UK Cheetah Kit ?

[ugg10]

In this weeks totalkitcar.com -

http://www.totalkitcar.com/2014/12/19/big-kitkat/

UK based Cheetah kit with the option to sit on top of a Chimaera Chassis - sound like a great kit and will possibly tempt an number of prospective Cobra builders.

I am guessing a Chimaera chassis with v8 engine could be picked up for around the £3k mark plus similar for the body kit - £10-12k on the road would be a bargain. Going up market - add a LS3 lump, uprated brakes and nitrons and you have a cobra chaser with full weather gear - nice.

If it were on an un-modified Chimaera chassis (free v8 as well ?) would this need an IVA ? - similar to the Sammio type Herald and Mx5 body panel swap kits.

Info on the original here - http://www.cheetahcars.com/index.htm

Edited by ugg10 on Friday 19th December 15:38

[FlossyThePig]

The name "Cheetah" rang a warning bell for me as it was associated with dubious quality in the '80s.

Chris Rees - British Specialist Cars said:

Cheetah 1983-86
Quite possibly the worst quality kits ever made. From the Mirach of 1983 through the Shamal, SV1, 427 Cobra, GT4 and Muira, there was hardly a glimmer of integrity. Few sales.

[ugg10]

Is that the same mirach that is currently available, oversized boxy sevenalike?

[Gareth9702]

The Cheetah Cobra appeared in the Kit Cars and Specials Cobra issue in 1984. They found it perfectly acceptable alongside Dax, BRA, and Ram. You quite often see them for sale so they must have sold a few. Lamboreplica.com has pictures of most, if not all, of the Miuras. Fundamentally, the Miuras does not look bad but the execution was very poor.

[Caterhamfan]

Two completely different things, I think. The OP has linked to details of a replica of the American Cheetah car, a low-production rival to the Cobra (and a gloriously brutal looking piece of kit) whereas the responses (so far) have been about a UK kit manufacturer.

[Gareth9702]

We know that! The Cheetah kit described has been on eBay several times in the past few weeks. Those adverts made no mention of any chassis. We also know that the Cheetah was the "race car that beat the Cobra". 😃

[Fastpedeller]

looks like the wheel arches will need some mods to get through IVA (or very narrow tyres)

[smash]

If the Chim chassis is unmodified then no IVA but it's a helluva premium to pay for a base vehicle - Chim prices are £7k up...

Cheetah (the manufacturer) Cobra's and Miuras were diabolical!

[MintSprint]

smash said:

If the Chim chassis is unmodified then no IVA but it's a helluva premium to pay for a base vehicle - Chim prices are £7k up...

Also, it's probably the least worthwhile donor component from the car - it's the first thing to need replacement on old Grimaeras (rust) and the least competent part of the car in design terms (handling is not a strong point on that generation of TVR's; the suspension geometry is woeful).

I suppose it might make sense if you can find a cheap Cat D with a good chassis and fibreglass damage only.

[Fastpedeller]

Fastpedeller said:

looks like the wheel arches will need some mods to get through IVA (or very narrow tyres)

Ah yes of course, it won't need IVA..... but it could still be picked up at MOT under C&U if the tyres were dangerously uncovered.

[Gareth9702]

Where are all the Cheetah Cobra and Miuras owners? You should be on here defending your cars. There were at least 6 Miuras. Have they been scrapped as unusable or just buried in barns and gardens?

[geeeman]

this looks interesting, especially the chimaera option
would basically just be classed as a rebody

always liked the cheetah

[geeeman]

purposeful