It did not go hunting because it couldSort of. They had alot of Corvette parts but it's a full tube frame. The transmission is bolted directly to the aluminum Grandsport rearend, There is no driveline. It had a 327 stoked to 377 with a Studebaker crank. A Bill Thomas dual entry Rochester fuel injection (not the one in the pic) and a Muncie M21.The first two were aluminum bodies and the remaining 12 or so were fiberglass. It differs from the Corvette in size, power, weight and purpose. It's about the size of a 1st gen RX7. 520 hp, 1500-1700 lbs in race trim and it's all go. (That's like me riding an 80 hp skateboard!) 220 mph uphill at Road America. Mid 10's at 130+ mph at the dragstrip with roadrace gears. In it's day, there was nothing on a road course that could out accelerate it. It never came to be for three reasons. Suspicious fire burned the production shop to the ground before 100 were built. Chevrolet pulled out of racing in 1963 or so. The McLarens came out. It was purpose built to go Cobra hunting, but never did due to several of the reasons above. It is believed 8 originals still exist.
Someday I may build one. There was a kit body on ebay last year for $2K. I had to bite my lip.
It did not go hunting because it could
never touch the shelby.
Ok so you have some specs what gears were those specs
made with and was it the beefed 427 race ready?
I have never heard or the cheater but do know
the shelby's dominated for seven years and they
were street legal and with the go baby if needed
nos were them specs with the go baby installed?
I would still rather have the shelby and specs mean
a bit but depends on the driver I would put you in the
wall
In 1967 Shelby had finished 31 427 competition cars. These were strictly race spec cars that were tuned to have somewhere between 400 and 500 horsepower.
I would want the cobra to make it to the line asThe specs are for a competition ready 1966 427 s/c Cobra.
You can read about them again here. Keep in mind this is a 1967 too. 4 years after the Cheetah.
http://www.supercars.net/cars/1741.html
A 1967-69 TA Chevy smallblock 302 does better than that! LOL
The original Cheetah was street legal also. Alan Green Chevrolet right here in ol' Seattle bought one for his wife to drive on the street. There are several kits available now that are streetable. Unfortunately, one of them uses a Ford 9 inch. Not a good axle for making power. The Cheetahs had axle ratios of 3.08 to 4.56.
The only reason the Cobra won any races for 7 years is the Cheetah competed in a different class not having met the 100 unit minimum in a year for production class. Now in vintage racing I believe they race in the same class but vintage racing isn't really racing.
You've never heard of a Cheetah and you could put me in the wall? I can't help but laugh.
NOS isn't allowed in SCCA.
http://www.kitcarmag.com/featuredvehicles/0707kc_cheetah_sports_car/index.html
I fully understand why you would want a Cobra instead of a Cheetah. The power might be too much!
And if you were looking for more power, a box stock 1967 Corvette L-88 makes 550 horsepower with open headers. More than the competition 427 s/c, LOLOL. Now modify that L-88 to competition specs!
http://www.autoblog.com/tag/Shelby/
If Cobras don't do it for you on track days, you can now make the same choice that was available in the '60s. While Caroll Shelby was stuffing FE Fords into mild-mannered AC Aces, Bill Thomas Race Cars was developing a competitor called the Cheetah that could run with the fire breathing Cobras, as well as keep pace with Ferrari's 250. The original cars used a 377 cubic inch V8 to speed their way to 11 SCCA victories in 1964. While Bill Thomas had friends at the General, Chevrolet backed out well before the 100 necessary for homologation were built, putting the first nail in the car's coffin. A shop fire finally killed the Cheetah effort. Before disaster struck, Thomas was able to produce only about 16-23 Cheetahs.
One of those original cars was used to help Arizona's BTM whip up a continuation series, along with the original drawings. Thomas has granted BTM the rights to build a new Cheetah, which differs from the original in details, but retains the spirit. There are some vintage Chevy pieces in the new Cheetahs, but the engine is now a ZZ4 350 with aluminum heads. Not underwhelming by any stretch, and it's only got 1,780 pounds to yank around anyway, so acceleration will be brisk. Before you dream of untwisting your favorite road with this thing, take note that it's not street legal. No matter, it's still cool to see something other than a Cobra. While the Cobra is capable, we've seen so much of them in pictures and replicas that we're desensitized. The Cheetah, on the other hand, would stick out more than a Cobra Daytona, and could offer your trackmates serious hell at a vintage racing event.
How much do the Cheetahs go for? They are not street legal, so that's a no go for me. I wouldn't mind taking a car to the track, but it would be primarily for driving on city streets, twisty country roads, etc.
Cant offer any help on where to buy them as I am in Australia.
Anyway, here is my ride....I love em!
1964 SS Impala Coupe
A typical car I would be most interested is a Chevy Bel air or Impala sedan.
if anyone knows some good dealers, Please fire away.
My grampa drove a BelAir, and the Impala was a family car. Neither was considered a 'cool' car at the time. They were both considered 'old folks' cars at the time.
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In the 1970s perhaps yes, but the 1960s Impalas were quite a hot set of wheels especially if equiped with the 409 or 427 motor in SS guise. And the Belair two doors being a lot lighter than a similar Impala were even more so, sort of a budget set of wheels. Both are worth mondo coin today.
There was a 1965 Impala sedan for sale on eBay this past weekend, that was going for about $10K. Hardtops and convertibles are worth a lot more. We almost got a 1965 Belair but when my Dad took Mum to look at it on the showroom floor she decided right then and there she wanted a Chevelle Malibu instead; the dealer Don Wheaton Chev Olds is still on 82nd Ave in Edmonton 42 years later.
There's alot of money in it if you pick the right car.
Now, if you're looking for a real 'classic' vehicle as I remember them on the road at the time, think 'muscle cars', like a Barracuda, Charger, Camaro, Nova, Duster (yeah, there were some factory stock souped up Dusters) etc., or even a TransAm. Now you're talking classic Detroit Americana with those cars.
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