- Seller: Pasco U (Contact)
- Location: Hazleton, Pennsylvania
- Mileage: 12 Shown
- Chassis #: n/a
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 350 cui V8
- Transmission: 4-Speed Manual
Finishing someone else’s project can be risky, but it becomes considerably more tempting when the expensive fabrication and drivetrain work are already sitting in front of you. This Shell Valley Cheetah-style roadster was built to compete at local drag events while still being road-legal. It now needs its final safety equipment, paint, and inspection to complete the vision. Located in Hazleton, this project is offered as a Barn Finds Exclusive for $16,000. The submission identifies it as a customized 1964 Shell Valley Cheetah roadster with a rebuilt Chevrolet 350 V8 and four-speed manual transmission.
The seller states that the 350 was completely rebuilt before installation and has accumulated only a handful of miles since. All fluids were also recently flushed and replaced. The engine is said to run extremely well, and the seller has provided a video of it running.
What sets this build apart from a standard kit is what’s underneath.
Rather than using the heavy steel frame supplied with the original kit, the seller had a custom chrome-moly chassis fabricated from .090-inch rectangular tubing with racing use in mind. The seller estimates the custom frame represents more than $5,000 in fabrication and material alone. It appears exceptionally well built.
The seller estimates approximately $39,500 or more has gone into the project, including roughly $24,995 for the original kit, more than $8,000 for the powertrain and build, and the custom chassis fabrication. Those numbers are presented as the seller’s estimates, but they help explain the thinking behind the $16,000 asking price.
The photos show the fiberglass roadster body, exposed competition-oriented chassis, rebuilt small-block Chevrolet engine, headers, suspension components, wheels and tires, basic cockpit, and unfinished surfaces awaiting final detailing and paint. Seats, headlights, and a steering wheel are included. The major item specifically excluded is the roll-bar assembly, so the next owner will need to choose and install the appropriate setup for the car’s intended use.
The seller’s original goal was fairly simple: build a car capable of competing in local drag racing while still being able to travel to and from the track under its own power. Other obligations, along with limited time and space, have forced the liquidation of the collection before that goal could be completed. This is reportedly the final car remaining.
There is an important paperwork consideration. Although the submission lists the title status as clean, the seller’s description states that the car still needs its final finishing work and an enhanced inspection before it can be titled and tagged. Manufacturer tags and original purchase paperwork are included, and a bill of sale is also available. Buyers should confirm exactly what their state requires before purchase.
The seller believes that after the roll bar and final paint are addressed, the car can move on to inspection. Alternatively, someone interested purely in competition use could continue developing it as a race car and simply trailer it to the track.
This won’t be the right project for someone looking for a turn-key cruiser, but that isn’t where its value lies. The rebuilt V8, four-speed, chrome-moly chassis, Shell Valley body, and included paperwork give the next owner a substantially developed foundation without starting with a pile of fiberglass and an empty frame. At $16,000, there appears to be a lot of hardware here for someone capable of completing the final ten percent. Finish it for the street, finish it for the strip, or find a compromise that lets it do both.
Looks like a fun project to me. Priced right and good build work.
Cheetahs look awesome! If I was building a garage full of kit cars, a Cheetah & a Cobra would sit side by side. I’d name mine “Derek”.