Continuation Bill Thomas Cheetah

[jellison]

Not sure this continuation is 100% as per the racer.

That had no propshaft! i.e. gearbox output connnected to the diff via a UJ.

The Engine is so far back it is NUTs (alot further than a TVR (it is IN THE CAB!).

Think the Bill Thomas one might have a very sort prop which make sense if going anywhere near the road.

I have a load of pic's of these things.

Will upload later.

J

[Yeakel1]

I just found your site and was I suprised to find six pictures of me and my car. Here is my web site if you would like to find out about the original cars. www.cheetahcars.com

We race a real original Cheetah here on the west coast of the USA. Drum brakes and no drive shaft.
Fred Yeakel

Edited by Yeakel1 on Friday 28th August 14:27

[planetdave]

That's a glorious beast you have there Fred.

It's good to have people like you around to let us know more about such wonders

[Bonefish Blues]

Some cars just look fast - that's one.

[dinkel]

Cheers for that Fred.

Your snap is a bit big and maybe difficult to see for those without a broadband connection, so hope you don't mind posting.

[jellison]

He is in for a wild ride - arse on the back axle. AWESOME.

[dinkel]

[jellison]

Whoa - that really shows how extreme the car is and how far back the engine was (no propshaft)!

Be great to run one of these in the 6 hours (if you could find one)!

[dinkel]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY_Tea4OAJM&fea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBG9MPnpXF4&fea...
220 mph at Daytona . . . Whoah! From a 327 block. Proper sounds!

[jellison]

dinkel said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY_Tea4OAJM&fea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBG9MPnpXF4&fea...
220 mph at Daytona . . . Whoah! From a 327 block. Proper sounds!

Will check tonite.

Mind you there was that Griff (Farrell Jackson one with a cooking 350 in it that was supposed to do 200 there too). It was up for sale a bit later (think might be again now - and it only had 400bhp so, could not have been as fast as an fia on. Maybe 170 if gear right. They do love to exaggerate the Yanks!

Wonder if you could build a HTP Cheetah for the 6 hours!? AWESOME.

[dinkel]

It does not look like an Endurance machine to me.

One hour in such a beast and you had a damn good work out!

Might be the reason it never competed sucessfully against the Cobs.

[jellison]

I have a few pic's of them racing in about 61 - 63 at places like Sebring with Cobra and early Chapparals.

Would be a workout yes - sitting on the axle and minimal body - no windows.

[jellison]

I do love that thing.

Second vid is great. But that (90") is not a shortwheel base - you wanna drive a Griff200 85.5"

They are mental as it is the lack of weight, just a skin of alloy over a tiny frame and driveline - never road cars, obviously.

God it would be Awesome to go spank some Cobra's with that. Better engine / power for the date they ran at. 5.4 chevy vs a 4.7/8 2bolt 289 ford.

52% on the back wheels - and with those tyres - yep that would murder a Cobra /Griff with a period engine(being 500lbs lighter too!).

220mph - Those yanks! Ya right. A 917 could only just get over 200 till it had serious aero mods to get north of 230.

420bhp would never get you over 200mph - yep it is very light, but no way. The 377 520bhp might get close to 200 but st you woul NOT want to be in it at those speeds.

For me though it will alway be one of the best / crazyiest looking cars EVER Created.

[dinkel]

I had the Matchbox as a boy . . . never thought it was based on a real car.

200 in the Cheetah would make most grown up men scream and brown their pants.

[jellison]

dinkel said:

I had the Matchbox as a boy . . . never thought it was based on a real car.

200 in the Cheetah would make most grown up men scream and brown their pants.

Now you come to mention it I do remember them as Matchbox or Hotwheels cars. Strange no one runs one at SPA. You must be able to get papers, that made a few dozen. If that Grandsport Vette can get in. Imagine it with the 377in in it. It could run with the GT40.

[dinkel]

It'd take a brave pilot!

The GS would be a safer choice of weapon. Michiel is in the proces of building an even quicker car. I'll drop him a line and ask when I can see it. He's practically my neighbour.

[jellison]

dinkel said:

It'd take a brave pilot!

The GS would be a safer choice of weapon. Michiel is in the proces of building an even quicker car. I'll drop him a line and ask when I can see it. He's practically my neighbour.

The Cheetah must be 2/3's te weight of the GS, and in 377in spec not far off the Mojo - yep very brave.

Like strapping yourself to a Fireblade/Gixer power Go-Kart! They do exist!

[dinkel]

700 kgs, here with 400 brake 350:

http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/find/4100_results....