Mick Walsh braves Goodwood in a Cheetah: the fearsome Chevrolet-powered GT that was quicker than a Cobra but cooked its drivers.
"I could have been a contender,” was Marlon Brando’s famous line as Terry Malloy in On The Waterfront, but it would be just as apt for Bill Thomas, the Californian creator of the Cheetah. ‘Mister Corvette’ was Blue Riband through and through, and it must have really pained him when he saw the new Cobra whip the Sting Rays at Riverside in February ’63.
A plan was hatched, with covert help from Chevrolet, to build a Cobra rival with a target 100 production for homologation. With new premises in Anaheim and teamed with race-car chassis expert Don Edmunds, they constructed the prototype from a basic set of drawings based around the key dimensions of engine, rear end and wheels – all chalked out on the workshop floor. The result was a chrome-moly tubular space frame with fully independent suspension, including a modified ’63 Corvette assembly located by trailing torque arms. NASCAR-spec drum brakes and meaty American Racing five spoke mag wheels gave it hot-rod attitude, while in the middle was a 327cu in Chevy small-block fed by an in-house tweaked fuel injection set-up.
Thomas went for a coupe rather than a roadster because he reasoned that it would be more aerodynamic, so Edmunds knocked up a wooden buck around the first chassis and sent it to Don Borth at California Metal Stamping. The result – hammered out and welded into five sections – was one of the meanest-looking GTs of all time. It was held together by six bolts and Dzus fasteners, which provided quick removal for chassis repair.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
RAY HILLIER
Double-chevron oddity proves a break from the norm for this Crewe specialist
SHORT BACK & GLIDES
Eccentric enthusiast Captain RG McLeod's series of Manx-tailed Bentley Specials reached its zenith with this unique S2 Continental.
People's choice
The diminutive but multi-million-selling Fiat 850 packed a remarkable diversity of form and function into its compact footprint
PLASTIC BREAKS FROM THE NORM
Glassfibre revolutionised niche car-body production, but just occasionally strayed into the mainstream.
A SENSIBLE SUPERCAR
The cleverly conceived four-seater Elite secured Lotus a place at the big players' table, but has it been unfairly maligned since then?
"I had a habit of grabbing second place from the jaws of victory"
From dreams of yachting glory to the Le Mans podium, via a stint at the top of the motorsport tree, Howden Ganley had quite the career
Still going strong
Herbert Engineering staked its reputation on the five-year warranty that came with its cars. A century on, this Two Litre hasn't made a claim
One for the kids
General Motors was aiming squarely at the youth market with the launch of the Pontiac GTO 60 years ago, and its runaway success popularised the muscle-car movement
A NEW BREED OF HERO
Launched at the turn of the millennium, the GT3 badge has already earned a place alongside RS, CS and turbo in Porsche lore.
Brits with SIX appeal
The straight-six engine is synonymous with a decades-long legacy of great British sports cars. Six variations on the sextet theme convene for comparison
