Thread: Been reading about the 1960's Cheetah/cobra competitor

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A friend posted an old photo of Bill Thomas Race Car Cheetah. I had forgot all about them. The more I've read the more intrigued I've gotten to do a kit car like a cobra or cheetah when I retire(if I can afford it!) I came across this web site that sells some pretty slick chassis and engine setups. Home | Cheetah Evolution
and on that link stumbled across the Gearz Cheetah Project videos. Worth a looksy if you like bow ties!

You gotta love the curves on thes 60's cars!

Hear is Stacey Davids program on history and kit build
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkG8oG4Rfcc

Another one was the Scarab.

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scarab1.jpg

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A guy here in the area (Lenexa) found the shop in the Eastern Block (Poland, I believe) where they formed the aluminum bodies back in the '60's, and is now importing the body panels to make exact replica's of the Scarab. The third shot above is in a little hole in the wall shop here in Gardner, where they bend & weld the chassis according to the original prints, then install a SBC crate engine before sending them to be finished out. The guy was on Jay Leno's show a while back, and that clip is on his web site, link here:

Scarab-Motorsports.com - The Legend Returns

the cheetah was an interesting car, but i prefer the scarab as it looks cleaner

Both cars have that same Jag XKE look about them. Both very cool. Neat to learn about the Scarab too, Thanks.

Interesting that the builder added elements of all his favorite cars bodies into the scarab. Also cool that it was designed in So. Cal, raced and won frequently!

When I was collecting parts to build my vette, the man I was getting the parts from was fixing a body of an original Cheetah racecar. Dick used to race SCCA and this car was one of his friends that was in the SCCA as well. I remember thinking how in the heck would you get in and out of that thing. Haha It was very cool to actually see one. I didn't realize then how scarce original ones were. Dick was also tasked to put a corvette fuelie engine back in it. He had many of those setting on his row of shelves in his basement. Sadly, it is all gone now.