September 1963
Bill Thomas' Cheetah GT car competed in the same class as the Shelby Cobra, but that wasn't the original plan. The initial intent in creating it was as a door opener for possible future GM concept work, then Thomas decided to make it a true race car midstream. Two aluminum cars were finished, then the remaining 28 or so were cars built from fiberglass panels splashed from the aluminum cars.
Though quick, the cars were structurally question-able, would move around on the track, tended to overheat, and felt like a blast furnace inside. Even with experienced drivers, the cars were known to be a handful. In time-and with mods such as added gussets and triangulation in the chassis and modified or completely re-engineered trailing arms and disc brakes-the Cheetah took a few wins during the 1964-1965 racing season, with drivers like Jerry Titus and Ralph Salyer.
A fire at the factory, the mid-engine revolution, and GM's racing ban pretty much killed off any plans Thomas had for homologation. Reproductions of the Cheetah are available today. Bill Thomas died in 2009.
Bill Thomas' Cheetah GT car competed in the same class as the Shelby Cobra, but that wasn't the original plan. The initial intent in creating it was as a door opener for possible future GM concept work, then Thomas decided to make it a true race car midstream. Two aluminum cars were finished, then the remaining 28 or so were cars built from fiberglass panels splashed from the aluminum cars.
Though quick, the cars were structurally question-able, would move around on the track, tended to overheat, and felt like a blast furnace inside. Even with experienced drivers, the cars were known to be a handful. In time-and with mods such as added gussets and triangulation in the chassis and modified or completely re-engineered trailing arms and disc brakes-the Cheetah took a few wins during the 1964-1965 racing season, with drivers like Jerry Titus and Ralph Salyer.
A fire at the factory, the mid-engine revolution, and GM's racing ban pretty much killed off any plans Thomas had for homologation. Reproductions of the Cheetah are available today. Bill Thomas died in 2009.
Engine options were the standard 327ci or stroked 377c Chevy. Either the new fuel injection or dual carbs would be available. Having headers draped over the foot boxes resulted in extreme cockpit temperatures. Larger radiators than shown were found to eliminate early engine-overheating problems, but excessive interior temps were always a complaint.
Gullwing doors offered easy entry and exit while providing an extra bit of wow to the already outstanding styling, which was conceived by Don Edmunds and executed by him, Warren Williams, and Don Borth.
Bill Thomas instructs a Sports Car Graphic writer who is about to take the Cheetah for a test drive. All panels were Dzus-fastened to the structure, including the hand formed aluminum dash; you can see the Dzus buttons just below the windshield.
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