Thailand

This Aerobus was found in Thailand.

Article by Dr. Iain Corness, www.pattayamail.com

A couple of weeks ago I pledged my undying love for a Jaguar XKR. The ink was hardly dry on the newsprint and I've done it again - fallen in love! This time it is the complete opposite from the XKR. This time it is American iron that's got me, and what is more - it is right here in Pattaya!

The other day I glimpsed some giant white beast in a service centre the other side of the railway tracks. Its origin had me stumped and it appeared to be a six door stretch limo as I drove past.

Yesterday I met it in the flesh. This was not a six door stretch, but actually an eight door super-stretch! And the make? A Checker Aerobus all the way from Kalamazoo, Michigan. The owner is theM.D. of the World Dog Centre on Siam Country Club road and he tells me they use the giant beast to pick up patrons from the city hotels to take them out to the centre. Apparently this vehicle was used as the transport for one of Thailand's Prime Ministers in its glory days.

It is such a huge motor vehicle (and really so ugly) that you cannot help but be attracted to it. More of a love-hate relationship I suppose. So maybe I'm not a 100% tart after all! (On reflection, I'd still rather have an XKR in the garage for the working week, but the Checker would be fun on weekends!)

A chequered history

Poor old Checker cars no longer exist, but their history is interesting. In 1921, an automobile body engineer by the name of Lomberg approached a 28 year old Russian immigrant tailor, Morris Markin, for a fifteen-thousand-dollar loan to finance his struggling auto body manufacturing business. Lomberg could not repay so Markin took over that company. Another chassis manufacturer also went bust at that time so Markin bought it as well. Then in 1922 Markin took over the defunct Hadley-Knight chassis plant and the Dort body plant and moved his entire operation to Kalamazoo. On February 2, 1922, the Checker Cab Manufacturing Company was officially formed to eventually become the Checker Motors Corporation.

Markin's history is no less interesting than Checker's. Born in Smolensk in Western Russia in 1893, he emigrated to the United States when he was 19 years old. He was penniless when he arrived and even had to borrow the $25 bond required to enter America. He worked hard in the tailoring business and saved enough money to bring his seven brothers and two sisters across the Atlantic to join him. Markin then teamed up with one of his brothers and opened a factory to make trousers under government contracts during World War I. This company prospered after the war and gave him the financial base to allow his entry into the automobile manufacturing business, nine years after his arrival in the land of opportunity.

Big is beautiful

After the Checker Marathon you just have to think Stateside when you think of large cars. Remember the Oldsmobile Toronado? An eight litre front engine, front wheel drive monster. Terry Hawkins, another regular reader who came from California, says that large cars are common in Los Angeles. He's seen ones with Jacuzzi's in the back and even small swimming pools! "I'm just taking the pool for a run to the corner store, Mom." The mind boggles! Mind you, I think it would be rather fun to drive your own paddle pond down Beach Road with a bevy of beach babes on board. Pamela Anderson, where are you now that I need you!







	This Aerobus was found in Thailand. Article by Dr. Iain Corness, www.pattayamail.com A couple of weeks ago I pledged my undying love for a Jaguar XKR. The ink was hardly dry on the newsprint and I've done it again - fallen in love! This time it is the complete opposite from the XKR. This time it is American iron that's got me, and what is more - it is right here in Pattaya! The other day I glimpsed some giant white beast in a service centre the other side of the railway tracks. Its origin had me stumped and it appeared to be a six door stretch limo as I drove past. Yesterday I met it in the flesh. This was not a six door stretch, but actually an eight door super-stretch! And the make? A Checker Aerobus all the way from Kalamazoo, Michigan. The owner is theM.D. of the World Dog Centre on Siam Country Club road and he tells me they use the giant beast to pick up patrons from the city hotels to take them out to the centre. Apparently this vehicle was used as the transport for one of Thailand's Prime Ministers in its glory days. It is such a huge motor vehicle (and really so ugly) that you cannot help but be attracted to it. More of a love-hate relationship I suppose. So maybe I'm not a 100% tart after all! (On reflection, I'd still rather have an XKR in the garage for the working week, but the Checker would be fun on weekends!) A chequered history Poor old Checker cars no longer exist, but their history is interesting. In 1921, an automobile body engineer by the name of Lomberg approached a 28 year old Russian immigrant tailor, Morris Markin, for a fifteen-thousand-dollar loan to finance his struggling auto body manufacturing business. Lomberg could not repay so Markin took over that company. Another chassis manufacturer also went bust at that time so Markin bought it as well. Then in 1922 Markin took over the defunct Hadley-Knight chassis plant and the Dort body plant and moved his entire operation to Kalamazoo. On February 2, 1922, the Checker Cab Manufacturing Company was officially formed to eventually become the Checker Motors Corporation. Markin's history is no less interesting than Checker's. Born in Smolensk in Western Russia in 1893, he emigrated to the United States when he was 19 years old. He was penniless when he arrived and even had to borrow the $25 bond required to enter America. He worked hard in the tailoring business and saved enough money to bring his seven brothers and two sisters across the Atlantic to join him. Markin then teamed up with one of his brothers and opened a factory to make trousers under government contracts during World War I. This company prospered after the war and gave him the financial base to allow his entry into the automobile manufacturing business, nine years after his arrival in the land of opportunity. Big is beautiful After the Checker Marathon you just have to think Stateside when you think of large cars. Remember the Oldsmobile Toronado? An eight litre front engine, front wheel drive monster. Terry Hawkins, another regular reader who came from California, says that large cars are common in Los Angeles. He's seen ones with Jacuzzi's in the back and even small swimming pools! "I'm just taking the pool for a run to the corner store, Mom." The mind boggles! Mind you, I think it would be rather fun to drive your own paddle pond down Beach Road with a bevy of beach babes on board. Pamela Anderson, where are you now that I need you!