Volksforum.com - VW Golf 1: Prototype Checkers Taximodel 1976

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Prototype Golf1: taximodel

Extra achtergrondinfo:Hemmings: Galva and Galva II: The Checker Cabs that could have been

Quote:

The new Checkers would indeed be based on a Volkswagen Rabbit, stretched by 21 inches (533.4mm) in the rear passenger area and with modifications to the roof in order to improve headroom. To reinforce the overall strength of the Rabbit design, Checker anticipated adding 300lbs (136kg) in weight to the body as structural panels, for a total weight of 2,300lbs (1,043kg). The new taxi would use the same standard Rabbit transmission, but the added weight required new power options. Three power plants were considered; Perkins, Mitsubishi or Oldsmobile diesel engines. The VW based design would have been a serious departure from past Checkers. The passenger compartment would have carried four rear passengers, two facing forward and two facing rearward, one less than the 5-person rear capacity of the current A11. This layout, not found in US taxis may not have met with the approval of passengers, who would have to compete for knee room. Ed Cole’s plan assumed sales via GM’s dealer network of 50,000 units a year.

After Cole’s death, Checker CEO David Markin reduced the sales plan down to 30,000 units. The bodies would be produced by VW and shipped to Kalamazoo for final assembly. One test mule, a stretched Rabbit was created and field-tested. The test encompassed the placement of 500lb (227kg) of sandbags in the rear passenger area of the vehicle, which was driven from Kalamazoo to Chicago, where it was put into loop traffic and monitored for performance. The resulting test was disappointing. Upon its return to Kalamazoo, the mule was parked and the project was killed as it was decided the VW based concept wasn’t suitable as a taxi.

Smaller than Checker: proposal Waynes VW