A unique piece of automotive history has surfaced for sale on Hemmings 1964 Cheetah Prototype, once in the possession of a General Motors president.
The brainchild of Bill Thomas, renowned for his Corvette tuning and racing successes, the Cheetah aimed to rival the Shelby Cobra with its Chevrolet-powered prowess. Unlike Shelby’s adaptation of the AC Ace chassis, Thomas opted for a ground-up design, clandestinely supported by Chevy, then not officially involved in racing.
The distinctive design of the Cheetah positions its engine and transmission far back in the tube-frame chassis, enhancing weight distribution. With a minuscule 90.0-inch wheelbase and a featherweight curb weight of just 1,750 pounds, the driver sits snugly over the rear wheels within the compact enclosed cockpit.
Originally, Thomas envisioned producing 100 Cheetahs to meet racing homologation standards. However, revised regulations requiring 1,000 production units proved insurmountable for his small-scale operation.
Consequently, only 16 Cheetahs were assembled, with 11 surviving to this day. Among the surviving fleet is the current listing a second prototype bearing serial number 126364002. Commissioned by GM for developmental purposes, this Cheetah underwent testing by Chevy from December 1963 to April 1964.
Notably, it was once under the ownership of John F. Gordon, then-president of GM. Distinguishing it from production models, this prototype features aluminum bodywork and is equipped with a 327-cubic-inch V-8 sourced from a 1963 Corvette, paired with rare Rochester mechanical fuel injection, producing 360 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque.
While the Cheetah and its creator may lack the fame of the Cobra and Carroll Shelby, the $2 million price tag of this prototype places it on par with current Cobra transaction values, highlighting its significance in automotive history.