Chevrolet Cheetah and Corvette
#1
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
Chevrolet Cheetah and Corvette
Every once in a while I come across pics of a Cheetah. It usually says Chevrolet or Chevrolet engine (around 1964). How does this car intertwine with the history of the Corvette? Was it a kit car?
Added later...
http://www.cheetahcars.com/history.htm
OK, I'm finding out more about this car. To me it looks a little like a cross between a 1960s Jaguar and a C2 Sting Ray. I really like the swoopy design and the "bobbed" tail...
Added later...
http://www.cheetahcars.com/history.htm
OK, I'm finding out more about this car. To me it looks a little like a cross between a 1960s Jaguar and a C2 Sting Ray. I really like the swoopy design and the "bobbed" tail...
Last edited by Navy Blue; 02-24-2008 at 07:46 AM.
#2
Former Vendor
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Last edited by Navy Blue; 02-24-2008 at 07:41 AM.
#3
Race Director
Bare bones racer. I remember reading some articles about them off and on in the 60s. I actually saw an original one needing restoration, for sale at Petti Jean Antique Car Show here in Arkansas a few years ago.
#9
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
I assume the original Cheetahs were running high performance 327 engines from 1963 and 1964 Corvettes. Does anyone know how much they weighed?
RER in Ohio
http://www.americancheetahracing.com/about.html
BTM in Arizona
http://www.kitcarmag.com/featuredveh...car/index.html
So are there two different companies building Cheetahs now?
RER in Ohio
http://www.americancheetahracing.com/about.html
BTM in Arizona
http://www.kitcarmag.com/featuredveh...car/index.html
So are there two different companies building Cheetahs now?
Last edited by Navy Blue; 02-24-2008 at 06:23 PM.
#11
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#12
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Alan Green Cheetah at the Monterey Historics, 2006, with Webers.
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vetintheblood (02-21-2018)
#13
Burning Brakes
Cheetah at the 2008 Monterey Historics.
Ol Blue
Ol Blue
#14
Le Mans Master
Bill Thomas' Cheetah was another of many cars that filled the modified sports car classes of the late '50s and early '60s. Another of a similar design was the Devin. Devin were both pre-assembled cars and kit cars, and designed to run anything from Triumph and MG power and drivetrains to Chevy small blocks.
http://cwimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pb...=1530&maxw=350
There were many cars that had this same basic shape in the '50s and the Cheetah basically took it with a coupe body and moved things further back to get even better front to rear weight ratios. If you look closely, the driver is nearly between the rear wheels. It was probably too much, as most accounts I have heard of said they were wicked to drive.
I believe Tom is accurate on the weight, as they were lighter than the Grand Sports. If you notice that second picture at the top of this thread, you see a Grand Sport behind the guy standing on the right.
http://cwimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pb...=1530&maxw=350
There were many cars that had this same basic shape in the '50s and the Cheetah basically took it with a coupe body and moved things further back to get even better front to rear weight ratios. If you look closely, the driver is nearly between the rear wheels. It was probably too much, as most accounts I have heard of said they were wicked to drive.
I believe Tom is accurate on the weight, as they were lighter than the Grand Sports. If you notice that second picture at the top of this thread, you see a Grand Sport behind the guy standing on the right.
#15
Former Vendor
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http://www.kitcarmag.com/featuredveh...car/index.html
Bill Thomas has authorized BTM of Arizona to produce the Cheetah continuation series.
Bill Thomas has authorized BTM of Arizona to produce the Cheetah continuation series.
#16
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I owned a Cheetah once but it was a 1/32 scale electric slot car. I was 10 years of age at the time and I've always been fascinated by this car...
This link brings back many good memories of electric slot car racing and building 1/24 - 1/25 scale plastic car kits (AMT, Monogram, MPC, Revell, etc)...
This link brings back many good memories of electric slot car racing and building 1/24 - 1/25 scale plastic car kits (AMT, Monogram, MPC, Revell, etc)...
#17
I owned a Cheetah once but it was a 1/32 scale electric slot car. I was 10 years of age at the time and I've always been fascinated by this car...
This link brings back many good memories of electric slot car racing and building 1/24 - 1/25 scale plastic car kits (AMT, Monogram, MPC, Revell, etc)...
This link brings back many good memories of electric slot car racing and building 1/24 - 1/25 scale plastic car kits (AMT, Monogram, MPC, Revell, etc)...