29 replies to this topic

[Regis4446]

Aluminium dials:

[TSR]

Whooo, very nice! This must have taken quite a bit of time to do.
Don't you guys have real jobs over there?

[68Caddy]

Regis, very nice and I sure like the touch of the craftsmanship in the interior.

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Nesta

[Pablo]

Sweeeet!

[munter]

I love the old and new combination..

The way you have not over-powered the car shows your intent well.

Very nice work, sir.

Regards,

[Roger U]

Really nice Cheetah model, with great detail.

The chassis is simple but beautiful. Do you race this car against other front engine cars?

[Alchemist]

Regis,

What a fantastic car! I cannot tell, but is it a 1/24 scale Cheetah?

Thank you.

[havlicek]

Always love Cheetahs and yours is a beauty!

The way you have not over-powered the car shows your intent well.

... But is not at all like the real car, a beautiful beast.

[Regis4446]

Thank you for the compliments and glad you like them.

The work lasted sixteen months.

It is a Cox 1/24, no race for it, or just with friends.

Here is the dashboard"

[Jairus]

SWEET!

[Alchemist]

Regis,

Your "attention to detail" is phenomenal! Fantastic craftsmanship!

John,

Where did you find that photo of a real Cheetah race car please? I really like it and would like to see more photos if there are any please?

Thanks,

[havlicek]

Hi Ernie,

Just do a Google search under "cheetah car". There's some neat stuff out there about the car, but its short life makes the info limited.



Here's some stuff from a company that was/is (?) making a Cheetah replica:

HISTORY OF THE CHEETAH

Cheetah Replica

Shell Valley's reproduction of this great historical car is now available.

Call our Sales Department for information.

"The Cheetah story is an interesting one. It was the early '60s, and Chevrolet was intent on continuing its recent 'unofficial' successes in racing. The '63 Sting Ray had just been introduced with new independent rear suspension, and the Chevy small-block was strong in the horsepower department. All seemed well, until Carroll Shelby showed up at the racetrack with his little British-bodied roadster called the Cobra and proceeded to poison the competition. Chevrolet fans agonized over the inability of their machines to compete with Cobras. Then, as if adding insult to injury, in early 1963 GM announced it was no longer going to be involved in racing. All hope seemed dashed.

"But designer and engineer Bill Thomas emerged with a dream. Thomas was a highly successful Corvette road racer and drag racer. He approached Chevrolet with the dream of building a Cobra killer. Funding and arrangements, though unclear, were likely presented. Thomas worked with Don Edmunds to design the Cheetah. As the car progressed, its spectacular looks and innovative design gave hope to the Bow Tie crowd.

"The Cheetah received mixed reviews. The engine was set back to virtually a mid-engine location, producing squirrelly handling. The awesome power-to-weight ratios in this 327 ci [modified 327 (377 ci)], fuel-injection-powered, 1,500-to 1,700-pound race car further added to poor track manners. To give an idea of how far back the engine is set, there is no driveshaft. The universal joint on the rear differential is bolted directly to the trans output shaft. The transmission is a Muncie M21 close-ratio unit, and the rear end is an independent early Corvette type. Flimsy fiberglass body panels made it difficult to keep the car together. Because the driver was very close to the headers and exhaust, heat in the cockpit was a huge problem.

"But there were also some bright spots. During the '64 race season, the Cheetah set numerous track records around the country. By the end of that season, Cheetahs had won 11 races in C-Sport/Modified. On the dragstrip, the Cheetah also did well.

"A fire in Thomas's shop in September 1965 stopped production at the 16th car, and his dream literally went up in smoke. Eleven were completed, and eight survive. Since that time many replicas of the Cheetah have been built. The Cheetah, though not a highly successful race car, has gained a cult following - perhaps for its incredible looks, a shape often duplicated in slotcar kits as the racecar of the era." (Excerpts from MUSCLECAR REVIEW, Fall 2003, "Cheetahs Always Win: John Mayer's Cheetah Dream", by Arvid Svendsen, pp. 50-52.)

[Noose]

Magnificent work. The attention to detail on the gauges and the driver is awesome!

[Regis4446]

Continuation and conclusion.

[TSR]

Nice work, Regis.

"Driver: Dick Trickle"???

[chaparrAL]

Verry nice!, can't wait to see the Chaparral done. This is Dick Trickle.

[TSR]

Dick Trickle never drove a Cheetah...

[Prof. Fate]

Hi

AND, Philippe, the cheetah was never in A production either! So, if you are gonna fantasize about it racing as a production car against cobras and vettes, why not Dick Trickle....

How old was he in 1965?

Fate

[MrWeiler]

why not Dick Trickle....

Fate

I would have had to kill my parents if they had named me Richard Trickle...

[Regis4446]

Nice work, Regis.

"Driver: Dick Trickle"???

Sorry, The real green Cheetah from the site www.autodiva.fr

mine is just out of my imagination.

[H10]

Great looking cars , love the chassis !!

[TSR]

How old was he in 1965?

Actually, old enough. Thing is, Dick would not have known a Cheetah from a VW Beetle then!

Regis, "Dick Trickle" is fine, I was just pulling your leg.

[Alchemist]

Excellent workmanship Regis!!

John - thank you for the info!!

[idare2bdul]

I notice the 81 Cheetah has roof vents. I heard these cars would pretty much fry the driver. Vents might have helped some but they look on the small side.

There is a continuation series Cheetah.

[68Caddy]

Regis I can tell you have been doing this for a wile, I think I saw a year on the pic's 2008. Love the work, thanks for showing your stuff for us.


Nesta