Cheetah
The global success of the Shelby Cobra inspired many American race car builders to build a similar car that could compete on an international level. From this perspective, nobody came close to beating the Cobra. But Bill Thomas, a famous Chevrolet tuner and race car builder, was a serious candidate. Unfortunately, the Cheetah was never given a fair chance due to various circumstances (via Car and Driver). Chevrolet and GM pulled out of racing in 1963. Still, several independent race shops worked for GM’s backdoor programs where the company supported private racing teams.
Bill Thomas’ shop was one of those outfits, and he decided to build a Cobra competitor with Chevrolet power. That’s how the Cheetah was born. Made on a unique lightweight chassis with a small-block V8 moved as far back as possible, the Cheetah looked and performed like a race car. Despite some overheating problems, the Cheetah was a remarkable performer. It won some lower-rank races and even the 1968 SCCA championship. Unfortunately, lack of support, mechanical issues, and even a fire at the shop in California stopped production after only roughly 20 cars were built.