0Navy Blue

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...

0Navy Blue

http://www.kitcarmag.com/featuredveh.../photo_01.html

DansYellow66

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.

0Navy Blue

I would have bought it (if I had the money)

Three more pics...

covett

a few years ago there was a tent at Bloomington Gold that had a display of a number of cheetah's, If I remember correctly you could still purchase one

K2

Here's a few pics I took of the beautiful Alan Greene Cheetah at the Vintage Races at Pacific International Raceway in 2006.

c5thriler

I friend of mine is building these cars here in the Cleveland,Ohio area.I will pass along any interest you have.

firstgear

Ruth Corvette

http://www.ruthcorvette.com/about.html1.html

0Navy Blue

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?

wmf62

pretty girl. ugly front (not the girl's..); looks like it has a fat lip...
Bill

0Navy Blue

Video and audio of Cheetah warming up...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY_Tea4OAJM

JohnZ

Alan Green Cheetah at the Monterey Historics, 2006, with Webers.

Ol Blue

Cheetah at the 2008 Monterey Historics.
Ol Blue

Procrastination Racing

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.

0Navy Blue

http://www.kitcarmag.com/featuredveh...car/index.html

Bill Thomas has authorized BTM of Arizona to produce the Cheetah continuation series.

kenmo

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)...

Mark_Milner

Me, too. It may still be around in some of my old junk. That Cheetah was so cool. The La Cucharacha (sp?) by *** was one wicked car, but I never got one.

65Corvette

Chevrolet's answer to the Cobra:

0Navy Blue

Any more pics of The Cheetah?

c5thriler

Suggest you go to Ruth Restorations web site.