Bill Thomas’s Cheetah: Chevy's Attempt at a Cobra
The Ultimate American Underdog
When we talk about iconic American sports cars of the 1960s, the Shelby Cobra usually steals the spotlight. But there’s another contender that deserves attention—the Cheetah, a car that might just be the most mysterious of them all.
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Designed by Bill Thomas, a self-taught engineer known as "Mr. Corvette," the Cheetah was born out of a desire to take on Carroll Shelby’s Cobra.
With only 11 first-generation Cheetahs ever built, finding one is a true rarity.
The Cheetah was powered by a 327-cubic-inch Chevrolet V8, with a unique design that allowed it to skip the need for a driveshaft.
This car was all about speed, hitting a staggering 215 mph at Daytona, although officially clocked at 185 mph at Elkhart Lake in 1964.
The Cheetah is regarded as one of the most original and complete examples of its kind. With a period-correct 327 V8 and original racing components, it’s a rolling time capsule from the golden age of racing.
While it never got the chance to go head-to-head with the Cobra in official competitions, the Cheetah still managed to win 11 major races in 1964 alone.
Though low production numbers kept it from broader recognition, the Cheetah remains a true piece of racing history.