The Bill Thomas Cheetah! What a gorgeous-looking car! There is one of these in 1968's Herbie the Love Bug. Herbie passes a Bill Thomas Cheetah at the start of the El Dorado race.
@@classicperformance It only appears for a brief moment, with two other cars. You have to being paying quite close attention to notice it. If you don't then there is a screenshot of it on a site called Movie Cars Database. Just type in 'Herbie', and you'll find all the cars in the Herbie movies.
I think every cheetah that was raised crashed hamster posting outrageous lap records. They were measured at at something like 210 mph on the big ovals. Back in the 60's!
Ralph Sayler won C modified at the SCCA Nationals at Road America in 64. He took a third in the C modified race at the championships in Riverside that year. Finished ahead of Cooper Fords (King Cobras) Chaparral Mk2, Genie Ford, Lola Mk6 all mid engine V8 sports racers. If they had built the 100 needed to enter production racing there would have been a lot of wins.
There was a time in the sixties when you couldn't look at a magazine or turn on the sports without hearing about the Cheetah. You have thought they had made a million of them. No, less than a dozen. I thought I remember seeing one in Kansas City but I'm sure I imagined it.
If that’s the same car I seen back in 2016 at RA? I was sick when the back end broke loose and tagged the wall exiting turn 5. I have one of the pictures as my home screen on my laptop.
A good friend of mine owns the most original example. The only part that has ever been modified is the radiator, which was rebuilt. It still has the original paint.
It's a knockout and so unlike anything else even from an era (unlike today) in which originality reigned. Question to those who really know about this car. Visually it screams overweighted to the rear. Does anyone know how it actually handled and if it had handling vices?
If you look at the car, this is an extreme example of front mid-engine placement (with engine well behind the front axle) and explains why the rear of the Cheetah is so short - the differential had to and does touch the transmission and is directly connected without a driveshaft. This resulted in nearly an equal front to rear weight distribution similar to a mid-engine car. This also resulted in an uncomfortable driving position because of the engine heat in the cockpit and I suspect the physical position was not comfortable for a long race. The Cheetah used the Corvette 327 cid engine that was stroked to 377 cid and was able to produce a claimed 520 hp in a car that weighed only 1550 pounds! The Cheetah had some handling problems but was very fast in a straight line because of the horse power to weight ratio. It could out run a Shelby 427 Cobra on the drag strip.
@@shevetlevi2821 and one more bit, they used the Corvette IRS rear, so that makes sense why the Muncie transmission could directly connect to the rear end as it was also a fixed unit and not part of the moving suspension. This rear was also not (in my opinion) the best setup for road racing. However, it was also the mid 60's... so might have been considered pretty good back then.
@Leonel, possibly so. What kind of race car do you have? I think here it is the appreciation for the car and that it is still on the track and not sitting in a museum or someone's collection on display.
Il s'agit d'un Chetah basé sur le train de roulement de la Corvette des années 60. La vidéo a été tournée lors des courses sur route vintage HSR au Micheline Raceway Road Atlanta en Géorgie aux États-Unis. Cette voiture était une réponse aux Ford Cobra sur la piste dans les années 1960. Merci de votre intérêt depuis la France !
A guy in coldwater michigan has them,i remember seeing one out side when i was younger n thought,hey thats a real tootsi toy car lol ive been wanting to go see them but work gets in the way
The car that was supposed to have it all. It was supposed to put The Cobra and Carrol Shelby out of business. The numbers were supposed to be impressive, but they were never verified. And how many major races did it win, zero. Great expectations were never realized. Personally, I thought it just looked way out of proportion, and unfinished.
@@DANTHETUBEMAN same here. I still have my suitcase carrier full of A/FX cars and a couple Tycos. I did not like the Tyco slot cars as well as the Auroras/A/FX. I would say the one I was most fond of was a Can Am McLaren with the high wing and big fat rear tires.
It's a shame, whatever held Thomas' Cheetah back from continuing, I know Chevy had a part in the car, but it was Bill's car. I'm a Shelby Cobra guy, through and through, but I'd have loved to see the Cheetah fully competitive with the Cobra, it was a car in the same vein as the Cobra - brutal, hard to drive, and fast as fu** if you knew how to drive them. Same type of car, one each from from bare knuckled players. Would have been Bad Ass!
@classicperformance Strange requirements. Maybe it was a homologation issue - no production versions. But like I said, I'm a Cobra guy through and through, the Cheetah was the only car I considered close, both cars were beasts, but a real driver in one couldn't be caught. I'm almost positive you're right about the driveshaft, look at the car in side view, the engine is about dead center between the back and front wheels - doesn't leave much room for a driveshaft!
Looking back at Lemans cars and particularly the Porsche 917, a spare tire and wheel were a requirement by the FIA regulating body. See our 917 video here and the spare. ruclips.net/video/DLUOLtawV5U/видео.htmlsi=-_glhwoaMMQgMDAh
Had bill thomas been able to build the required number as he planned to be able to run a production with the cobras they were competitive to say the least. Production nnever reached that point so they were forced to run A sports racing against vehiches that they didnt really have a chance against(mcclarens,lolas,mckees and chaparells)
This bucket of bolts couldn't run with the Cobra. They ran ok at Monza and Lemans but they were basically junk everywhere else. The Daytona coupe showed up in 1965 and the Cheetah disappeared.
185 at road America no AC cobra came close to that the shop burned down and Chevy stoped there support the Daytona was built because the AC wasn't areo enough to go 185
Thank you for your comment. I might have to agree if you compare it to a modern V8 and modern exhaust. These cars were designed inexpensively, use off shelf parts from production cars and long before X pipes, computer tuned long tube exhaust systems, cylinder scavenging and pipe diameter tuning. Heck, it might still have 1960's cast iron ram horns! Take a look at the car at speed on the track and see how it sounds. ruclips.net/video/2BJzvnL5YFs/видео.html
It looks absolutely savage. A work of art in the absolute right color.
yes!!! We were surprised to see it!
There were a lot of slot cars made of this beast!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I had A couple of them back in the 60s
I still have mine. A Strombecker with a brass chassis and Mabuchi motor. 1/32 scale. Also have a 1/32 Cox Cheetah. Black body and magnesium chassis.
@@pdm2201 Mine are long gone I had a Cheetah and a chaparral made by cox they were a diecast chassis
Oh yeah, i had one.
These things make a Shelby Cobra look like a school bus in comparison.
The Bill Thomas Cheetah! What a gorgeous-looking car! There is one of these in 1968's Herbie the Love Bug. Herbie passes a Bill Thomas Cheetah at the start of the El Dorado race.
Ahhh, did not know that. I'll have to go back and look! Thanks!
@@classicperformance It only appears for a brief moment, with two other cars. You have to being paying quite close attention to notice it. If you don't then there is a screenshot of it on a site called Movie Cars Database. Just type in 'Herbie', and you'll find all the cars in the Herbie movies.
Thanks, William, I'll check it out!
I remember these, super fast and great looks, bought slot car bodies and painted realistic
Absolutely! and we did the same with the A/FX and other brand so slot cars! and --and the Can Am wing cars, 917 Porsches, etc.
What a great looking car, just trying to imagine the mind blowing experience you could have driving it
Imagine the danger and experience if any rotating part of the car was to let loose. Inches from all your body parts.
@@classicperformance the driver sits right on the rear end right ? No driveshaft, motor to rear end, scary as shit
@@deborahchesser7375 You are absolutely correct. A fact of direct connection trans to rear I would suspect most folks are not aware of.
I think every cheetah that was raised crashed hamster posting outrageous lap records.
They were measured at at something like 210 mph on the big ovals.
Back in the 60's!
Is that car based in the Pacific Northwest?
Ralph Sayler won C modified at the SCCA Nationals at Road America in 64. He took a third in the C modified race at the championships in Riverside that year. Finished ahead of Cooper Fords (King Cobras) Chaparral Mk2, Genie Ford, Lola Mk6 all mid engine V8 sports racers. If they had built the 100 needed to enter production racing there would have been a lot of wins.
Rob, thanks for the great information!!!
It was originally called "The Cobra Killer", for a reason!!!
Way to go Chevrolet!!!
Sounds like a surprisingly mild cam.
It does, it's a 327.
Just love the sound of Vintage V8 racers 🙉
Yea, me too!!!! Thanks for the view and comment, Ernie!!!
Livin’ the dream right there. Awesome!
Thanks!!!
One of the many cars I’d love to have “1 hour” with before I go!
Now come on sir I don't mean to call you a liar and with much respect we both know an hour would never be long enough. 😎
@@dwilson2548 you’re right! I was being conservative juuuuuuuust in case the opportunity presented itself…😆🤞🏾
Yep, I would have said an hour was conservative.
I'd tell Make A Wish ,just give me an hour alright , and as I drove away shout back at them " Catch me if you can !!!!!! "
There was a time in the sixties when you couldn't look at a magazine or turn on the sports without hearing about the Cheetah. You have thought they had made a million of them. No, less than a dozen. I thought I remember seeing one in Kansas City but I'm sure I imagined it.
I can almost smell the high octane fumes!👍😎🇺🇸🏎️🏎️🏎️
Ahhh yes, that sweet smelling and tasting VP Race or Sunoco smell!! :)
Wow. I've never seen or heard of this beautiful beast. I need more! google time lol
Mike, Check out the link in the description to see the Cheetah at speed on the track
It has always been my second favorite car behind the Stubaker Hawks
You must have something wrong with you.
Wow. I’d forgotten these cool cars. Getting old BLOWS....lol
If that’s the same car I seen back in 2016 at RA? I was sick when the back end broke loose and tagged the wall exiting turn 5. I have one of the pictures as my home screen on my laptop.
Wow!!!
A good friend of mine owns the most original example. The only part that has ever been modified is the radiator, which was rebuilt. It still has the original paint.
WowDave!!! thanks for your interest! I enjoyed talking to the owner of this one.
You can see the #64 on Stacy David’s TV show Gearz. He did a pretty in depth look at the car. The #64s owner was very important to my racing efforts.
@@daveburchfield9105 I'll take a look!! thanks Dave!
COOLEST CAR EVER!
You are correct. If you want to see it in action on the track, watch my latest video. ruclips.net/video/2BJzvnL5YFs/видео.html
Beautiful Car All The Best Team.
@1:36 - from that angle, it reminds me of my old Maxi Blue Gremlin X.
I am 100% sure they should’ve been calling those Mongooses.
It's a knockout and so unlike anything else even from an era (unlike today) in which originality reigned.
Question to those who really know about this car. Visually it screams overweighted to the rear. Does anyone know how it actually handled and if it had handling vices?
If you look at the car, this is an extreme example of front mid-engine placement (with engine well behind the front axle) and explains why the rear of the Cheetah is so short - the differential had to and does touch the transmission and is directly connected without a driveshaft. This resulted in nearly an equal front to rear weight distribution similar to a mid-engine car. This also resulted in an uncomfortable driving position because of the engine heat in the cockpit and I suspect the physical position was not comfortable for a long race.
The Cheetah used the Corvette 327 cid engine that was stroked to 377 cid and was able to produce a claimed 520 hp in a car that weighed only 1550 pounds!
The Cheetah had some handling problems but was very fast in a straight line because of the horse power to weight ratio. It could out run a Shelby 427 Cobra on the drag strip.
@@classicperformance Wow, thanks for the detailed answer.
@@shevetlevi2821 and one more bit, they used the Corvette IRS rear, so that makes sense why the Muncie transmission could directly connect to the rear end as it was also a fixed unit and not part of the moving suspension. This rear was also not (in my opinion) the best setup for road racing. However, it was also the mid 60's... so might have been considered pretty good back then.
Even then GM embraced the 4X4 off-road ride height.
old skool Trail Boss right here!
Neat car!😁👍🛠️🔧
Thanks 👍
Now that is a mid-engine car.
Yes, it is! :)
Old man race car driver drives like a SNAIL!
@Leonel, possibly so. What kind of race car do you have? I think here it is the appreciation for the car and that it is still on the track and not sitting in a museum or someone's collection on display.
Also on pit road. There're speed limits and other safety considerations.
In a class by itself
Indeed so! I remember these cars when I was a kid. This is the first time I saw one on the track in operation. Very interesting.
The unintentional side pipes are cool
I agree. it is just a way to exit the exhaust and quickly!! :)
Elle fait quoi ? Aux 24 heures du Mans, elle est jolie, elle fait beaucoup de bruit, j'aimerai en savoir plus sur cet engin diabolique ?
Il s'agit d'un Chetah basé sur le train de roulement de la Corvette des années 60. La vidéo a été tournée lors des courses sur route vintage HSR au Micheline Raceway Road Atlanta en Géorgie aux États-Unis. Cette voiture était une réponse aux Ford Cobra sur la piste dans les années 1960. Merci de votre intérêt depuis la France !
looks alot like the open gt but alot more badass lol
There is no way I could climb into that.
same here, no way!!! and getting out, forget it.
What's he got a BSA twin in that thing
HaHa, it's a small block (cast iron block and head) Chevrolet V8 with an aluminum Muncie 4-speed. Basically same vintage Corvette drivetrain.
Beautiful, fast and deadly.
It's the Cobra Killer!!!
Chevy vs. Ford! :)
I know where there is 4 of these cheatas
Do tell more David!!
A guy in coldwater michigan has them,i remember seeing one out side when i was younger n thought,hey thats a real tootsi toy car lol ive been wanting to go see them but work gets in the way
Looks like corvette got ideas from this for C3.
I was thinking that it reminds me of the Jaguar E-Type. Excessively long hood and the windshield has a steep angle.
Is this a continuation cheetah?
it is not, the chassis and car was manufactured in the 60's.
Bill Thomas build it?
@@ericlutz3651 as the owner stated yes, an original chassis build.
Like the 65 Mustang shark gills..
Brings back great memories of my black slot car Cheetah. This became the world's worst handling car ever. even beating my 454 Corvette.
I installed a HEMI in mine!!😎
Good Gracious!!! Hey, has that thing got a Hemi? :)
Of course you did, you legend
This is cool af. Don't see much on cheetahs.
The car that was supposed to have it all. It was supposed to put The Cobra and Carrol Shelby out of business. The numbers were supposed to be impressive, but they were never verified. And how many major races did it win, zero. Great expectations were never realized. Personally, I thought it just looked way out of proportion, and unfinished.
We tend to agree with you. It's also very tight on the inside.
i want to drive that slot car 😊
We remember the Cheetah Tyco and A/FX sot cars actually. Super cool!
@@classicperformance MY FIRST TOYS 🤠
Hot wheels , Sizlers, Slot Cars, The little Cheetah was my favorite. 😁
@@DANTHETUBEMAN same here. I still have my suitcase carrier full of A/FX cars and a couple Tycos. I did not like the Tyco slot cars as well as the Auroras/A/FX. I would say the one I was most fond of was a Can Am McLaren with the high wing and big fat rear tires.
Too short man!
I know, should have done a full upload on the car. We'll find it again and give it a proper once over for you!
Thanks.@@classicperformance
Looks like RX7 American stepdad
Ha, never thought of that, but you are correct, does resemble the first-gen SA FB RX-7, but with much better sound :)
They look like they wouldn't handle very well at all.
That short wheelbase would indeed be tricky. Agreed
It's a shame, whatever held Thomas' Cheetah back from continuing, I know Chevy had a part in the car, but it was Bill's car.
I'm a Shelby Cobra guy, through and through, but I'd have loved to see the Cheetah fully competitive with the Cobra, it was a car in the same vein as the Cobra - brutal, hard to drive, and fast as fu** if you knew how to drive them. Same type of car, one each from from bare knuckled players.
Would have been Bad Ass!
Full agree with you, Mike. and another crazy thing is it had to have a full-size spare and as I recall no driveshaft for the Cheetah!
@classicperformance
Strange requirements. Maybe it was a homologation issue - no production versions.
But like I said, I'm a Cobra guy through and through, the Cheetah was the only car I considered close, both cars were beasts, but a real driver in one couldn't be caught.
I'm almost positive you're right about the driveshaft, look at the car in side view, the engine is about dead center between the back and front wheels - doesn't leave much room for a driveshaft!
Looking back at Lemans cars and particularly the Porsche 917, a spare tire and wheel were a requirement by the FIA regulating body. See our 917 video here and the spare. ruclips.net/video/DLUOLtawV5U/видео.htmlsi=-_glhwoaMMQgMDAh
They should have called it a Mongoose....
That car already exists.
Almost backs into golf cart AND another car. Jesus h
I held my breath. Ha!
The pits are a busy place and sight lines are limited. Probably a significant number of crashes there.
美しい車体ですね。
ありがとう、見てくれてありがとう
👍
Salut my friend super car super video subscribe subscribe .
Thanks, Ungur!! Appreciate the support.
Fuh cantik... nexttttttttttttttttttttt
Ohh my its ugly 😳 but it looks super fast just standing still 👍
she's a rare one. Not for everyone like a GT-40
AKA cobra killer ,thank you bill thomos
Bull fucking shit never came close!!!!!
Clocked at 185 at road America and 215 at Daytona no AC cobra came close to that
Had bill thomas been able to build the required number as he planned to be able to run a production with the cobras they were competitive to say the least.
Production nnever reached that point so they were forced to run A sports racing against vehiches that they didnt really have a chance against(mcclarens,lolas,mckees and chaparells)
This bucket of bolts couldn't run with the Cobra. They ran ok at Monza and Lemans but they were basically junk everywhere else.
The Daytona coupe showed up in 1965 and the Cheetah disappeared.
185 at road America no AC cobra came close to that the shop burned down and Chevy stoped there support the Daytona was built because the AC wasn't areo enough to go 185
It's kind of ugly, but so bad ass
and super small!!!
Total irre!!!!!!!!
Yes!
Sounds like shit if you ask me.
Thank you for your comment. I might have to agree if you compare it to a modern V8 and modern exhaust. These cars were designed inexpensively, use off shelf parts from production cars and long before X pipes, computer tuned long tube exhaust systems, cylinder scavenging and pipe diameter tuning. Heck, it might still have 1960's cast iron ram horns! Take a look at the car at speed on the track and see how it sounds. ruclips.net/video/2BJzvnL5YFs/видео.html