1963 Cheetah Race Car
Auction Details
- Auction:
May 10, 7PM - Public Viewing:
Lime Rock Park: (at Paddock)
May 4, 9AM - 4PM
Auction Day: (93rd St. and Park Ave.)
May 10, 11AM - 7PM - Private Viewing:
by appointment only
- Auction Location:
93rd St. and Park Ave. New York, NY - Online Bidding:
www.liveauctioneers.com - 1981 Automobile Quarterly:
View / Download (PDF)
Owner’s Statement
I have owned this car since 1965, when it was approximately one year old. Over my 53 years of ownership, I estimate that I have put approximately 100 hours on the car, and that 30 hours ago, the engine received new rings and bearings. The miles cannot be attested to, as the Cheetah was not supplied new with an odometer. (Please note: a photograph of the dashboard taken when the car was new (c. 1964), compared with a recent photograph, point this fact out, and additionally reveal that the shifter, steering wheel, and gauges remain unchanged.) I acknowledge that although the car has not been driven competitively for many years, to the best of my knowledge it runs and drives as it should.
Sam Goins
March 21st, 2018
Featured Lot
The Auction
Throughout the 1950s and early 60s, international automobile racing was largely dominated by Ferrari. Then Ford teamed up with a little-known race shop owned by a Texan named Carroll Shelby to create the Cobra. Suddenly, an American-produced car started taking center stage in the racing scene. General Motors - clearly envious of Ford’s wildly successful entry into racing - wanted to outdo its rival... and so the Cheetah was born. Radical in appearance, only twenty three (some believe fewer) of these potent machines were built. Very few Cheetahs survive today. On May 10th in New York City, Guernsey’s will be auctioning the most historic, fastest, and most original one.
In the car collecting world, originality is paramount. Today, the majority of vintage collector cars have, in whole or in part, been restored by their owners. As cars change hands from one collector to another, modifications and additional restorative work are often performed. What frequently results is a beautiful looking car made up of rebuilt, refinished or replaced parts.
Devotees of public television’s Antiques Roadshow know full well the importance of originality when it comes to almost any kind of collectible. For example, one would rather have an un-refinished early 19th century chest of drawers complete with nicks and chips and a fine vintage patina than a refinished chest, no matter how nice it looks. And so it is with the Cheetah Guernsey’s will be selling at unreserved auction. It is as original as it can get, and has had only a single owner since 1965!
Built in 1963 as one of the first Cheetahs ever made (evidence suggests that following two prototypes, this was one of the very next cars built, or fourth overall), this was the car chosen to demonstrate the Cheetah’s potential when it raced the following year at Daytona. Clocked at a record-setting, and quite astounding, 215 miles-per-hour, it exceeded the Cobra and just about anything else on four wheels. Powered by a fuel-injected Chevrolet Corvette engine, the car was dynamite. Unfortunately, business decisions within General Motors caused a shift in thinking and the race car project was abandoned.
In 1981, a twelve-page article appeared about the development and history of the Cheetah in Automobile Quarterly, arguably the finest automotive publication ever created. Adorning those twelve pages were many pictures of only one Cheetah, the one that will soon be crossing the auction block. Approaching his 80th year, the Ohio gentleman who acquired this stunning car back when it was just about new, is now parting with it. His Cheetah has meant the world to him, but on May 10th it will find a new owner. For a brief moment more than half a century ago, this fantastic machine demonstrated the potential to change the world of automotive racing. In new hands, it can breathe fire again!
On May 4/5, the Cheetah will be displayed at Lime Rock, the beautiful race course in northwestern Connecticut. It will then be delivered to 93rd Street and Park Avenue in New York City where it will be on view May 10th from 10AM until the 6PM auction.
For additional information and to participate in this unreserved auction, please contact Guernsey’s at its New York office.
For more information visit www.guernseys.com. For media inquiries or to request an interview, please contact Diana Ziskin at 212.805.3057 or dziskin@rubensteinpr.com
Cheetah - April 14, 2018
Note: the sound of the engine is not fully captured by the iPhone’s recording capabilities
1981 Automobile Quarterly
Online Bidding
Those who are interested in participating can view the catalogue online, and leave advance absentee bids, as well as bid live as the sale is taking place at liveauctioneers.com.
Links
Interested bidders should also review the Terms & Conditions, as well as the Bidder Agreement form, and the Absentee Bid form.
Press
Guernsey's welcomes inquiries from the media regarding both past and upcoming events. PDF copies of the press release and links to media coverage of our 1963 Cheetah Race Cae are available below:
• "Chevrolet Cheetah (1 of 23 Produced) Up For Auction" (Chevy Hardcore - April 29, 2018)
• "Chevrolet Cheetah (1 of 23 Produced) Up For Auction" (Street Muscle Magazine - April 29, 2018)
• "Chevrolet Cheetah (1 of 23 Produced) Up For Auction" (Turnology - April 29, 2018)
• "The Cheetah Uncaged for Guernsey’s Auction" (Luxuo - April 27, 2018)
• "The Cheetah Uncaged for Guernsey Auction" (Amazing Reveal - April 27, 2018)
• "Cheetah Uncaged in New York" (Red Carpet Magazine - April 24, 2018)
• "Guernsey’s Set To Auction Off The Cheetah" (Elite Traveler - April 20, 2018)
• "1963 Cheetah race car to be auctioned" (Auto Classics - April 20, 2018)
• "Cobra Killer! A History of Bill Thomas’s Wild Cheetah" (Car and Driver - April 10, 2018)