Really too bad GM didn't have somebody just like Shelby's operation in size and scale doing these back then, with a street version available like the Cobra's had, so that a bunch more would have been sold.
It would be just a popular in modern kit car form as the Cobra is today, if that had happened.
Just a great, fast looking body profile, even 500-600 lbs heavier with street weatherstripping, glass, heat insulation, etc it would have been fantastic.
Really too bad GM didn't have somebody just like Shelby's operation in size and scale doing these (Cheetahs) back then, with a street version available like the Cobra's had, so that a bunch more would have been sold.
. With Chevrolet trying to sell the Corvette sports car, they prolly didn't want an aftermarket Chevy version of the Cobra out competing the Corvette... especially with the more conventional/luxury oriented T-Birds far outselling the Corvettes, showing that there was already a low limit for pure sports car sales volumes...
I remember as a senior in Highline High School, Burien, Washington, Alan Green Chevrolet on Hwy 99 just a few blocks from the school and our favorite hangout, Lou's drive-in had a Cheetah they brought out onto 99 once in a while. They also sponsored the Green Elephant funny car, Jim Green bought from Joe Pisano in the '72 driven by Jerry Ruth and a few others. Was cool to have that stuff so close as a teenager in a community that wasn't full on like say California for drag racing.
I have only saw 1 real one ,it was at Daytona Sprrdway at the Turkey Run car show ,,,also had Cadzilla and a few other Mega Buck cars ,my favorite was still the Chettah,
I was trying to show a customer a pic of a cheetah. We have gearboxes in a couple that are vintage raced, and several more of the replicas/continuations.
Odd you mention Jim Green; I just sold him a gearbox a few months ago.
And yeah; Id rather have a Cheetah than anything other than a GT40. But I'd gladly take a 260 powered early cobra, sell it and buy the GT40 AND the Cheetah LOL
In the mid-to-late sixties I remember standing on the Hurst bridge, behind the starting line at indy, and watching a gold Modified Sports class Cheetah doing his burnout! Great times!!! {
That has been a long time ago late 50 early 60 but I Think they were built by a private company,like the Cobra and a few others,someone will chime in after a while,
Did some research. They appear to be separate entirely. Both the Cheetah and Scarab received some parts support from GM, but Lance Reventlow (sp?) formed a private company to build Scarabs, and apparently Bill Thomas had at least some design and engineering help from GM when he built the Cheetahs. But the time frame, 1958 for the original Scarab, and I think 1964 for the Cheetah, seem to fairly well surround the early Shelby Cobra era. The three cars have much in common. . . Instictive hot-rod engineered baselines, American Iron V8 power, very light weight, and a desire to beat the Europeans (or, with the Cheetah, the Cobras) at their own game.
. Scarab is supposed to be making a comeback since 2008... those 1950's Scarabs were gorgeous... looked similar to the D Jaguar, forerunner to the XK-E... Scarab had their Chevy engines built by Traco Engineering... I like the Cheetah roadsters... the Cheetah coupes remind of the 1960's Griffiths (TVR w/ SBF, faster than Cobra):
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Hot Rod Forum
2.2M posts
175.7K members
Since 2001
A forum community dedicated to hot rod owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about restoration, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!