- 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”.
priced right, if I had the garage space I’d be on my way to Hazleton to bring it home with me! Instead of a strip car I’d set it up for road course/autocross competition and you wouldn’t be able to wipe the grin off my face with every lap I took…good luck with the sale, someone will be very happy!!
No doubt if you could finish it, you would have a very cool car!
Cool project. The front seems all wrong to be a cheetah though.
It was customized it is more akin to a viper then a cheetah.
The paperwork says Cheetah replica. That’s why he built the frame himself. He paid 25 k for a fiberglass replica body.? I doubt it.
It came with the original steel frame, it was a complete kit and we had a custom chrome/moly frame fabricated to be a better fit for racing.
It was purchased as the entire kit. We didnt want to use the basic steel frame, so we fabricated a custom chrome/moly frame as it was a better fit for racing. The chevy 350 was re-built and customized, and the front end was customized as well.
Photos could be hetter
Or better :)
This is the second-best way to buy a “kit” or “component” car if one is only thinking in financial terms as they can usually be had for fifty cents on the dollar or less. The best way, in terms of money, is to buy one already completed and sorted.
However, the FUN is in the building which explains why so many individuals sell their project car at a loss upon completion only to tackle another project and repeat the cycle. I fall into this latter category with the exception I cannot sell something I put my heart and soul into for years, but I’ll let my heirs deal with the inventory.
The issue was due to other obligations and lack of space, required me to sell off my complete collection. This is the last car of many up for sale. All of the rest were completed or whole. This one only needs the final paint job, and roll bars. Or whatever other modifications a buyer might want personally. But it is practically ready to go.
Well, maybe. If there were better photos, certainly of the entire Cheetah and what parts come with it, I would be more interested. I had to look it up in go go duck it to see what it actually looked like. The price range for new complete rebuilds seems to be in the 30′ K range and this could be a great value if the presentation was better. A lot more photos and a list of what comes with the sale could goose the sale. Good luck, great idea.
Everything it needs is included. The only thing it needs is a paint job and roll bars. If someone wanted it to be the iconic cheetah look, they would only need to purchase the front half of the body
Everything it needs is included or already installed. It needs the roll bars and its final paint job, otherwise it is complete. Working on getting more photos on the listing.
One picture that I can see shows the, what I am assuming to be, one piece hood and front fenders sitting in place and they look like they’ve had a rough life. I’d like to see a head on shot of the front end sitting in place
Ah why is the cap off the left valve cover? Probably a lot of crap sitting on the valve train.
It was only during the photos being taken as we were preparing to move it to another garage when the photos were taken. It was covered, no particulate or anything else got into the engine as we kept everything covered to prevent that.
I agree, with all the comments. A photo of the complete car (no picture of the front end body work) would speak volumes about what the prospective buyer would be getting. Is the front end badly damaged? Is that why no pictures? Although not in the market right now, it would be very interesting to me to complete this car. But, I would be very hesitant to travel across country without a good set of pictures of the front end body work. COM0LETE CAR?
REALLY? SHOW IT!
I am working with the listing specialist to get those photos added. I don’t know why they weren’t included originally. Your point is valid and I agree completely.
Oh man what fun that could be finishing and driving that little monster!
This looks nothing like any Cheetah I’ve ever seen pictures of. Am I missing something?
It was purchased as the full cheetah kit, then a custom chrome/moly frame was fabricated for racing purposes as well as the front end customized and a custom re-built chevy 350
Very cool car indeed! I’d definitely set it up a track machine, oh to be only 20 years younger oh well time marches on for us all,hopefully someone will finish it
Doesn’t look like the rest wheels are centered in the opening. I’d like to see a better picture of that front end too@
Very interesting and a great price. Several years ago I would be checking into this. Someone is going to get a real bargain here.
To answer everyone’s questions. We originally purchased the full kit from shell valley. We decided to not use the basic steel frame that came with it and we fabricated a custom chrome/moly frame better suited for racing. The chevy 350 was re-built from scratch and customized for racing, the front end was also customized (I am working on getting those photos added – these photos were taken right before it was moved to another garage and was covered and kept in a climate controlled garage) – due to other obligations I have been required to sell off my whole collection with this being the last vehicle left. The only thing it needs is the final paint job and the roll bars. It is then complete.