With a stock of Checker parts in hand and official paperwork filed, the reborn Checker Motor Cars is set to begin production of its versions of the famed taxi company’s cars – updated to use modern technology – as soon as late 2018.

According to a press release sent out late last week by the Haverhill, Massachusetts-based company that already restores Kalamazoo-built Checkers, not only will production on the two previously announced models – the Sport Pick-up Crossover, a sedan pickup, and the 12-passenger six-door sedan – begin next year, but the company will at the same time begin to manufacture retrofit kits to update existing Checkers.

“Our challenge is taking a recognized shape and using off-the-shelf components to assemble a finished automobile,” said Steve Contarino, head of the new Checker company. “We may not have the legacy of the original Checker Motors Corporation, but the DNA we are building on here will form a very strong future.”

Another classic auto is reborn thanks to the Low-Volume Motor Vehicle manufacturers Act of 2015.