Unearthing a Legend: The $2 Million Cheetah That Challenged the Cobra
In the annals of automotive history, the Shelby Cobra shines as a beacon of American ingenuity and performance, establishing U.S. automakers as formidable players on the global racing scene. Yet, there exists a lesser-known but equally intriguing chapter featuring a fierce competitor developed by Chevrolet — the Bill Thomas Cheetah. This enigmatic beast, despite its rare sightings in the wild of motorsports, has resurfaced, presenting a unique opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Bill Thomas, a name synonymous with Chevrolet's racing exploits, undertook a daring venture to dethrone the Cobra. By harnessing his profound knowledge and skills honed on the tracks, Thomas embarked on creating a vehicle that not only would rival Carroll Shelby’s creation but also carve its niche in racing folklore. The inception of the Cheetah brought together an ambitious team, led by Thomas and his compatriot Don Edmunds, to usher in a new era for Chevrolet’s performance lineage.
The Cheetah’s architectural marvel lies in its chrome-moly tube-frame chassis, a testament to engineering precision, offering a compact 90-inch wheelbase. This foundation supports an ingenious independent suspension and robust drum brakes, sourced from Chevy’s NASCAR inventory. Nestled within this framework is the heart of the Cheetah - a potent 327-cubic-inch V-8 engine straight out of a 1963 Corvette, amplified with Rochester mechanical fuel injection, delivering an explosive 360 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. This raw power propelled the mere 1750-pound Cheetah with astonishing ferocity.
Beneath the Cheetah's aluminum skin — a unique feature of the prototype up for grabs — lies a tale of ambition, innovation, and the unrelenting pursuit of speed. Serial number 126364002, marks the second prototype birthed by Thomas’ team. Originally commissioned by General Motors for Chevrolet Engineering, its significance is heightened by its association with GM president John F. Gordon. Post its tenure as a test mule, this Cheetah ventured onto the tracks, briefly tasting the racing circuit’s adrenaline before receding into the shadows.
Today, after decades of obscurity, the Cheetah reemerges, finding sanctuary in a Hemmings listing, marking its first public offering since 1969. With only 16 of its kind ever constructed, the Cheetah’s aura is magnified by its rarity and the mysteries enveloping its legacy. This particular specimen, bedecked in its aluminum glory, stands as a testament to what might have been, had fate’s winds blown in a different direction for Chevrolet’s ambitious project.
Valued at a staggering $2 million, the price tag echoes not just the monetary value but the historical and cultural significance embedded within this metallic canvas. While it may parallel the Cobra in financial terms, the Cheetah’s journey—the untold stories, the dashed hopes of homologation, and its eventual emergence as a collectors’ gem—imbues it with an allure that transcends mere monetary worth. This is an invitation to possess not just a rare piece of automotive history, but a symbol of audacious dreamers and the relentless pursuit of speed.
For those enchanted by tales of automotive folklore, the Cheetah stands as a beacon of what could have been, echoing the ambitions of its creators and the era it sought to conquer. As this majestic beast once again steps into the limelight, it beckons to those who dare to dream, to those driven by the thrill of the chase and the essence of pure, unadulterated speed.