Good morning! Today’s Shitbox Showdown is brought to you by the letter C, and we’ve got two American classics for you to check out. One you might associate with Ricardo Montalban, the other with Danny DeVito – unless you’re too young for both of those references, in which case you have a lot to learn.
Yesterday’s derelict German coupes sent quite a few of you running for the hills, but for the souls brave enough to stick around and actually vote, the twelve-cylinder BMW was the clear choice. It certainly presents better, and you will have an easier time getting your hands on the parts that it needs.
But for me, it has to be the Bitter SC. Everybody has a “this cheap used BMW drove me insane and into the poorhouse” story; hell, I have a minor version of that story myself, from six months of E46 ownership. But not many people get the chance to revive a barn-find rarity like that SC. And honestly, I think it’s better than those photos let on. Get it out of that storage unit, hose off the dust, and you might be pleasantly surprised.
Today’s cars take us right back into the depths of the malaise era, but they also both push the nostalgia button pretty hard. One of them looks good but is a complete mystery mechanically, and the other needs a little sprucing up – and is a complete disaster mechanically. Hey, what did you expect? Let’s check them out.
1976 Chrysler Cordoba – $7,250
Engine/drivetrain: Overhead valve V8 of unknown displacement, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Yuma, AZ
Odometer reading: 90,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The personal luxury coupe craze may have been started by the Ford Thunderbird, but it arguably reached its peak with this car: the Chrysler Cordoba. Named after a city in Spain, this stylish coupe was sold for eight model years across two generations, and marketed as the perfect mode of transport for suave, debonair, golden-throated Mexican actors with hit TV dramas, or anyone who aspired to be such.
The first-generation Cordoba was available with one of three Chrysler V8s: the LA-block 318 and 360, and the B-block 400. The seller doesn’t say which this one has, and doesn’t provide any open-hood photos that might give clues, but based on its lack of exterior gingerbread, I’m guessing this is a fairly low-option car, and probably just has a 318. Nothing wrong with that; it’s a good engine, with lots of potential to wake it up if you so desire. The transmission is, of course, a three-speed Torqueflite automatic.
The low-option theme continues inside, with crank windows, and a vinyl bench seat in place of the Cordoba’s signature (but optional) Rich Corinthian Leather bucket seats. The good news is it’s in really good shape. The steering wheel rim is cracked, and I imagine the dash top is likewise cracked under that carpet toupee, but it’s totally presentable as is.
It’s really clean outside as well, and mercifully free of a landau vinyl top. The turbine-style wheels are an option, and they really suit it, but I’m not sold on the whitewalls. It looks like it might have a little more rake than it’s supposed to; I don’t know if the front torsion bars are sagging, or if the rear has been jacked up a bit, but I don’t think it’s supposed to be pointed downhill quite that much. It doesn’t look bad; it just doesn’t look standard.
1980 Checker Marathon – $6,000
Engine/drivetrain: 5.7 liter diesel overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Glen Allen, VA
Odometer reading: 177,000 miles
Operational status: Turns over but won’t start
I was surprised when I started entering the tags for this car into our content management system. Usually, if a tag has been used before, a suggestion will pop up when you start typing it in. But when I started typing “Checker Marathon,” I got nothing. Could it be that this mighty paragon of practicality, a car that steadfastly refused to update its styling in the slightest for twenty-one years, one of the greatest unsung American atuomotive icons of all time, has never been mentioned here? I refuse to believe it. But if that is in fact the case, I’m proud to be the one rectifying that oversight.
Checker cars were, of course, originally designed as taxicabs, with civilian versions like this coming along later. Thus, they were built to be robust and easy to service above all else, with lots of off-the-shelf parts; the front suspension of this car is basically that of a ’50s Ford. General Motors provided the powertrains starting in the ’60s, usually Chevy inline sixes or small-block V8s, but in 1980 a new option was offered: the Oldsmobile 350 diesel V8. It is incorrectly identified in the ad as a “Buick 6.2 liter diesel,” but no such engine existed. No, this is that greatest malaise-era GM folly, an engine almost universally derided – and almost always replaced with something better. This one has somehow managed 177,000 miles, but at the moment it does not run. No great loss. Yank it out, and drop in any number of GM gasoline V8s with the Buick-Olds-Pontiac bellhousing bolt pattern; they’ll bolt right up to this car’s TH400 transmission.
The parts-bin nature of the Marathon is on full display inside, with what is obviously a GM steering column and a Chevy steering wheel (without the Chevy logo). These cars were built to be comfortable enough to spend all day in, so there’s plenty of room, and I imagine that bench seat is pretty cushy, but you won’t find much in the way of creature comforts. It does look like it has air conditioning, and some sort of stereo, but that’s about it. The front upholstery looks dirty but all right; we don’t get a photo of the back.
The Marathon’s basic shape dates back to 1956, and it remained completely unchanged except for a few tiny details from 1961 to 1982 when Checker stopped building it. This one looks a little bit special, with its vinyl top and Lincoln-style oval opera windows in place of the normal rear quarter windows. It has a vaguely funereal look, and I wonder if it might have actually been owned by a funeral home or something. Marathons were typically seen as taxis, but they appeared anywhere someone needed a good, sturdy fleet car. It has a little bit of rust along the bottom, but for its age, it’s holding up remarkably well.
Either one of these would be a lot easier to live with than yesterday’s choices, but they’re both a lot more unique than your average Charger or Chevelle. One looks pretty much ready to go, and the other is ready for whatever engine you choose to stick in it. Which one interests you more?
Not really feeling either, but if I had to pick, it would be the Cordoba… although I would head straight to LKQ to see if I can find some of those fine corinthian leather seats to put in there. Who doesn’t want to cruise in barcalounger-levels of comfort?
This one was EXTREMELY difficult, if not one the MOST difficult Showdowns ever…but I just have to go Checker since they are so iconic and unique. (Yeah, I don’t think they’ve ever been on here since the beginning; I could have sworn they were on the Showdown at least once though) I’ve been reading more of their history lately and have actually been looking at ones for sale online including the awesome Aerobus! Of course I would need a ton of $ to actually buy one especially this one- but I really want it and would fix it up good and have SO much fun w/ it! Drop in a V8, fix the rust and the vinyl top (I don’t mind it, and like the opera windows) and give it some good paint. I really like the Cordoba too! I could have put some Rich Corinthian Leather in it! At least it’s in good shape, etc but this time the Checker rules!
Some Autopian Checker articles:
https://www.theautopian.com/i-just-learned-something-about-checker-marathons-thats-like-a-rambler-american-cold-start/
https://www.theautopian.com/a-shop-dropped-a-checker-taxi-onto-a-bmw-750il-v12-making-a-glorious-abomination/
Cordoba for a street rod conversion; there has got to be a ton of Mopar parts that fit this chassis.
Checker for a demolition derby car – absolute domination of the field.
Cordoba after finding out the Checker is a Diesel.
But hear me out: Pro-Touring Personal Luxury cars of the 70s do have a vibe.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/fa/3d/d7/fa3dd75b6357522c9cdaa28a597529ef–cordoba-lots.jpg
The Cordoba is a gutless crapcan…but a decent looking and likely smooth riding crapcan. The Checker is a rough looking, non-running diesel crapcan.
Cordoba by default.
Yep! a big nope on either one.
I’d be embarrassed to be seen in that Cordoba and as much as I like the retro look of the Checker, a non-starting pretty much anything is a non-starter.
They want $6000 for that non-running rough-looking Checker with the crappy Oldsmobile diesel? Crack Pipe.
Hence my vote goes to the Codoba which looks to be in much better condition.
I just realized the Checker and the Cordoba are dressed as each other.
Once again I am in the minority as team Checker. I have a soft spot for civilian Checkers and relative owned similar Marathon with the vinyl top and opera windows except his was maroon and Chevy powered.
Chrysler all the way! My aunt had a Cordoba that was top of the line. It was gold in color with a sunroof and all. I really loved that car and wanted one when grew up. Well that never happened so this sporty example is my choice!
I’d much prefer the Checker (and looked at a ’68 wagon to buy years ago, but it was rotted), but it looks too rough and I hate the goofy rear windows, so the overpriced Chrysler it is. I prefer the vinyl to some leather that would almost definitely be trashed by now.
Gotta go Cordoba even though it’s only a 360 car.
Man, I didn’t want to vote for the one being fake-advertised by a BHPH dealer, but that Marathon is so rough…. I just couldn’t deal with it. I’ll reluctantly take the Cordoba and hope the stealership hasn’t hidden anything too awful..
Cordoba for nostalgia’s sake. Dad had a 76 in maroon int/ext with white vinyl. I loved that car. I remember crying when he sold it. My little brother came along in 79, and we needed something bigger with more doors! This 6 year old, his 4 year old sister, and baby brother were just too much. We ended up with a Mercury Marquis 4 door, with hidden headlights!
No question for me – it’s Checker, all the way. The Cordoba is obviously in much better shape, but there’s no point in owning that car. I wouldn’t want to drive it and wouldn’t want it in my driveway. It does nothing for me – it’s just a blah car. I’ve always liked those Checkers, though, and I’ve never seen one with an opera window. (I know that’s a turnoff for some, but I like it.) Better to put some time and money into something I’ll really like than not do that for something I don’t care about.
I love the Addams family vibes, but the Checker would be too much work. Rich, Detroit vinyl it is
Oh that’s a tough one: Ricardo Montalban or Kalamazoo?
Thought I was going to say the Checker, but as a non running wreck, it’s gonne be the Chrysler for me! Now where did I put my cuff links?
I would much rather have a Checker than a Cordoba, but given the choice between this Checker, and this Cordoba, I had to go Chrysler. The Checker is too rough for nearly the same price, and the interior on the Cordoba is freaking fantastic!
I’ve always had a fascination with Marathons, so I’ll go with that. Besides, the Cordoba is just a cheap knock-off of a Chevy Monte Carlo of the same vintage, like so many Chrysler products of that era were.
While logic says Cordoba, since when has that stopped an Autopian?
The Checker speaks to me and can be updated. If I had unlimited funds, that would be what I would do.
The front seats of the Checker looks like it has a blanket on it but still went with it
Definitely the Cordoba. I’ve always found it a good-looking car, especially for its time.
This may age me, but the frontal pic of the Checker in the header immediately set the opening tune from “TAXI” running through my head.
Like others, I was sure I’d be voting for the Checker, but between the condition of it, the vinyl top with the goofy porthole window, and the diesel, the Cordoba gets my vote. Both seem overpriced, though.
Normally, I’d prefer a car that doesn’t require work to one that does. But the Marathon is an icon, and you don’t see one every day (any more). I voted Checker.
It would look amazing tubbed out and jacked up, with a big chrome blower.
in 1991 or 1992, a friend of mine had a Cordoba, nick-named “The Dobe” (long o, silent e). Had the Landau top. Not having one is in this car’s favor.
I drove it once. On a highway with cruise control, smooth and silk. However,. Any bumps or hard turns felt like a boat on choppy seas.
Then he got some modern suspension parts, and the thing was actually pretty nice to be in. His A-hole dad (his parents were divorced, and technically, the car was in my friend’s name with his dad as a co-signer, and since my friend was only 17, this was legal, I guess.) sold it without asking one weekend to put a down payment on a riding mower. SIGH.
I wouldn’t deal with a Checker in that condition for that price, when a quick look online shows that there are running examples for not much more.
Long live The Dobe.