Chevrolet Cheetah and Corvette
03-26-2008, 04:19 PM
#41
Cheetah
A friend of mine back in the 60's had a Griffith.It was a real skate board on wheels.If you could learn to drive it it was unbeatable in a pyloned low speed event! It had a 289 in it and was real quick up to 60 but not much after that!
03-27-2008, 11:33 AM
#42
Safety Car
In the Spring of 1989 at our So Cal NCRS Chapter meet in rural Buellton, CA we started the weekend off with a 'swap meet', then there was a driving tour thru the countryside for lunch. The club had left for the tour.
Rich Mason pulled into the parking lot with truck and trailer. He had brought his SR-2 down for the SECRET featured show and tell that was to take place in the afternoon after the group came back to the hotel.
His car was to be featured with the new ZR-1 that Hank Haga and Chevrolet brought over from their secret skunkworks in nearby Westlake Village
NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN THE ZR-1 in those days, just heard about it. The plan was both cars were to be placed in the hotel meeting room under corver, and when the membership came back after lunch a great Seminar was to unfold. The title was "The AMERICAN LEGEND, OLD AND NEW"
I stayed back to help set up the cars, and Rich unloaded the SR-2. Now mind you this car was raced at Montery Historics and other vintage race venues often in those days. Rich fired up the car and motioned me to get in to the passanger seat.
Open pipes and all, he shouted "WHERE IS LUNCH?" I pointed and BOOM !
Away we went to catch the road tour. I was hanging on for dear life as the bugs smashed my face at 100mph taking the short cut to MATTIES TAVERN up the California #101 about 5 miles, then off on Santa Ynez Rd.
We pulled into the parking lot just as the slow backroad caravan was arriving. What great times we have had in these old Corvettes.
The afternoon LEGEND show and tell was a great lesson
in new and old CORVETTE history. These were the days when we truly DROVE and enjoyed our cars.
Rich Mason pulled into the parking lot with truck and trailer. He had brought his SR-2 down for the SECRET featured show and tell that was to take place in the afternoon after the group came back to the hotel.
His car was to be featured with the new ZR-1 that Hank Haga and Chevrolet brought over from their secret skunkworks in nearby Westlake Village
NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN THE ZR-1 in those days, just heard about it. The plan was both cars were to be placed in the hotel meeting room under corver, and when the membership came back after lunch a great Seminar was to unfold. The title was "The AMERICAN LEGEND, OLD AND NEW"
I stayed back to help set up the cars, and Rich unloaded the SR-2. Now mind you this car was raced at Montery Historics and other vintage race venues often in those days. Rich fired up the car and motioned me to get in to the passanger seat.
Open pipes and all, he shouted "WHERE IS LUNCH?" I pointed and BOOM !
Away we went to catch the road tour. I was hanging on for dear life as the bugs smashed my face at 100mph taking the short cut to MATTIES TAVERN up the California #101 about 5 miles, then off on Santa Ynez Rd.We pulled into the parking lot just as the slow backroad caravan was arriving. What great times we have had in these old Corvettes.
The afternoon LEGEND show and tell was a great lesson
in new and old CORVETTE history. These were the days when we truly DROVE and enjoyed our cars.
Last edited by jimgessner; 03-12-2013 at 10:00 AM.
03-27-2008, 03:29 PM
#43
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: Mustang OK
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2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2015 C1 of the Year Finalist
If you ever see my 56 HD brake/suspension, Airbox "show" car in person, look close, you'll see a few chips in the paint and road film on the fully chromed undercarriage. 
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Last edited by DZAUTO; 03-27-2008 at 03:31 PM.
03-27-2008, 10:26 PM
#44
Instructor
True story,
A year or so ago, there was a gathering of us old timers at John Neas house, shortly after he had had his SR2 restored and fine tuned. It has an all alum 350 (one of the earlier Chev block castings) with an FI unit that I built for it. Hard runnin' car!!!!
Everyone was gathered around and admiring such a unique and fabulous looking old Vette. John offered the key to several in the group and EVERYONE declined. I said, oh heck and told my wife to get in. Fired it up and blasted down the street (only had headers on it at the time) and around the block and I pulled it hard in 1st-2nd. With the skinny early Firestone racing tires that were on it, it was impossible to keep it straight. John doesn't offer to let anyone drive it anymore! I think I scared John a little , but Sally (his wife) loved it
!
A year or so ago, there was a gathering of us old timers at John Neas house, shortly after he had had his SR2 restored and fine tuned. It has an all alum 350 (one of the earlier Chev block castings) with an FI unit that I built for it. Hard runnin' car!!!!
Everyone was gathered around and admiring such a unique and fabulous looking old Vette. John offered the key to several in the group and EVERYONE declined. I said, oh heck and told my wife to get in. Fired it up and blasted down the street (only had headers on it at the time) and around the block and I pulled it hard in 1st-2nd. With the skinny early Firestone racing tires that were on it, it was impossible to keep it straight. John doesn't offer to let anyone drive it anymore! I think I scared John a little
, but Sally (his wife) loved it !When Tom drove it up the street he set off car alarms as he "drove" along.
Impressive car, looks and running.
Verle
03-27-2008, 10:29 PM
#45
Instructor
The chips and cracks... I call it road rash.
Verle
03-11-2013, 12:03 AM
#46
Heel & Toe
What do the price range from for these beauties? I have always been a fan of this car, I can't seem to find a price range for 1 in good to excellent condition. If anyone can help I would be very grateful.
03-11-2013, 08:23 AM
#47
Melting Slicks
03-11-2013, 10:43 AM
#48
Response to your email
Cant help you out on prices but suggest you contact Ruth Restorations.Bob Ruth and his son Craig had molds made for the Cheetah back 5 years ago and offered it as a kit car or a complete "turn key"ride.They sold 2 of these but it went no further.Bob has retired recently but I believe comes in to work with his son on occasion.Both belong to Corvette Cleveland,the club I belong to.Contact Bob or Craig Ruth at 216-244-0338.Good Luck Brock Landers
03-11-2013, 03:58 PM
#49
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)...
WOW!! I was thinking the same thing!! That sucker (slot car) could really ZIP around that track!
03-11-2013, 04:19 PM
#50
Heel & Toe
Lol, I had the same slot car myself! Loved that track! Had my slot tracks until I went into the Army, gave them to a nephew. Sure miss playing with it over the years. Will be getting back into it when I retire in another 25-30 yrs. Only 51 now, that's about when I see myself slowing down enough to have fun with it. Lol
03-11-2013, 04:48 PM
#51
Melting Slicks
Gotta add me to the list of kids who had a Cheetah slot-car.Some folks were into building ornate detailed model train sets, but for me from age 6 to 11 it was Aurora/HFX HO cars, and I took over our 1 car garage (thanks Dad) with alpine race tracks complete with bridges and tunnels through plaster mountains, trees and streams.
Having little money to spend, I'd find or make all the small parts and materials to complete the perfect illusion. Got so dramatic that I think I probably crashed and burned that Cheetah a few times (fuel and rocks at the bottom of a plaster ravine.
Need to remember to thank my Dad again for that.
Come to think of it - that Cheetah often did get often wiley in the tunnel - probably why it ended up c&b!
03-11-2013, 11:19 PM
#52
Drifting
Screw that toy car stuff. Here is my friends car that I have been in. But he will not let me drive full out. I keep asking. It fits me perfect. 
He will cave one of these days. Yes, that is Dennis Gage.
He will cave one of these days. Yes, that is Dennis Gage.
03-11-2013, 11:54 PM
#55
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
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St. Jude Donor '05
Had one of those slot cars too it was gold. Never got it out of the package but the name and image stuck in my head all these yrs. Never knew what one was til recently .
03-12-2013, 12:29 AM
#56
Drifting
03-12-2013, 01:45 AM
#57
Heel & Toe
Dear Cuisinartvette,
Do you still have the car in a package? That would be something I'd be interested in if you do. Not many people know of or remember the Cheetah, so don't feel bad you didn't know. One of those lost treasures of the auto industry. Ahead of its time I always thought.
Do you still have the car in a package? That would be something I'd be interested in if you do. Not many people know of or remember the Cheetah, so don't feel bad you didn't know. One of those lost treasures of the auto industry. Ahead of its time I always thought.
03-12-2013, 01:50 AM
#58
Heel & Toe
Vetrod62,
Nothing wrong with going ***** to the walls if you don't push the envelope to far. Lol. I like a little excitement myself, but know my limits and limits of what I am driving. Right time... Right place.
Nothing wrong with going ***** to the walls if you don't push the envelope to far. Lol. I like a little excitement myself, but know my limits and limits of what I am driving. Right time... Right place.
03-12-2013, 10:01 AM
#60
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
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St. Jude Donor '05
Dear Cuisinartvette,
Do you still have the car in a package? That would be something I'd be interested in if you do. Not many people know of or remember the Cheetah, so don't feel bad you didn't know. One of those lost treasures of the auto industry. Ahead of its time I always thought.
Do you still have the car in a package? That would be something I'd be interested in if you do. Not many people know of or remember the Cheetah, so don't feel bad you didn't know. One of those lost treasures of the auto industry. Ahead of its time I always thought.
He had a 67 rs and a white stang fastback with blue stripes....I will ask though.
They were in a clear plastic package I never got to take them out kind of a hands off thing. Those 2 gave me the car bug though as a young kid couldnt take my eyes off em
