The Replacements – Episode VI: Cheetahs About to Prosper!

The fine folks at Dash Motorsports issued a recent update to a one of their newer bodies. Dash has formerly made an open version of the Cheetah (which surprisingly I’ve never acquired, primarily due to how hard it is to come by) but they have released a coupe version as well. I have seen these sold primarily as kits molded in various solid colors. This isn’t quite as high-end a product as their amazing reproductions of the early 60’s Aurora Fords that went out of production themselves years ago, but of course the original Aurora Cheetah was a simpler affair than those cars, having no separate plated bumpers and grilles or separate tops.

The Dash Cheetah coupe is not a 100% exact reproduction of the Aurora original, however; its size and shape have been slightly increased, and I suspect this has been done so that it can more easily accommodate the slightly larger chassis being made by Auto World. Whether or not that was the motivation, it certainly works, and I know because I just took delivery of an awesome variation on this coupe that upped the ante from the solid molded-in colors to this patriotic theme done up with stars and stripes in pearl white, red and blue. It looks awesome, and it went on over a translucent blue Auto World Ultra-G chassis with no clearance issues. Interestingly, the original Aurora Cheetah rode on the shorter wheelbase of the original Aurora T-Jet 500 chassis, but just barely; this Dash recreation’s slightly larger dimensions means its built for the longer wheelbase. This should provide slightly better stability, and riding-as mine now is-on a set of Vincent “Hurricane” wheels with RRR full-sized silicone tires, it should go as good as it looks!

This construction leads to this 6^th installment of “The Replacements.” My blue original Cheetah has never been a great performer in spite of being mounted on a superb chassis; I think the body is just a little too light for all the power the chassis has, so it is very difficult to control and thus can never be driven at anything like its limit. This body, an ebay win from back in 2020, was pretty rough when I got it, having badly cracked front and the rear screw posts, the rear one requiring a sleeve in order to get it to hold a screw.

This new red, white & blue Cheetah looks so cool that I can’t bear to have it just sitting around unused; I want it on the track running tournaments, but as all my racing fleets have long since hit my maximum number of 64 cars, if this one is going to join the fleet, something else has to move. As a result, I’m treating this in a way identical to how I dealt with the addition of the green Johnny Lightning Cobra profiled in Episode V: in terms of the Lore, this isn’t a change of cars; it’s a repaint.

Racing number 19 has for years belonged to “Catapult,” the bright blue 1964 Cheetah owned and driven by Scott Sandoval. Known as “Smooth Ride” Sandoval, a moniker he picked up as an army helicopter pilot, he was born and raised in Los Angeles and had oil in had blood from birth. His father Salvador, a diesel mechanic, was a maintenance foreman for a large LA-based trucking company, so he was turning wrenches with dad not long after he could walk. After being discharged from his tour of duty, he returned home determined to pursue his interest in cars and began racing, moving up the ranks quickly and deftly “flipping” cars until he acquired the Cheetah. Racing regularly at Drag City, his times always showed potential and he won more than a few races, but a tournament title always eluded him. Disaster struck early in 1984 when the car flew off the track at high speed and barrel rolled through the infield. Sandoval was injured and spent months recovering, but Catapult needed even more work: the car was nearly destroyed in the wreck, but Sandoval would not give up on it.

Fast forward 8 months to a great deal of time, effort and money spent and “Catapult” is now reborn with an all new look. Although the 427 Chevy engine is original, it needed to be rebuilt after the wreck and now has a different cam profile and different intake and carbs. The chassis has been extensively reworked in hopes of improving handling, and cooling and braking have been improved with new replacement parts. Visually, Catapult now wears a new patriotic paint scheme that Sandoval says is a homage to his buddies he served with who encouraged him to pursue his dream of becoming a professional driver. “Smooth Ride” is looking to live up to his nickname once again, hitting the track for the first time in nearly a year as the fall racing season is about to begin and gunning once more for that tournament win at Drag City!

Now, if you’re wondering what is to become of the tired blue Cheetah body-I have some plans for it; she’s got some life left in her yet, and soon I’ll be doing a post on her rejuvenation as a “special project” with the vintage Road Crew!