A rare 1966 Bill Thomas Cheetah, believed to be the final example produced, has surfaced for sale, offering collectors a significant piece of American performance history with a well-documented lineage and decades-long ownership trail.
Currently listed on Bring a Trailer and available through a dealer in Scottsdale, Arizona, the car traces its origins to late 1965, when it was commissioned without a drivetrain by its original owner. Delivery took place in April 1966 at a dealership in Ohio, where the car was registered for street use. The first owner retained the Cheetah for approximately two years before it changed hands in a trade involving a fuel-injected split-window Corvette and additional cash.
The second owner would go on to keep the car for nearly 40 years, during which time it remained largely out of public view. In 1980, the vehicle appeared in an advertisement in a national automotive publication, drawing interest from a prospective buyer who would later become its third owner. After a prolonged negotiation period spanning more than two decades, the car was finally acquired in 2007.
Following that acquisition, the Cheetah underwent disassembly and refurbishment in preparation for high-profile automotive events. It was displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2008 and subsequently appeared at other notable gatherings, including The Quail and McCall’s Motorworks Revival.
The car features distinctive fiberglass bodywork finished in red, with defining elements such as gullwing doors and a clamshell hood. Power comes from a front-mid-mounted 377 cubic-inch Chevrolet V8 equipped with fuel injection and paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Additional mechanical components include independent suspension at both ends, four-wheel drum brakes, and side-exit exhaust.
Inside, the cockpit is outfitted with red leather bucket seats, a wood-rimmed steering wheel, and a period-style shifter, along with a roll cage integrated into the cabin.
Now under current ownership for the past three years, the Cheetah is offered with documentation, spare wheels, and a clean Ohio title, presenting a rare opportunity to acquire a seldom-seen example of a limited-production American sports car. See it here.
