A 1964 Cheetah prototype as soon as owned by a Normal Motors president is listed on the market on Hemmings.

The Cheetah was created by Invoice Thomas, who, after success tuning and racing Corvettes, sought to construct a Chevrolet-powered rival to the Shelby Cobra. However as an alternative of utilizing an present chassis, as Shelby did with the AC Ace, Thomas designed the Cheetah from scratch with clandestine assist from Chevy, which was not formally collaborating in racing on the time.

The engine and transmission are mounted thus far again within the tube-frame chassis (for higher weight distribution) that the Cheetah would not have a traditional driveshaft. The driving force virtually sits over the rear wheels in a cramped enclosed cockpit. The automotive additionally sports activities a really quick 90.0-inch wheelbase, and a low curb weight of simply 1,750 kilos.

1964 Cheetah prototype (picture through Hemmings.com)

Thomas hoped to construct 100 Cheetahs to satisfy racing homologation necessities, however the bar for homologation was later raised to 1,000 manufacturing vehicles—far out of attain for Thomas’ small operation. Simply 16 Cheetahs have been finally constructed, and 11 are mentioned to outlive in the present day, based on Hemmings.

Amongst them is the automotive at present up on the market. Carrying serial quantity 126364002, it is the second prototype Cheetah, and was ordered by GM for growth work, based on Hemmings. It was examined by Chevy between December 1963 and April 1964, with John F. Gordon, president of GM on the time, listed because the proprietor at one level.

1964 Cheetah prototype (picture through Hemmings.com)

This prototype differs from manufacturing Cheetahs in having aluminum bodywork as an alternative of fiberglass. It is powered by a 327-cubic-inch V-8 sourced from a 1963 Corvette with uncommon Rochester mechanical gasoline injection. It is good for 360 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, which is shipped to the rear wheels through a 4-speed handbook transmission.

The Cheetah and its creator aren’t as well-known in the present day because the Cobra and its creator Carroll Shelby, however a $2 million asking value places this Cheetah prototype in the identical territory as present Cobra transaction costs.