Feast your eyes on the 1964 Cheetah. This silver beauty is one of only 15 surviving cars of its kind. It’s also the only one to race with the famous Corvette 427ci L88 racing engine. Built in the early ‘60s by Bill Thomas and developed in collaboration with Don Edmunds, Cheetah was originally a concept car. It featured 100% American components and engineering. Focusing at first on the design, Thomas created a dynamic and stylish car that certainly captured one’s attention instantly. But after deciding that the Cheetah should live up to its name, the team transformed it into a racing vehicle. This particular model competed for five years and was even a Southern Pacific region SCCA A/SR Champion in 1968.

Built with a fiberglass body and interior as well as a 4130 chromoly chassis and suspension, the car is almost like a feather compared to other cars from the ‘60s. It has the 427 cubic inch L88 aluminum-head racing engine from 1967, a rebuilt M22 Muncie 4-speed manual transmission, a heavy-duty 4.11 rear axle as well as a gorgeous Corvette Sebring Silver color. Restored to museum quality by BTM LLC of Arizona, this Cheetah was auctioned through Barrett-Jackson. It went to its new owner for $850,000. Photo credits: Barrett-Jackson.

 

 

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