Cheetah inspired build
 

I love the swoopy looks and short overhangs of the Cheetah race car. Those were coupes. I like roadsters so I tried to imagine if the Cheetah had continued and a more comfortable, street roadster had been developed.

I built the space frame. 1984-1996 C4 Corvette aluminum independent suspension bolts into it. I'm using a Small Block Chevy engine and Richmond 4 speed transmission.

I just finished the body shape and details. There still lots of work to get the body finished. I wanted to see the body in one color so today I used spray can paint to do that.

Here's what I have so far.

http://image.ibb.co/ehR2TR/questframefrontsmall.jpg

http://image.ibb.co/g3okF6/questfronthighsmall.jpg

http://image.ibb.co/k4JVhm/questsidesmall.jpg

http://image.ibb.co/nb8kF6/questrearsmall.jpg

http://image.ibb.co/hTSea6/questlowfrontsmall.jpg

Nice !

cool

Thank you.
Today I moved the car outside for the final mock up. I added a 4 inch piece of PVC pipe to simulate the side exhaust and ended up placing a spoiler on the rear deck. I like the spoiler. I'll make one specifically for this cars rear deck.

I'm done with my work on the body. Now it's off to the body shop for final prep. During that time I'll assemble the chassis.

When compared to my truck my car is small!

http://image.ibb.co/exYq06/questsidewjohnfinalmock.jpg

http://image.ibb.co/egGztR/questfinalmockwtruck.jpg

Just curious, what windscreen is that from?

Mgb

Cool! Now I do recognize the side posts.

My windshield base still needs work. But, I like the MGB windshield. I think it fits the style of my car.

It looks good to me!

Very nice!

I do like the coupes as they look very cartoonish sort of a hotwheels model like the one below

http://cheetahevolution.com/wp-conte...IMG_1718-1.jpghttp://cheetahevolution.com/wp-conte...IMG_1718-1.jpg

But i like what you have done ....the power to weight ratio is going to be something else ...will be fun driving that

I stupidly announced that I was done with the body work. After I took a closer look there were several areas that needed additional work to get the look as I wanted. I'm not in great health so I'm working at a low pace.

The Cheetah had a very wide, almost smiley face, radiator opening. It isn't my favorite look so I divided mine into 3 sections. The center is the width of the radiator and duct. The outer ends can hold fog lights or duct the brakes. I know that its hard to see in the pictures.

My son is in the car. He is 6'2". The seat can be lowered by 2 more inches. It's 42 inches to the top of the windshield frame.

I've redone the headlight buckets 3 times! I wanted the headlights to be small, and sit as far forward in the fender as possible. I needed the clearance for the tire to the headlight and I wanted them to blend in to the fender as much as possible. I ended up using Harley Davidson Vrod motorcycle headlights. They're reasonably priced, are self contained, DOT legal, and the lens has a nice contour. They are available in a more traditional lens lay out than the ones pictures as well. Options are good.

I've reworked the windshield base extensively. Now its a much tighter fit to the MGB frame and flows smoothly into it.

I wasn't happy with the rear deck. I've rounded out the fenders and made the deck a smooth arc from side to side.

This body is very heavy because of all of the extra fiberglass, body filler and other reinforcements that I've added to it. Because of that and the fact that my son and a couple of other people want to build this car I'm having molds made. This body is becoming the plug.

The body is simple and just 2 pieces. I've molded in the fire wall, dash, and interior cockpit into the tub. When it comes out of the mold it will positively sit on and lock onto the frame.

I've molded a rear bulk head to the 1 piece flip up Bonnet. The rear bulkhead of the hood and the firewall being molded in means that they will match up. No body work or fitting will be needed.

Thursday I bolted large industrial casters to the frame and mounted the body. It's ready to go to a friend that owns a body shop. He's doing the final body prep and paint. Then it goes to a professional fiberglass company to have the molds done.

I cleaned the shop from top to bottom yesterday. I hate body work and hope that I am done with it forever. :) While the final body prep is being done. I'm leaving the cold winter in up State NY and going to AZ. I'm going to act retired!

I've built a Cobra replica. I used my own frame and Corvette suspension and engine. Of course using Chevy parts in a Cobra build is just wrong. :) So, I sold the Cobra and started on this Quest to build a roadster that used the Corvette parts. I choose the Cheetah as a starting point because it used Corvette parts. I tried to imagine if the Cheetah had continued and a Street Roadster had been developed. I think this car is an alternative to the Cobra for Chevy fans. I can't wait to get it done and drive it. Having fun.
http://image.ibb.co/irNKV6/quest3_4frontwithjohn.jpg
http://image.ibb.co/b1TRvG/questcock...upbodywork.jpg
http://image.ibb.co/hT3taG/questfire...sebodywork.jpg
http://image.ibb.co/mnOoH6/questbonnetrearbulkhead.jpg
http://image.ibb.co/cA9o9b/questcockpitrearbodywork.jpg
http://image.ibb.co/hE9YaG/questhood...ngbodywork.jpg
http://image.ibb.co/iVXJhR/questvrodheadlightinhood.jpg
http://image.ibb.co/f9pvx6/questfrontlowradopening.jpg

I finished the mods and refining the body. It's in the process of final prep for molds to be pulled. I'm having a professional fiberglass company make my molds and the body for me. My process has been long but I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I'm shooting for having my car on the road this summer.
http://image.ibb.co/gfdGKR/jcspecialprimer3_4frt.jpg
http://image.ibb.co/f6gE66/jcspecialprimersidehigh.jpg
http://image.ibb.co/cs1stm/jcspecialprimerside.jpg
http://image.ibb.co/hsA7R6/jcspecial...itpassside.jpg
http://image.ibb.co/ecxAeR/jcspecialprimer3_4rear.jpg

My friend an I just finished the body work and final prep. The body is ready to pull molds from.

I left the gap between the tub and hood extra wide to do the body work. It will be closed up for the build.

Side pipes fill in the gap between the tub body and the lower frame.
https://image.ibb.co/kumr1K/questsidestraight8_3_18.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/b4NygK/quest3_4...ront8_3_18.jpg

https://image.ibb.co/gLx9oz/quest3_4...ower8_3_18.jpg

The body work looks fantastic should be a very spectacular looking car.

Wow, I like it.

Did you start with a pre-(un?)loved Cheetah shell or build your own buck from scratch?

I purchased a shell from a fiberglass guy that goes by the name of Mr Bruce. He's outside of Pittsburgh, PA, USA. He made his coupe body longer and much wider. It was a good starting point. But, required massive modifications to get what you see in the pictures.

I shortened it extensively and the car now has the original's 90 inch wheelbase. I narrowed it by 8 inches so that it fits the C4 Corvette suspension. (Its 74 inches wide at the rear tires and 72 inches wide at the front) I redid all of the fenders and wheel openings. Created the hood bulge and hood vents. Redid the radiator opening and brake ducts. Redid the side contours. Molded in the windshield base, dash, and interior cockpit. Shortened the rear overhang and changed the angle. Molded in a bulkhead into the rear of the Bonnet. Formed the rear deck. (There wasn't a rear deck on the body) And more!:)

I agonized over design details and would make changes then redo them over and over. When I got the the final look that I was happy with I spent hours upon hours shaping, smoothing out, and sanding.

I know that this body isn't an accurate Cheetah Replica. I did it to my personal taste while trying to retain some of the design features of the Cheetah. I love the shape and I'm happy with the results of my work.

Well said, that's exactly my ethos too.

I have successfully delivered the body to the fiberglass company that I'm using. I have a couple of people that want a body too. So, I'm having 4 bodies made to begin with.

The fiberglass company tells me that they will be able to do the body in colored Gel Coat and give me the body with it finished and buffed out. If they are right not having to do body work and paint is a big time and money saver. I know that a Gel Coat finish isn't the same quality as a top paint job but I'll see how it looks. I'm thinking red for my Roadster.

The first bodies should be ready for the first week of Oct. I can't wait.
https://image.ibb.co/fPi20p/questche...berglassco.jpg

This is coming along excellently, I think red as a stock colour would be the best way forward.

seconded...

Here is a couple of photo shop pictures showing the car in Red during the mock up stage.

Today is a BIG day. The molds are complete. I have 2 noses. The first body tub came out of the mold today. I'll have a second one this weekend. Then I can start the final build.

I can't believe that it's been 2 years since I started this. At least the hard part is over.
https://i.ibb.co/25jxVPt/Chesnutredmockupside.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/TYSTQ5V/chesnutred34frtmockup.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/rtKZWqL/rearclipfromsidehigh.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/2YV1JNB/rearclip3-4frtside.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/tbsZn0J/rearclip3-4frontleft.jpg

Congrats! Parts look really good.

Well done, looking forward to seeing the gelcoat bodies on the chassis.

I'll second Barber :)

Really looking forward to see the final body after all the work you've put in it, and follow the rest of the journey

Today was a big day! I started this build 2 years ago. Today I picked up 2 bodies and my plug/frame. My son is coming home from college next Saturday for Christmas break. During that time he and I will be building the car. Having fun!

https://i.ibb.co/3CNZ4DF/chesnutbodiesintrailer.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/n1HzzHv/chesnut2bod...ckedbytrlr.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/mB2j2Gv/chesnut2bodiesstacked.jpg

I am very impressed with the cars what a great job you have done to get such good clean bodies from the moulds!. Outstanding looking forward to seeing the cars finished.

Impressed with the quality of the bodies!
Enjoy your build with the Son.

cool - but why two bodies? are they slightly different?

Think he is gong into business

Thank you for your comments.

This is a hobby for me. I'm 62 and have had serious health issues including heart attacks with a low survival rate. I'm fortunate that I've invented a few things that has allowed me to make a decent living and to have time to work on cars. It's my passion and my therapy. I've built a few cars. I wasn't completely happy with any of them. I am happy with this one!

I am going to offer a body/frame component package that includes aluminum skins for the frame, steering shaft components, and coil over shock mounts. I'm not going to offer options or build cars. And, I'm farming out the fiberglass and welding. I'm not up to that. This is for fun.

Awesome work. That's shaping up to be a very pretty car :D
Cant wait to see how it comes together.

I've been working slowly on getting things done.
I've built a second frame. Before completing the welding I've test fit components to make sure everything is right. I should be able to take the frame this week to the professional welder to finish it.

I put the body back on the frame today to see how the headers and side pipes will hook up. They went together well. Tomorrow I'll fabricate the brackets to mount the side pipes to the frame.

I set a "Cobra" gas filler cap on the rear deck to see how it looked. I've decided not to use it.

I'm using a Hot Rod aluminum gauge cluster. I think that it looks good.

Having fun!
https://i.ibb.co/dgkBCXS/wildcat-1-4-roller-front.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/9wqty2H/wildcat-2-4...ont-roller.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/f87kHXp/wildcat-2-4...ear-roller.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/3zRgpLZ/wildcat-2-4-side-roller.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/hCZdgZ8/wildcat-2-5...-side-pipe.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/wY9b6DB/wildcat-2-5...-sidepipes.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/Hq6mnnb/wildcat-2-5...h-sidepipe.jpg

Looking very nice indeed. Going to be a pretty laid back driving position judging by the angle of those seats.

The seating position is pretty laid back. That's what i like. It keeps me low and puts my legs at an angle that's very comfortable. Of course, the seat angle can be changed to preference.

I think that I'm going to put the half doors in the car. It's just a little more fiberglass work. :) :)

I built a Cobra replica in the past. I'm on a Cobra forum and have posted my build there. A gentleman posted his photo shop of my car there. He's given me permission to use it.

https://i.ibb.co/jMNQLDv/wildcat-buzz-photoshop.jpg

I've finished the car to the point that it's drivable. I'm going to drive it this year in the white gel coat. Over the winter I'll finish the body work, paint, and install a better interior.

I'm submitting my registration application to the state of NY. It can take sometime for this process to go through. Hopefully I won't have any problems. The application requires some pictures. Here are the ones that I submitted.

This has taken a little over 2.5 years. I'm happy with how the car has turned out.

https://i.ibb.co/ZhLPBgm/chesnutroadsterengine.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/6g7Jvrx/chesnutroad...driverslow.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/BgP067p/chesnutroad...ntpassside.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/ssxhRjN/chesnutroadsterwindshield.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/f20T66F/chesnutroad...riversside.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/3h99s1d/chesnutroadsterrear.jpg

That's turned out very nicely. Well done and good luck with the registration process.

That looks great. Now we know what happens when a Cobra fornicates with an E-Type.

That is a very fine car indeed. Well done, and good luck with the registration process.

Love it!