four-wheel drive Toyota Pickups from ’86 onwards.

There were a number of engine options offered on the fourth generation Pickup, from the 1.6 liter inline-four used on some rear-wheel drive versions up to the 3.0 liter V6 used later in the model’s run.

Power is provided by the Toyota 22R-E, a 2.4 liter gasoline engine producing 105 hp.

One of the most popular engines has always been the fuel-injected 22R-E, this is an inline-four cylinder engine with a chain-driven single overhead cam powering two valves per cylinder. The 22R-E has a swept capacity of 2.4 liters (2,366cc) and it produces 105 hp at 4,800 rpm with 136 lb ft of torque at 2,800 rpm.

Power is sent back through an automatic transmission into a two speed transfer case to either the rear wheels or the front and rear wheels.

This Pickup is finished in beige with tasteful factory graphics and a two-tone brown interior. It benefits from a series of period correct upgrades including chromed Cragar wheels with BF Goodrich All Terrain tires and KC Daylighter spotlights mounted to a chrome roll bar.

It’s accompanied by its tool roll and manuals and it’s sure to be a hit at any Radwood event.

If you’d like to read more about it or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing on RM Sotheby’s. The truck is due to cross the auction block on the 3rd of September with a price guide of $35,000 – $45,000 USD.

Images: ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

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An Affordable Mid-Engined Classic: The Maserati Merak SS

The Maserati Merak SS was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1975 as the new and upgraded version of the Giorgetto Giugiaro-designed Merak, now weighing 110 lbs less and carrying an additional 30 hp thanks to a series of engine upgrades.

Unlike many of its mid-engined contemporaries, the Maserati Merak SS has seating for four in a classic 2+2 arrangement, making it considerably more practical – particularly for those with children.

Fast Facts

• The Maserati Merak was released at the 1972 Paris Auto Show, it’s closely related to the Maserati Bora however unlike the V8 powered Bora, the Merak uses a V6 engine which made room for an additional set of two seats in the back.
• The car has a steel monocoque chassis with a tubular steel rear subframe to which the powertrain and rear suspension are mounted.
• The Merak is powered by a 3.0 liter 90º V6 with double overhead cams, two valves per cylinder, and the SS variant produced 220 hp at 6,500rpm.

The Maserati Merak SS

The Maserati Merak SS was the higher-performance version of the original Merak that had been released in 1972. It was designed to compete with the likes of the Porsche 911, Ferrari Dino 308 GT4, and the Lamborghini Urraco – all 2+2 sports cars with a rear or rear-mid engine configuration.

The Merak was styled by the great Giorgetto Giugiaro, and it’s powered by a long-lived V6 designed by Giulio Alfieri.

During the time that the Merak was developed Maserati belonged to Citroen, and as a result many Citroen parts were used in the car, things like hydropneumatic systems as well as the engine and transmission.

The Merak has a stamped steel monocoque chassis with a tubular steel rear subframe to which the powertrain and rear suspension are mounted. This was a common arrangement at the time and it gave a good balance between ease of construction, simplicity, and strength.

An Italian-Designed Engine From Citroen

The engine used in the Merak was based on the 2.7 liter V6 originally used in the Citroën SM, it’s important to note that it wasn’t a French engine however. The engine was designed by legendary Italian engineer Giulio Alfieri who had a long track record of designing engines and cars for Maserati, including the Maserati 3500 GT and the Maserati Birdcage.

For use in the Merak the 90º V6 was bored out to 91.6 mm with the stroke remaining at 75 mm, resulting in an engine that now had a displacement of 3.0 liters or 2,965cc. The engine kept the same chain-driven double overhead cams and two valves per cylinder, and its its highest-output specification in the Merak SS it was capable of 220 hp at 6,500rpm.

This same V6 design would remain in production well into the 1990s, a remarkable feat considering the fact that Alfieri had designed it in the late 1960s. Versions of the engine would power the twin-turbocharged Maserati Biturbo as well as the Maserati Ghibli.

The Merak would have the engine mounted longitudinally in a rear-mid position feeding power to a rear-mounted 5-speed transaxle with a limited slip differential also sourced from Citroen. The Merak was fitted with front and rear disc brakes, and independent suspension on all four corners consisting of unequal length double A-arms with coil spring and tubular shock absorbers.

The Maserati Merak is powered by a naturally aspirated 3.0 90º V6 producing 220 hp at 6,500rpm.

Interestingly the Maserati Merak would outlive the larger-engined Bora that it has been based on. The Bora was discontinued in 1978 however the Merak would live well into the 1980s, finally leaving production in 1983 with 1,830 produced.

Today the Merak provides a unique alternative to a Porsche 911 or a Dino 308 GT4 from the same era, the Maserati is far less common and many people can’t identify it on sight – which is not a problem usually encountered with a Porsche or a Ferrari.

The 1978 Maserati Merak SS Shown Here

The car you see here is a 1978 Maserati Merak SS, just 787 examples of the SS variant were made and today they’re highly sought after due to the extra performance they offer. Compared to their mid-engined Italian contemporaries from the era the Merak remains affordable as well, so long as you consider affordable to be anything under $100,000 USD.

This Merak was originally delivered to an owner in the United States however the car has been de-federalised as part of recent British restoration, which will have restored engine power back to the level it would have been at for a European-delivered car.

It’s now due to cross the auction block with H and H Auctioneers on the 8th of September with a price estimate of £60,000 – £70,000, which works out to approximately $83,000 – $96,900 USD. If you’d like to read more about it or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing.

Images courtesy of H and H Auctioneers

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Restoration Project: An Original Sinclair C5 Electric Vehicle – $10,000+

When it was released in 1985 the Sinclair C5 was a wildly futuristic electric vehicle that had been conceived by the famous personal computer pioneer Sir Clive Sinclair to much fanfare.

Interestingly the production of the C5 was handled by the Hoover vacuum cleaner company and it has a chassis designed by the sports car and Formula 1 racing boffins over at Lotus.

Fast Facts – The Sinclair C5

• The Sinclair C5 was intended to be the beginning of a personal transportation revolution, able to carry one person and their groceries at a top speed of 15 mph with a range of 20 miles.
• The C5 was the brainchild of Sir Clive Sinclair, a man who helped to revolutionize the British personal computer industry with products like the Sinclair ZX81, the ZX Spectrum, and the Sinclair QL.
• Ultimately the C5 would prove to be a commercial failure, however in more recent years it’s become a cult classic, and there’s now a dedicated global community of collectors.

Sir Clive Sinclair And The Personal Computer Revolution

Sir Clive Sinclair has been described as the British answer to Steve Jobs, largely thanks to the fact that he introduced homegrown personal computers to the British public in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Sinclair had started out designing amateur transistor radios back in the late 1950s and selling the plans. Later (much like Apple over in the USA) Sinclair developed personal computers that were offered in kit form to enthusiasts who would assemble them themselves.

Above Video: This is an original series of 1985 television advertisements for the Sinclair C5.

By the 1980s their computer offerings were polished production units and a large number were sold. It was these computer sales that helped fund a project very close to Sir Clive’s heart – electric vehicles.

Sinclair Vehicles And The Future Of Transportation

Electric vehicles were nothing new in the 1980s of course but they were hampered by their age-old Achilles heel – battery technology.

Sir Clive Sinclair was convinced that electric vehicles were the way of the future and he wanted to lead the way – just as he had with the personal computer revolution in the UK.

Sinclair Vehicles was formed in 1983 and resources were poured into the new company by its well-funded sibling. A number of electric vehicle designs had been completed earlier starting with the C1 (the “C” stands for “Clive”) and the C5 was deemed the perfect design to be the company’s first mass-produced vehicle.

Part of the reason the Sinclair C5 was developed as that in 1980 the British Vehicle Excise Duty for electric vehicles had been abolished. The in 1983 the government introduced new legislation for a new vehicle class, the “electrically assisted pedal cycle.”

There were some notable advantages to this: no insurance or road tax needed to be paid, no driver’s license or helmet was needed, and anyone over the age of 14 could drive one – so the barrier to entry would be purely financial.

The C5 has a semi-recumbent driving position with the handlebars located under the legs of the driver.

One notable caveat was that the electric motor would be limited to a maximum of 250W, approximately 0.33 hp.

Ultimately the C5 would prove to be a famous failure. Despite its early promise the lack of speed, range, and power would hamstring the potential of the vehicle.

Approximately 14,000 C5s were made before production was ceased and surprisingly many of them have survived in the hands of enthusiasts. There is now a global group of collectors who keep C5s on the road, and some have created wildly modified versions with jet engines, others are capable of 150+ mph.

The Sinclair C5 – Specifications

The Sinclair C5 was developed to be a lightweight three-wheeled electric bicycle with pedal assist. It has a futuristic polypropylene body and a simple steel chassis that was developed by Lotus. Interestingly the company had recruited Barrie Wills, a former employee of the ill-fated DeLorean Motor Company, to be the managing director of Sinclair Vehicles.

The C5 has a semi-recumbent seating position with the handlebars positioned below the rider’s legs. Standard bicycle pedals were fitted up front so that the rider could pedal to assist the 250W (0.33 hp) electric motor – this was vital on hills and to extend range.

The futuristic styling of the C5 has been winning it fans for decades.

A moderate 28 liter (1 cubic foot) storage compartment was positioned behind the driver, and a 12 volt lead acid battery was fitted that gave the Sinclair C5 a range of 20 miles or 32 kilometers with a top speed of 15 mph  or 24 km/h.

The lack of weather protection was an issue, particularly for a vehicle designed to be used in Britain, and the low-slung riding position tended to give C5 pilots the feeling of being very vulnerable to other traffic on the roads.

The Sinclair C5 Shown Here

The C5 you see here is an original 1985 model that has spent many years on display at The Cayman Island Motor Museum. It’s now behind offered for sale with a price guide of $10,000 to $15,000 USD.

Details on its operational condition aren’t listed so any buyer would need to assume it will need signifiant work to return to working condition.

If you’d like to see more or register to bid you can click here to visit the listing on RM Sotheby’s.

Images: ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

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