Car Info
Our history with the car
My parents originally purchased the car for me around the year 2000 from a guy in Northern New Jersey. He had acquired the car from the original owner as part of a group a vehicles. He stored it in his warehouse for years, if not decades, until we purchased the car.
My father and I restored the car on our driveway in Southern NJ and I had the car for several years. It was tons of fun to drive in high school and while home from college.
History after we sold the vehicle
We sold the car in 2006 when I graduated college. This was a mistake.
We moved from NJ to AZ. I didn't have the money to get it there and the car didn't have air conditioning.
It was sold to a movie prop car company that used it in the film 'American Gangster.' We believe that the car was used in other films such as Men in Black (3?), but we're not sure.
The car being sold to a movie prop company presents challenges. Since the cars aren't driven on public roads there is no need to register the vehicle. Thus, my searches to state registries have turned up nothing. It also means the car is likely not getting maintained, or even worse, destroyed.
This brings me to my last bit of unfortunate news. I believe there is a 55-65% change that the car is destroyed. My personal searches have led me to a movie prop car company owner who believes the car was used in the movie 'The Irishman.' Checker car club members are probably already cringing.
There is a scene in the movie where the actors push several Checker Marathons over a pier into the water to destroy evidence of their actions or something. I don't recall exactly. I didn't care for the plot at this point. The scene in question is below.
Here's why I'm holding out hope though. The scene in question is very dark and low lit. It's very hard to tell for certain if my car was pushed over the edge. Also, the movie prop car company owner is 'lacking in communication skills' to provide any actual proof that my car was used. I do not want to provide their information here to prevent them from being doxxed, but I am willing to provide it upon request. This person has said my car was used, but it's just their word and no proof of additional pictures/video, VIN confirmation, or anything has been provided. There were dozens of Checkers used in the movie, and it's very possible mine wasn't used in that scene.
It's also very possible that my car wasn't even used in the movie. Prop car companies trade cars very loosely and I'm not convinced they even had my car.
That's as far as I got in my search. PLEASE HELP
Distinguishing Details of the Car
Here are some details about the car that might help you find the car as well as additional pictures of what the car looked like the last time I had the car. NOTE that some of these things may be different if any new owner has changed them.
VIN# - A12657941417A
Exterior Features
- Yellow with checker decals to look like a NYC taxicab
Chrome bumpers with vertical slats.
Side view mirror on drivers side only.
The decals for the taxi fare prices and the flag logo on the side of the car are apparently in the wrong order. The prices are supposed to go on the front doors. I had them on the rear doors.
Rust patch on front grill on the driver side. See below images. Let's face it though. The car is probably a lot more rusted at this point.
Interior Features
Interior color - Green/Blue - The car was originally a privately sold vehicle and not a taxi.
At the time I sold the car we still had the last original inspection/registration stick on the front right of the windshield that was from something like 1977 or 1987.
Single jumpseat in the rear passenger area.
There is a blue sticker on the backside of the rear view mirror that was originally on the car. I'm not sure what the sticker was for.
Drivetrain
Engine - Chevy 283ci V-8 Engine
Transmission - Borg Warner 3-speed 'on the tree' manual transmission