Bill Thomas Cheetah

Bill Thomas Cheetah, by Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki?curid=1... / CC BY SA 3.0
#1960s_cars
#Sports_cars
Bill Thomas Cheetah replica An original 1964 Cheetah on track at the 2016 Goodwood Festival of Speed The Bill Thomas Cheetah was an American sports car designed and engineered entirely with American components,
and built from 1963 to 1966 by Chevrolet performance tuner Bill Thomas.
It was developed as a competitor to Carroll Shelby's Cobra.
William P. "Bill" Thomas was born on May 28, 1921 and lived in Anaheim, California.
In 1956 Thomas commenced work tuning and modifying Chevrolet Corvettes for racing for C S Mead Motors Co.
By 1960, Thomas had started his own company, Bill Thomas Race Cars.
At that time General Motors approached him to undertake performance work on the new Chevrolet Corvair.
He also prepared the 1962 409 Bel-Airs and Biscaynes for drag racing and another Chevrolet stock car for Louis Unser who won its division of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
He was also contracted by GM to develop the Chevy II. Bill Thomas died October 10, 2009.
In 1963 Thomas gained covert support from General Motors Performance Product Group head Vince Piggins to develop the Cheetah as a concept vehicle.
It was designed by Thomas and Don Edmunds, his lead fabricator.
Edmunds is credited with the bulk of the construction of the car.
Financing for the project came from private investors, Thomas, and John Grow, a Rialto California Chevrolet dealer.
Grow owned the prototype car.
Using his racing connections, Thomas arranged for material assistance from Chevrolet for the major components - the Corvette 327 engine, Muncie transmission, and independent rear-end assemblies.
Other components were stocked from the larger GM parts bin, such as Chevrolet passenger car spindles, and NASCAR spec Chevrolet drum brakes.
Following delivery of the drivetrain components, Edmunds laid them out on the shop floor and began taking measurements.
Using chalk, Edmunds sketc...

[@mgbchuck6527]

good stuff (I was one of those kids with a slot car Cheetah)

[@bradsanders6954]

Thanks! Cheetah Slot cars are still available and are very slick looking cars as always. Might take some hunting but they're out there.

[@jrpellerin]

In short cheetah project is a failure. Very sad.