Hot Rods What the heck is this drag car!

built this one about 20 years ago, still have the molds for the 'glass body, tons of time and work involved

 

Far easier is to find an early TVR Grantura and build from there. The Grantura is what
Jack Griffith used as the foundation for "his" car......

 

Found a video yesterday where a bloke had grabbed a Grantura project. He mentioned first gen and less than 100. Also, it was 3 years ago and he's put up a lot more videos, but none on the resto or car...
I doubt one could find a suitable body for a custom chassis/drivetrain project at a reasonable price.
Better to grab @Cheetahman 's molds!

 

I have a thing for Cheetahs also.....

 

The OP's picture isn't a real Cheetah, it's likely some ripoff fiberglass replica that really doesn't look quite like what Bill Thomas made or designed.

Real Cheetah:

 

We saw them wreck one of the original ally ones on practice day at the Goodwood Revival last year…

 

I most remember the Super Cheetah. Its has been restored, Gets my attention.

 

An interesting read

Here:
https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/driving-a-bill-thomas-cheetah-will-make-your-palms-sweat/

 

About 15yr ago at Good Guys Show @ Indianapolis, a guy was selling a fiberglass Cheetah, for $1000? He didn't know if it was original, he noted it had a Green Gelcoat, that he thought was vintage GM. It did have the painfully small doors...

 

I knew a guy who was working on one of these for a customer. It had a 468" big block in it. He said was tricky on 13" wheels. He went to pull out of a junction and it spun right round in the (dry) street. And he built and drove circuit race cars professionally. I remember it had a tiny aluminium scoop over the carb, minimal or zero air filter and blew some big old flames. Just what you need in a plastic car!

 

They have started to produce the Devin 295 body again. I want one bad.

 

I knew I had this 1967 issue of Car Craft somewhere.......turned up today in a box of stuff . Is the car still around or long ago scrapped?

 

If I were to do a non-traditional sportscar, I'd butcher a Sunbeam Alpine/Tiger...and probably in a road-race version like the orange Cheeta above.

 

You've never worked on one!
The reason for the front end just getting up out of the way is for engine access.
A Tiger has a plug in the firewall to access the left rear plug! The rest of the engine isn't much better.
https://www.onallcylinders.com/2023...-meet-this-land-speed-record-holding-sunbeam/
Notice engine in relation to front axle line, too. They can be made to work, but are front heavy.

 

Brett
You might get away with butchering an Alpine, a Tiger on the other hand.............people will be hunting you down!

 

Right there with you in the love for the Devin SS. Even named my daughter that (and the wife was all for it). Someday I'll scrounge enough coin to have one.

 

This one was for sale here on Facebook.

 

I kept mine

 

Real Cheetah:

 

Freaky Weird..... BUT OHHH HOW SPECIAL!

 

@brett4christ here's that Alpine to work on. My understanding is the early long fin like this will require a bunch more work to jam a V8 in. Even the later ones are a shoehorn and more.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1865927113939171

 

I like the Kellisons better, cleaner design. Built one in the mid 60's on a 54 Chevy Chassis and Chevy V8 engine and trans , it got with the program pretty good. JW