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Back in the saddle again
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Central TX west of Houston
Posts: 56,144
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Chevrolet Cheetah, very cool
You know, I've heard of these and even seen pics before, but other than being obscure, never really known anything about them.
According to the article in the July Octane, the chassis weighed 32kg. The "standard" engine that was in them was a 500hp 377 cid SBC (bored and stroked 327). They ran NASCAR drum brakes. The wheelbase was 90", shorter than a Lotus 23, and the whole thing weighed "just under 700kg" They'd top 200mph, and run the quarter mile in 10.2 at 139mph. The one in the article was ordered sans engine so the original owner could supply his own. The engine for this one was built to run 9000rpm (right, in a stroked SBC). The car was road-raced, and also spent some time at the strip, eventually getting into the 9s. Wow, holy crap, 500+hp in a car that weighs 1500 pounds. I can't even imagine.
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Steve '08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960 - never named a car before, but this is Charlotte. '88 targa  SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten
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08-10-2010, 03:48 PM
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All that hp, noise and fancy downshifting and he still can't catch the pickup truck.
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08-10-2010, 04:24 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 352
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The wheelbase was so short there was no driveshaft. The differential bolted directly to the transmission.
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08-10-2010, 04:41 PM
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yep. when i was little, i had a sweet model kit of the Cheetah and another model kit of the Chaparral 2D. two of the cars that made me a "car guy"
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-mike |
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08-10-2010, 04:59 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Ft. Collins, CO USA
Posts: 383
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Embraer,
I had those same cars in my younger days also, only I had them as slot cars! The cheetah had a clear body that I painted red (on the inside of the body, looked real glossy that way). I think the Chaparral 2D was a Revell, and the Cheetah was Russkit (I think). The cheetah was the fastest of my slots at the time. This was in the early to mid 60's... Thanks for the memories!  Craig
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77 Ice Green 911s w/3.0 |
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08-11-2010, 11:57 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 670
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There's one that runs at Road America once or twice a year in the SVRA vintage races. Quick car and pretty unique.
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08-11-2010, 11:58 AM
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Run smooth, run fast
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 13,447
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I've always liked the Cheetah... a no compromises car for sure... hot and beastly on the order of the Cobra.
Here's a pic of a Cheetah at Road America that I found somewhere on the net about a year ago.  Lots of slot car companies made a version... the most well-known was Cox... most were kits, but they made it as a ready-to-run, too:  There is at least one company making Cheetahs today... so, if you really like 'em, you can have one in your garage...  Cox also made a 2D... 
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- John "We had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline." |
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08-11-2010, 02:59 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Ft. Collins, CO USA
Posts: 383
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Damn, that blue Cheetah is one sharp looking vehicle!
Do these later ones at least have a driveshaft?  Craig
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77 Ice Green 911s w/3.0 |
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08-12-2010, 08:25 AM
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1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2
