Bill Thomas’ Cheetah: The Wild V8 Racer Built to Beat the Cobra

Fierce Innovation - When American race tracks buzzed with the sound of V8 engines and the Shelby Cobra dominated headlines, a quiet storm was brewing in a California workshop. The Cobra had set a new benchmark for performance and swagger, but not everyone was ready to let it claim the spotlight without a fight. One man, Bill Thomas, decided it was time to answer that challenge—on his own terms. What he created wasn’t just another fast car. It was a radical machine with a pulse of rebellion. That machine was the Cheetah.

The Bill Thomas's Cheetah—chassis number four—remained in original condition for nearly five decades, a rare and living artifact of racing’s most daring moments. (Picture from: Pinterest)

Bill Thomas wasn’t a household name, but in racing circles, he was a legend. Known for his performance-tuned Corvettes, Thomas had earned the nickname “Mr. Corvette” long before the Cheetah ever turned a wheel. His reputation for engineering brilliance led Chevrolet to work with him unofficially after the company withdrew from sanctioned racing in 1963. While official support was off the table, backdoor channels allowed Thomas to receive parts and resources to bring a new concept to life—a Corvette-powered car that could take the fight straight to the Shelby Cobra.

The Bill Thomas's Cheetah—chassis number four—became a legend in its own right, setting speed records with drivers like Bud Clusserath and Sam Goins, and remaining in original condition for nearly five decades. (Picture from: Pinterest)

Thomas and fabricator Don Edmunds didn’t begin with corporate blueprints or a team of designers. They simply placed the engine, transmission, and rear end on the shop floor, sketched a rough layout in chalk, and began building around it. Their design choices were unconventional. They moved the engine as far back as possible for better weight balance, wrapped the car in ultra-light fiberglass, and built a steel space frame chassis to keep everything rigid yet featherweight. What they ended up with was something fierce, futuristic, and unapologetically fast.

The Bill Thomas's Cheetah, with its otherworldly design, curvy body, and wide stance—all packed into a remarkably lightweight frame. (Picture from: Pinterest)

From the outside, the Cheetah looked like it came from another planet. Its curvy body and wide stance gave it an unmistakable presence, but it wasn’t just about looks. Underneath that sleek shell was raw performance: a fuel-injected 327 cubic inch Corvette V8, an M21 4-speed transmission, Corvette differential, and heavy-duty drum brakes—all packed into a car that weighed far less than its competitors. The result was blistering acceleration and handling that caught many drivers by surprise.

The Bill Thomas's Cheetah delivered raw performance through a fuel-injected 327 cubic inch Corvette V8, M21 4-speed transmission, Corvette differential, and heavy-duty drum brakes. (Picture from: Pinterest)

However, this wild setup wasn’t without its downsides. The tight cockpit and engine placement led to extreme heat build-up, often leaving drivers with scorched feet and legs. The chassis, initially designed more as a proof-of-concept, needed structural reinforcement to survive the demands of real racing. But once those issues were ironed out, the Cheetah proved it had serious bite. It began winning lower-tier races, claiming podiums, and even took the 1968 SCCA championship in its class.

The Bill Thomas's Cheetah, despite its growing success, saw its story cut short by a fire at Thomas’ shop, limited funding, and lack of consistent factory support, resulting in only about 20 cars built, with just 11 completed during the original run. (Picture from: Pinterest)

Despite its growing success, the Cheetah’s story was cut short. A fire at Thomas’ shop, limited funding, and the absence of consistent factory backing halted production. Only about 20 cars were ever built, with just 11 completed during the original run. One of those early examples—chassis number four—became a legend in its own right. Driven by racers like Bud Clusserath and Sam Goins, it set speed records and remained in original condition for nearly five decades, a rare and living artifact of racing’s most daring moments.

BTM (Bill Thomas Motors) LLC has continued the legacy of the Cheetah by producing several officially recognized continuation models, including chassis number #001 in red, #019 in blue, #018 as a rare roadster variant, #020 in maroon, and another in red with chassis number #008. (Picture from: Pinterest)

The tale didn’t end there. In the early 2000s, a handful of officially recognized continuation models were built with Bill Thomas’ blessing. These faithful recreations brought the Cheetah roaring back to life, ensuring that its legacy wouldn’t fade into the background. Today, whether it’s blasting down vintage tracks or displayed at enthusiast events, the Cheetah still captures imaginations—just as it did more than half a century ago.

The Chevrolet Cheetah wasn’t built to play by the rules. It didn’t care about mass appeal or conventional thinking. It was fast, it was bold, and it was different in all the right ways. Even now, it stands as a reminder that sometimes, the most unforgettable machines come from the edge of the spotlight—driven not by committees or corporations, but by passion, creativity, and the refusal to follow the pack. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SILODROME | CARANDDRIVER | VETTEFINDERJIM | PINTEREST | RETROMANIA4EVER IN X ]

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