Chad and Cole Reynolds will be on the grounds at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona to check out the massive layout and the cool iron that is going to be crossing the block, among other activities (like checking out RideTech’s 48 Hour Corvette before it goes under the hammer.) I went to Barrett-Jackson a couple of times while I lived in Arizona, but I learned that they weren’t the only show in town. In fact, just a few miles down the 101 Loop is another auction that goes on about the same time, the Russo and Steele auction. There is the same standard of cars, and (just my opinion) often a better diversity of vehicles available. Plus, you can cut the crowd size in half easily and you don’t have twenty thousand cameras and television/YouTube types interrupting the experience.
It took almost no time to find what I’d blow my imaginary Lottery winnings on: a real-deal Bill Thomas Cheetah, one of the three Alan Green Chevrolet cars. This is, as best as we can tell, is the seventh car out of the very limited handful of cars produced and the third of three cars that Alan Green Chevrolet, a Seattle dealership, acquired. This car was purchased for his wife, Booky Green, who was known to drag race the machine. All the better that the trips were short…due to the extreme chassis layout that really stretched the idea of a front-engined car that put the exhaust coming from the Thomas-built 327-based fuel injected screamer of a small block above the footwells of the driver and passenger, heat buildup in the interior was a very serious issue. But that engine, coupled with the lightweight design, made for a Cobra-killer. The Cheetahs had flaws (cooling issues, flexy chassis and aerodynamics that could suck the gullwing doors clean off of the cars at speed), but at 1,500 pounds weight, even the mighty AC/Shelby Cobra had something to be very concerned about.
So yeah…this car. Half a million dollars is a modest starting value for a real-deal and proven Cheetah. You can expect this car to fetch more than that. But just imagine, even for a second, uncorking this little green gumdrop and letting all four gears announce their presence to whoever can hear the car. Money well spent? You tell me.
Russo And Steele 2018 Scottsdale: Lot# S473: 1964 Bill Thomas Cheetah
Yes, Yes, Yes !! I loves me some Bill Thomas Cheetah’s. They were total Bad A$$ death Traps, it’s amazing any survive. If you can afford it, it’s a gotta have, way cooler than a Cobra. Cheetah’s FTW !!
I do like the original Cheetahs but the reproductions built by Cheetah Evolution (I think) can be fitted for you.
OK, my new dream car.