1965 427 LeMans Cheetah EXP Aluminum body proto-type 1of1 Bill Thomas Chevrolet (2024)

Make:	Chevrolet
Model:	Corvette
Type:	Coupe
Trim:	Black
Year:	1965
VIN:	******001
Transmission:	Manual
Drive type:	LeMans 427 58mm Webers
Vehicle Title:	Clear
Item location:	Glendale, Arizona, United States

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Description of 1965 Chevrolet Corvette

1965 Cheetah Bill Thomas/Chevrolet R&D 427 Le Mans Super Coupe 1 of 1 #001 1965 Model. he Worlds most Valuable Cheetah. Original Aluminum Brand new body produced in 1963 & 64 Body. This Cheetah has a Dual history behind it that makes it so Valuable. Bill Thomas produced the #001 1964 proto type model with an Aluminum body. This #001 went straight to Chevrolet under secrecy and was tested by Chevrolet R&D when the Chevrolet evaluation was completed Bill Thomas made a deal to buy this 1964 Model Cheetah back. So once back at Bill Thomas Shop. Bill made the decision to remove the Aluminum body and replace it with a complete fiberglass body. Bill's vision for the more refined Le Mans racer Street Cheetah had already been in process building the buck & designing the new 1965 Cheetah Super Coupe Rear body section. California Metal Stamping produced the rear body. Now Bill's guys went to work cutting up the Riverside red 1964 model Aluminum body to graft on the front bonnet. cowl. upper roof t-panel and lower dog legs onto the brand new wider taller longer Super Coupe rear body. So (YES) it has the only remaining parts left to exist from the 1964 Model #001 Aluminum Proto-Type. Now Cheetah Chassis #001 fitted with new fiberglass body went on to a few races where it was destroyed completely. Bill produced a brand new 4130 round tube Chassis with multiple upgrades and changes made from all the Knowledge learned on the 64 models with testing them on many California race tracks and putting them under extreme conditions. So we have the Original built 4130 . 065 wall round tube Super Coupe Chassis 1 of 1. Also we have secured the body and leveled it out and mounted it. Project comes with correct dated 1965 4 bolt main Corvette 425HP engine. Muncie 4 speed. Corvette rear axle. Bill Thomas was the 1st Performance shop to produce the 427 Mill out of the 396 mill 1965 engine. Bill was building top secret NASCAR 427 engines labeled as 396. Now this car was to run the 427 Cu. in Engine at Le Mans. Street cars were going to be fitting with the stock 396 Corvette 425HP engine. The styling of the rear came right of Germany Design books of proto-type styling in the 50's & 60's. The Super Coupe Cheetah has a major European Design look to it. We have styling drawings of a completed Super Coupe Cheetah. (ORIGINALS) we have Bill's option sheet for the Super Coupe Street cars. Also pictures in the day at Bill's Shop & Edmunds Shop. Bill Thomas Race Cars closed down and had an Auction well enter Don Edmunds he went to the auction that day would up wanting to raise the bidding to help get the price up. Because Edmunds knows this body is a $8K to $10K body to produce. So he bid $375 well bidding stopped and he owned it for $375. Edmunds only had it about 1 year where he then advertised it in Competition press in 1971. Well Don sold it to a gentle out of Memphis TN. for $1575 in Aug 1971. Memphis owner put it in his sisters barn door garage where it remained until I purchased & removed it on Sept 11th 2011. So it has had 4 Total owners. Bill Thomas from 1964 through 1970. Don Edmunds 1970 through 1971. Memphis owner Mr Duke 1971 through 2011. This Cheetah remained untouched after the Fire of Sept 1965 until they day I purchased it in Sept 2011. Don Edmunds worked for Bill Thomas on the Cheetah project from design up until the 1st 2 Proto Types were finished by Dec 1963. This amazing find needs to be completed and presented at Pebble Beach in the 1 Off Class. It would make everyone take notice of the incredible styling and fierce 427 Mill Chevrolet engine. This is it one of the next Pebble Beach winners. If bidding falls short of sale. nbsp;I will consider 50%/50% partner to come in and get it done for Pebble. But for the 1st time since Aug 1971 its really for sale with a buy it now price. Please Contact Robert Auxier with all terms of sale agreed on before entering the buy it now price. This is the most interesting 60's Sports Car to come up for sale in this condition in the WORLD. Contact BTM Owner Robert Auxier 623-606-3155

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