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CHEVY CHEETAH..200mph in 64

Discussion in 'General Automotive Discussion' started by msdesignltd, Jan 22, 2013.

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  1. msdesignltd

    msdesignltd Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #1 msdesignltd, Jan 22, 2013
    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBG9MPnpXF4]1964 Chevrolet Cheetah - Chevrolet Muscle Cars w/ Dennis Gage - YouTube[/ame]


    NIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCE Video
     
  2. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky F1 World Champ
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    #2 tbakowsky, Jan 22, 2013
    Those are really cool, did chev actually build those? Or did they just use the power train
     
  3. MK1044

    MK1044 Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #3 MK1044, Jan 22, 2013
    At the time, there was some pressure on General Motors to get out of racing. So no more "official" GM race teams. Bill Thomas's shop was able to secure Corvette drive trains and build these cars around them. There were two aluminum bodied cars and about fifteen fiberglass bodied cars built. Some were sold to privateers. At some point there was a shop fire that destroyed some cars and ended the effort.

    There is a "continuation car" still being built today. Don't know if they are street-able.

    The 1965 Bill Thomas Cheetah Continuation Collectible Coupe and Cro-Sal Special Roadster
     
  4. DIGMAN52

    DIGMAN52 F1 Rookie
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    #4 DIGMAN52, Jan 23, 2013
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  5. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #5 rdefabri, Jan 24, 2013
    Pretty much spot on. Bill Thomas was also known for his Nova drag car(s).

    Don't know an incredible amount, but my understanding is these were difficult cars to drive / handle...it's debatable whether they would have been successful, but had GM backed it with a normal development cycle, I believe it would have done well.
     
  6. VF1Skullangel

    VF1Skullangel Formula Junior

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    #6 VF1Skullangel, Jan 26, 2013
    Makes you wonder why didn't GM continue building them?
     
  7. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #7 rdefabri, Jan 26, 2013
    Well there was a fire in the factory that destroyed the body forms...and GMs no race policy...those 2 reasons conspired to kill it off.
     
  8. werewolf

    werewolf F1 World Champ
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    #8 werewolf, Mar 13, 2013
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2013
    These were incredible cars, built by Bill Thomas to challenge Shelby Cobras back in the early/mid sixties. I'm quite a fan :) and hope to have some news about an upcoming project soon ;)

    The Cheetah's frame/wheelbase was so short, there was no driveshaft ... the transmission literally bolted directly to the rear/differential (thru a single u-joint). The car had cockpit heat issues, as the exhaust headers were practically adjacent to the driver's feet. The short wheelbase presented some handling challenges, as well ... but from a simple power/weight perspective, certainly a respectable challenge to the mighty Cobra!

    One of the two (i think, two) original "Super Cheetah" aluminum bodies was found, and bought, a few years ago :

    Bill Thomas Cheetah

    The above posts are correct ... GM pulled the support to Bill Thomas, and the fire that destroyed the original plywood buck pretty much ended the enterprise.

    another interesting webpage :

    Cheetahs Always Win

    If that Alan Green Cheetah doesn't get your blood going ... you're just not a gearhead :D
     
  9. Tenney

    Tenney F1 Rookie
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    #9 Tenney, Mar 14, 2013
  10. JeremyJon

    JeremyJon F1 Veteran

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    #10 JeremyJon, Mar 14, 2013
    such a wild car, basically a grand sport 'vette, with the drive shaft and middle body sliced out of it, insane to drive i'd imagine
     
  11. ersatzS2

    ersatzS2 Formula Junior
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    #11 ersatzS2, Mar 19, 2013
    I saw one run at vintage races at mid OH about ten years ago. Wow. Looked not as developed as a Cobra and I wondered about drivers' sensations driving so far back in the chassis. But a wonderful piece of history unfortunately truncated by events.
     
  12. Tenney

    Tenney F1 Rookie
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    #12 Tenney, Mar 19, 2013
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