Haven't been in a good discussion about something I won't at all be buying so who wants to talk about this thing?
https://jalopnik.com/at-37-500-is-this-replica-1964-cheetah-a-good-deal-1848679408
$37,500 and from a distance it looks kind of good? Is it $37k good? If you were to purchase this automobile, what changes would you make? If you would not, how about dishing on it a bit for the sake of discussion?
I don't know if I would part with $37k for this thing. That's Jaguard F-type flop-top money and where I would probably start looking. But this isn't all bad. I think. Here's what I would want to do with it if it appeared in my driveway;
- Engineer a more substantial rollbar setup with some tubes running rearward through the decklid.
- Add netting to the rollbar to try and cut down on in-cabin wind. It will never be a comfortable place but it doesn't hurt to try.
- Try to get the side-pipes more tucked in under the bodywork. No hope of getting rid of them but I would think about going to slightly smaller tube, making sure to add mufflers, and I would paint it all semigloss black with high-temp paint.
- Get rid of that travesty of an aircleaner setup and close in that hole in the hood. Add a scoop if needed but seriously that's just sad.
- Add a passenger side mirror and maybe change out the driver's as well for something slightly larger and non-chrome.
- Add quilted vinyl or something to the dashboard. That looks like a bass boat around the gauges.
- I don't see reverse lights or front turn signals.
- Different steering wheel.
What else?
Oh, another one; get some color on the thing! Cheetahs are curvy but the black paint hides so much of that. Red or orange or yellow would be some options, maybe done via vinyl wrap.
It looks pretty at first glance, but WOW to the air cleaner and less WOW but still plenty for the steering wheel. You'd want to look it over really carefully, because some of the really important stuff can't be seen from pictures.
Agreed on the wheel. Maybe something like this;
https://www.moto-lita.co.uk/steering-wheels/gt40-oem/
IF you wanted one how much of a head start would this be? With a new kit selling for 25k, this brings a lot of parts to the table. So how good are the parts and how well were they put into formation? The air filter makes me question the way the builders thought process works when it comes to mechanical design.
To me, used "race parts" are pretty much junk. I have to assume that this was built to be abused and the question is "how abused is it?"
If it was built and driven to a few shows until the owner got bored, then it might be a good deal cause you could not buy the parts for the $$$.
I think the seller is doing themselves no favors with their wording and such. I'm guessing it's a situation like you described; couple years taking the car to shows but the owner is ready to move on.
Not a fan of the steering wheel or valve covers or air cleaner.
More importantly Jalopnik's site is so annoying nowadays. Ugh, not going back there anytime soon.
That's the dumbest ass air cleaner I've ever seen
Patrick said:That's the dumbest ass air cleaner I've ever seen
Lol - I clicked because of this comment, and it didn't disappoint!
Patrick said:That's the dumbest ass air cleaner I've ever seen
If I bought a car with this type of air cleaner (which doesn't even clean the air), I would throw it away before leaving the sellers driveway.
It's basically phony stacks glued on top of the air cleaner lid. There's a real air cleaner situation going on, it's just got a mohawk of junk on top. Again, I would try to find the smallest scoop possible needed to cover that hole, and stop that insanity if this was mine.
I was friends with the previous owner of Shell Valley. Rich Anderson was a great guy. Unfortunately he passed years ago. They had a great team. When the company was purchased some of them stayed on. They made some fiberglass bodies for me. (from my molds).
I love the Cheetah. I looked at purchasing one of Shell Valley Cheetah kits. I didn't purchase it because there were quite a few things about it that I didn't like. That's when I started on my journey to create my own Cheetah Roadster Tribute. I like the looks of my body. I didn't want the air cleaner to stick out of the hood so I molded in a hood bulge. (I'm pretty sure the velocity stacks are for show only.) My space frame is stiff and light. The aluminum C4 corvette suspension that I use it I've been selling some kits for my car. I'm finishing another one for my self so I'm putting my finished car up for sale. I have 3 people wanting it. I have a kit up for sale on Ebay right now.
Having fun, John
In reply to jmc14 :
your cars are gorgeous
In reply to jmc14 :
Link?
You'll need to log in to post.
