Why did you build a Cobra instead of a Cheetah?
05-09-2012, 12:00 PM
#1
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Why did you build a Cobra instead of a Cheetah?
Didn't want to high jack the Cobra thread, but what about the Cheetah? If you are a Chevy guy, wouldn't you build the Cheetah, so you wouldn't have to run the "wrong" motor in it?
05-09-2012, 01:43 PM
#2
Race Director
Reason 2 - if I get a little rambunctious and punch the throttle a little two much I prefer to spin out of control in slower rotations than lightning fast rotations.
Reason 3 - although differentials are not prone to blowing up, I somehow don't want to sit virtually on top of one when driving the car. However, both have the transmission right there at your thigh.
Reason 4 - although a Cobra is pretty crude in terms of creature comfort, it beats a Cheetah by a ways for street use.
05-09-2012, 01:49 PM
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05-09-2012, 01:53 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Bob Auxier out in Phoenix is building the Cheetahs, actually has the molds and jigs up for sale, and has the original aluminum super Cheetah also which is larger than the early originals. As stated previously, the rear end, half shafts, and drive shaft is wrapped around your butt when sitting in the seat. I don't know if I could get in and out of one, they have tiny doors and you have to fall into the seat. Cool cars!!!
05-09-2012, 02:03 PM
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Just ask anyone who's raced them! Totally squirrely to drive. When they lost it in a corner they were impossible to recover. 
05-09-2012, 02:05 PM
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05-09-2012, 02:31 PM
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If memory serves, the whole Cheetah replica issue--going back a number of years--has had some major problems. The link that John Z provided is just a continuation of that theme.
Jerry Titus, who drove the Cheetah on occasion, one said: "it is the most perfectly balanced sports car in the world.....because once you go into a spin, it seems like it will never stop rotating....."
One of the reason that the interest was never there--relative to the Cobra--is that they had no racing provenance (read: history); if you ever see one in the flesh, the design is quirky, to say the least; it was built as a "skunk works" project with Bill Thomas as GM's stalking horse with a production of under 30 cars. Dubbed the "Cobra Killer" it was highly undeveloped and little known to the general public. No match for Shelby on any level.
Jerry Titus, who drove the Cheetah on occasion, one said: "it is the most perfectly balanced sports car in the world.....because once you go into a spin, it seems like it will never stop rotating....."
One of the reason that the interest was never there--relative to the Cobra--is that they had no racing provenance (read: history); if you ever see one in the flesh, the design is quirky, to say the least; it was built as a "skunk works" project with Bill Thomas as GM's stalking horse with a production of under 30 cars. Dubbed the "Cobra Killer" it was highly undeveloped and little known to the general public. No match for Shelby on any level.
Last edited by Dan Hampton; 05-09-2012 at 05:39 PM.
05-09-2012, 03:21 PM
#10
Race Director
05-09-2012, 08:28 PM
#11
Race Director
Also, I'm not just a Chev guy. I love any of the big 3 muscle cars. Ford FE motors can scream and have a lot of history behind them. A lot of people have forgotten what it was like when Ford went 1,2 and 3 with 427 Ford GTs back in the 60s. That gave Ferrari somegthing to think about. I'm building a FE Cobra replica and have a Ford Lightning; and I also have a 1967 440 GTX - so I have the big 3 bases covered with my 427 Corvette. I would sure love to have a Hemi in my GTX but I guess that is something to dream for. Wouldn't mind having a W-30 442, or a Ram Air IV GTO, or a Stage 1 Buick GS, or a 409 Impala, or a Cobra Jet Mustang either.
05-09-2012, 09:46 PM
#12
Tech Contributor
05-09-2012, 09:53 PM
#13
Race Director
05-09-2012, 10:45 PM
#14
Race Director
05-11-2012, 08:40 PM
#16
Race Director
Who can't love motor that looks like this?
Maybe not any cooler than a 427 Chev tri-power - but pretty impressive.
and then put it in an all independent suspension car that is only 13 ft long and weighs 2600 to 2700 lbs.
It always struck me as a perfect recepie for fun. But I'm not giving up my 427 Corvette by any means. I'll always have it.
Maybe not any cooler than a 427 Chev tri-power - but pretty impressive.
and then put it in an all independent suspension car that is only 13 ft long and weighs 2600 to 2700 lbs.
It always struck me as a perfect recepie for fun. But I'm not giving up my 427 Corvette by any means. I'll always have it.
05-12-2012, 01:01 AM
#19
Race Director
Who can't love motor that looks like this?
Maybe not any cooler than a 427 Chev tri-power - but pretty impressive.
and then put it in an all independent suspension car that is only 13 ft long and weighs 2600 to 2700 lbs.
It always struck me as a perfect recepie for fun. But I'm not giving up my 427 Corvette by any means. I'll always have it.
Maybe not any cooler than a 427 Chev tri-power - but pretty impressive.
and then put it in an all independent suspension car that is only 13 ft long and weighs 2600 to 2700 lbs.
It always struck me as a perfect recepie for fun. But I'm not giving up my 427 Corvette by any means. I'll always have it.
05-12-2012, 02:04 PM
#20
Race Director
The original 427 Cobra Street and S/C never weighed close to 2200 lbs with the usual iron block/head FE engine and iron toploader transmision. If you have hoisted a toploader, it makes a Muncie feel petite by comparison. Some of the aluminum body, alloy suspension Kirkham Cobras with all-aluminum FE engines are in the 2200 lb range. Small block, aluminum head, FFR replicas can get down into that range too.