Discussion
My company is thinking of importing a modern replica of the Cobra eating Bill Thomas Cheetah, shown above. The original cars were built in the 1960's, funded by Chevrolet, to try and stunt the Ford powered Cobra's dominance in US auto racing. Sadly Bill Thomas's factory caught fire and the programme ended, before the full potential was reached. Since then there have been official continuation replicas of about 31 were built at a cost of over $100,000 each.
We think we can offer another alternative, which is a futher, more practical moderised version that is shown above.
The idea is to offer it as a quick assembly kit.
The completed car will offer
V8 power 295-345 bhp as std.
5 speed box
950 kg kerb weight in street trim
0-60 in around 4.3 seconds*
160- 170 mph top speed**
Quality GRP body, double skinned with gullwing doors
Glass front and rear screens
Tube space frame chassis
Custom seats
Wheels and tyres
We think builders of the kit will genuinely be able get this on the road, including donor components, seats and trim for circa £27,000, if they complete all aspects of the labour themselves.
I'd like to use this forum for some market research and would be grateful for opinions, good and not so good.
- 345 bhp engine
- with optional spoilers
This is probably a car you don't want to replicate 100%.
From the articles I have read, it was a vile handling car.
Very fast in a straight line, in its day.
When a magazine asked a race driver what he remembered about the road manners, he answered- "well, I spun a lot".
So I'd give the front and rear suspension a complete rethink, even at the risk of losing some of its originality.
I'd try to normalize the steering layout, etc.
Pretty cool looking car, just need to look at everything under the skin.
From the articles I have read, it was a vile handling car.
Very fast in a straight line, in its day.
When a magazine asked a race driver what he remembered about the road manners, he answered- "well, I spun a lot".
So I'd give the front and rear suspension a complete rethink, even at the risk of losing some of its originality.
I'd try to normalize the steering layout, etc.
Pretty cool looking car, just need to look at everything under the skin.
Looks lovely.
As noted, IVA issues.
But most of all, you can buy a very good, albeit used, Corvette C6 for £27k. I know it's totally different and heavier but I can't imagine the Cheetah to be very stable at high speeds so that top speed is even more academic than it already is and I'd struggle to think of why anyone would buy one in the UK if the handling rules it out as a track car (where Ginettas, Westfields, Caterhams, Radicals, Atoms and Loti all offer a better experience).
While Cobra replicas are half popular, it's more for posing and because they are convertibles.
As noted, IVA issues.
But most of all, you can buy a very good, albeit used, Corvette C6 for £27k. I know it's totally different and heavier but I can't imagine the Cheetah to be very stable at high speeds so that top speed is even more academic than it already is and I'd struggle to think of why anyone would buy one in the UK if the handling rules it out as a track car (where Ginettas, Westfields, Caterhams, Radicals, Atoms and Loti all offer a better experience).
While Cobra replicas are half popular, it's more for posing and because they are convertibles.
LuS1fer said:
Looks lovely.
As noted, IVA issues.
But most of all, you can buy a very good, albeit used, Corvette C6 for £27k. I know it's totally different and heavier but I can't imagine the Cheetah to be very stable at high speeds so that top speed is even more academic than it already is and I'd struggle to think of why anyone would buy one in the UK if the handling rules it out as a track car (where Ginettas, Westfields, Caterhams, Radicals, Atoms and Loti all offer a better experience).
While Cobra replicas are half popular, it's more for posing and because they are convertibles.
That is valid comment. But this is an explosive race car for the street. It's an adrenalin pump for fun only. It an old school/retro/mad cross between a hot rod and a sports car. Plus I think it look fantastic and anybody else will have one, or have ever seen one.As noted, IVA issues.
But most of all, you can buy a very good, albeit used, Corvette C6 for £27k. I know it's totally different and heavier but I can't imagine the Cheetah to be very stable at high speeds so that top speed is even more academic than it already is and I'd struggle to think of why anyone would buy one in the UK if the handling rules it out as a track car (where Ginettas, Westfields, Caterhams, Radicals, Atoms and Loti all offer a better experience).
While Cobra replicas are half popular, it's more for posing and because they are convertibles.
I guarantee the one we'll bring in will handle very well and be easy to register. I will make a great track car I think, nothing as unmanageable as the evel handling legend.
We just need to know if there is any interest out there, at the price stated, if we deliver what I'm saying.
It is impossible to predict. I like it but many might be embarrassed by the cartoony looks that are a cross between a C3 Corvette and a dune buggy.
It's one thing to be different (again, you can be different in any one of the cars I've mooted as most are rarer than hen's teeth) but the car looks totally impractical for any meaningful use.
In a country with a large kit car industry already, sales are going to be hard to come by as the market is small anyway. People spend £30k on Golfs but only because it will do everything.
Road rocket cars are also increasingly irrelevant on today's heavily restricted roads. People want a blend of power and good handling but also some practicality. The Corvette struggles with a single drawback of being LHD without any other reason not to buy one.
It's one thing to be different (again, you can be different in any one of the cars I've mooted as most are rarer than hen's teeth) but the car looks totally impractical for any meaningful use.
In a country with a large kit car industry already, sales are going to be hard to come by as the market is small anyway. People spend £30k on Golfs but only because it will do everything.
Road rocket cars are also increasingly irrelevant on today's heavily restricted roads. People want a blend of power and good handling but also some practicality. The Corvette struggles with a single drawback of being LHD without any other reason not to buy one.
Well I'd certainly buy one (as per my thread in the kitcar forum) BUT I imagine the market is tiny. I think even in the states its a struggle to sell them - and they know what it is. One of the kitcars (the red one in your pics above infact) was unsold at a recent auction despite a bid of $45k (around £29k) - it had an estimate of $55k to $75k.
I think the red one looks ridiculous, with its oversize modern profile tyres I think the lime one is more where its as. AKA a full size Mattel Hot Wheels retro fun machine
Still. Looks like not many enthusiasts, either here or in the US. £29 k is still a healthy bid for a kit car though, so it must have some appeal. Maybe it 'cos the cost $100 000 to build in the US.
By the way the cost quoted was including everything finished to a standard. To get the car OTR & MOT'd could be done for just over £20k probably.
Still. Looks like not many enthusiasts, either here or in the US. £29 k is still a healthy bid for a kit car though, so it must have some appeal. Maybe it 'cos the cost $100 000 to build in the US.
By the way the cost quoted was including everything finished to a standard. To get the car OTR & MOT'd could be done for just over £20k probably.
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