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One day I was on the corner of Cortelyou and Dahill in Kensington, Brooklyn, looking for trolley tracks and remnants of old railroads, when it pulled up and stopped at the light. There it was...
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...A vintage Checker ! The beloved Checker stopped producing NYC cabs in 1982 (I don't remember riding in any since the 1960s when I was a kid), but obviously, they're still in the hearts and minds of aficionados in NYC and elsewhere. As a matter of fact other cities still have Checker cabs. In movies and TV, Checker cabs continued to be a NYC symbol even after their numbers began to seriously dwindle. Just something about the roominess, the jump seats, and the distinctive dark yellow shade I guess. Seeing the Checker inspired me to post other vintage NYC cars I've seen in my Forgotten wanderings... |
I'm far from a car person. I have never learned to drive. My exploits at the auto driving school I attended while in high school, and my hijinks while my cousin Jim tried to teach me how to drive in the 70s, are still legendary. So, I've never been into auto lore and history much either.
Here's what I'll do: I'll identify these vintage cars by number and where I found them, and I'll let Forgotten Fans fill me in on what they are and what year they were made, and I'll credit you when all the info is filled in. Some of them are rusting away while others are being meticulously maintained. Deal? Just identify by number.
5/29/01: Ready to post results. Thanks to everyone who participated: Michael DeStefano, Keith Dickson, Ian Etheridge, Charles Gallo, Scott Jasner, Jay Littman, Michael Marsiglia, Glenn Marston, Harry Shilling, Steven Stathoudakis, Chris Switzer and Warren Westbo.
1. Found in a lot in Astoria Willys Jeepster '50-'51 |
2. 168th Street in Flushing Triumph TR6 1972-74 |
3. 204th Street in Flushing Chevy '40-'42, '48 |
4. Vernon Boulevard in Astoria Pontiac Catalina '64-'65 |
5. Amboy Road in Tottenville '49-'50 Ford Coupe |
6. Amboy Road in Tottenville '49-'50 Ford with sunvisor |
7. 42nd Avenue in Bayside 1952 Chrsyler New Yorker |
8. 42nd Avenue in Bayside 1951-'54 Chevy |
9. 42nd Avenue in Bayside '45-'47 Cadillac 60 Special |
10. Lafayette Avenue in Schuylerville, Bronx 1963 Cadillac |
11. Lafayette Avenue in Schuylerville, Bronx 1945-'48 Packard |
12. Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn 1961-'63 Chevy Impala |
13. Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights 1960 Buick LaSalle |
14. Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn 1964 Chevy Impala |
15. Provost Avenue in Eastchester, Bronx Car: 1941-2 Chevy or Cadillac |
16. Shiloh Avenue in Glen Oaks, Queens 1964 Chevy Belair |
17. Little Street in Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn 1936 Hudson Terraplane |
18. Little Street in Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn 1957 Chevy Belair |
For more on Checker cabs...
History
of Checker
NY Cabbie Home Page
Checker Taxi Stand
HOME | LAMPS | SUBWAYS & TRAINS | ADS | TROLLEYS | SIGNS | COBBLESTONES | STREET SCENES | YOU'D NEVER BELIEVE YOU'RE IN NYC | LINKS | ALLEYS | NECROLOGY | CEMETERIES | FORGOTTENSTUFF
E me at kevin@forgotten-ny.com
