2008 Cheetah Roadster
|
Price |
-- |
Production |
-- | ||
|
Engine |
5.7 liter V8 |
Weight |
1550 lbs | ||
|
Aspiration |
-- |
Torque |
-- | ||
|
HP |
-- |
HP/Weight |
-- | ||
|
HP/Liter |
-- |
1/4 mile |
-- | ||
|
0-62 mph |
-- |
Top Speed |
-- |
(from
Cheetah)
Where Were You in '64?
If you were lucky enough to be at RoadAmerica's June sprints, you
saw the only version of the Cheetah ever produced in a Roadster
version handily win - and it did the same thing the next year, too.
This, of course, was the legendary Cro-Sal Special, named for Gene
Crowe, the car's mechanic and Ralph Salyer, owner and driver.
The roadster's roots? Cockpit heat. To overcome it, Crowe - along
with a couple of other modifications - cut the coupe's top off,
creating the only Cheetah Roadster ever. As one racing historian
noted, "That also solved the problem of unequal air pressure within
the cockpit, which showed itself early in 1964 at Daytona when the
doors and hood blew off the car . . . at over 200 mph." Inspiration
has to come from somewhere. The Cheetah's history is incredible . .
. the Roadster version was born of necessity and ingenuity, too.