Hemmings Daily: After nearly 50 years apart, Cheetah Transporter heads into restoration

For nearly 50 years, the curious Cheetah Transporter has remained in a state of flux, unfinished amid a transition to a long-wheelbase disc-brake version designed to make it safer to drive. That version, however, will never come to fruition with the recently started restoration of the Transporter back to its original short-wheelbase configuration. "I don't really think we have a choice," said Geoff Hacker, who has owned the Transporter since 2006. "I really want to make it longer, but there's so much photography [View in Browser | Subscribe]( [Hemmings Daily] Friday, August 31, 2018 ANNOUNCEMENTS There will be no Hemmings Daily on Monday, September 3, as our staff will be enjoying a bit of down time for Labor Day. You'll get our Sunday edition, then we'll be back in your inbox on Tuesday, September 4. Don't forget that Musclepalooza XXVIII will be taking place at Lebanon Valley Dragway in West Lebanon, New York, on Sunday, September 2. We hope to see you there! [After nearly 50 years apart, Cheetah Transporter heads into restoration]( [After nearly 50 years apart, Cheetah Transporter heads into restoration]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - For nearly 50 years, the curious Cheetah Transporter has remained in a state of flux, unfinished amid a transition to a long-wheelbase disc-brake version designed to make it safer to drive. That version, however, will never come to fruition with the recently started restoration of the Transporter back to its original short-wheelbase configuration. "I don't really think we have a choice," said Geoff Hacker, who has owned the Transporter since 2006. "I really want to make it longer, but there's so much photography ... [Read More]( [Sponsor]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1962 Pontiac Tempest Le Mans convertible]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1962 Pontiac Tempest Le Mans convertible]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - From the seller's description: 1962 Pontiac LeMans, convertible, 38,000 Miles, factory 4-speed, 4-bbl white with red interior. very low ownership from new! No Rust, no accidents, no problems! This is a very respectable and original car. Are you looking to be a distinguished contributor/member of the 1960's muscle car era? This is your chance to get in on the car that started it all. This is the predecessor of the Pontiac GTO. The 1961-1963 Tempest LeMans were designed by John DeLorean personally as the first Ameri...[Read More]( [Scenes from the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance]( [Scenes from the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance]( Posted by Terry Shea - Everything in Monterey car week leads up to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the world's pre-eminent car show. Held each year since 1950 at the Pebble Beach Golf Links, and since 1952 on the 18th fairway with the majestic Carmel Bay as a backdrop like no other, the concours attracts some of the finest and most interesting cars from all over the world. There simply is no other event quite like it and it truly offers attendees and participants the opportunity to see cars that literally are shown nowhere else. ...[Read More]( [Sponsor]( [This or That - Summer Series: 1969 Pontiac GTO or 1970 Plymouth Road Runner?]( [This or That - Summer Series: 1969 Pontiac GTO or 1970 Plymouth Road Runner?]( Posted by Matt Litwin - 1969 Pontiac GTO convertible (top); 1970 Plymouth Road Runner convertible (bottom). Images by the author. Editor's comment: Please note that the This or That column is not a comparison report between two vehicles, but rather a feature that enables us, in an idyllic world, to add a collectible vehicle into our dream garage on a regular basis, but with a catch: We can only pick one vehicle fromthis pairing, and it has to be for enjoyment purposes rather than as an investment. So let's climb into the ultimate auto...[Read More]( [Extra-strength Magic Powder]( [Extra-strength Magic Powder]( Posted by Dan Stoner - Ah, the Japanese car scene. As in America, it runs deep and in a bunch of directions: JDM ("Japanese Domestic Market"), lowriders, American hot rods, '60s/'70s-era American choppers, "dekotora" (decorated Japanese-built commercial trucks), '60s-era American customs, the "camber" scene. And those are just the most obvious strains. But here's the thing about American car culture in Japan: The Japanese absolutely rule the details. They are so exacting in their research and attention to detail, and their love of all ...[Read More]( [Atlanta, 1976]( [Atlanta, 1976]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Date: 1976 Location: Downtown Connector, Atlanta, Georgia Source: Georgia State University Libraries Digital Collections What do you see here?...[Read More]( [Sponsor]( [HemmingsPRO]( Seller Listings [1949 Chevrolet 3100]( [1949 Chevrolet 3100 $40,783]( [2004 Porsche 911]( [2004 Porsche 911 $72,996]( [1975 Chevrolet Corvette]( [1975 Chevrolet Corvette $29,000]( [1956 Chevrolet Bel Air]( [1956 Chevrolet Bel Air $39,990]( [2005 Superformance Cobra]( [2005 Superformance Cobra $97,500]( [1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer]( [1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer $11,650]( [Learn More]( [This Day in Automotive History] THIS DAY IN AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY 8/31/1955: William Cobb demonstrates first solar-powered car UPCOMING EVENTS [Hemmings Motor News 12th Annual Concours d'Elegance]( September 14, 2018 - Lake George, NY [Fall Willys & Jeep Reunion]( September 7, 2018 - Fulton, MO [2018 Rods on the Bluff September 2018]( September 7, 2018 - Fresno, CA [Springfield Swap Meet & Car Show September 2018 Event]( September 7, 2018 - Springfield, OH [5th Annual Baltria Car Show]( September 7, 2018 - Saint Charles, IL [RIDGEWOOD 25TH ANNUAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAR SHOW]( September 7, 2018 - Ridgewood, NJ [See All Events]( [Sponsor]( FEATURED CLASSIFIEDS Sponsored By: [Sponsor]( [1956 Oldsmobile Super 88]( [1956 Oldsmobile Super 88]( [$22,000]( [1964 Dodge Polara]( [1964 Dodge Polara]( [$8,500]( [1970 Dodge Charger R/T]( [1970 Dodge Charger R/T]( [$135,000]( [1985 Ford Thunderbird]( [1985 Ford Thunderbird]( [$6,500]( [1950 Ford]( [1950 Ford]( [$22,000]( [1970 Buick Wildcat]( [1970 Buick Wildcat]( [$46,500]( [1911 Auburn]( [1911 Auburn]( [$139,950]( [1978 Subaru DL]( [1978 Subaru DL]( [$6,500]( PROMOTED LISTING [1960 Chevrolet Corvette]( [1960 Chevrolet Corvette]( [$99,000]( [Chevrolet Cutaway Engine 195 HP Turbo Fire 283 V-8]( [Chevrolet Cutaway Engine 195 HP Turbo Fire 283 V-8]( [$15,000]( [View All Classifieds]( FEATURED IN THE BLOG [Lost and Found overflow - oddities from other countries]( [Lost and Found overflow - oddities from other countries]( [The Ford Granada: Like a Mercedes-Benz 450SE with a $16,319 rebate]( [The Ford Granada: Like a Mercedes-Benz 450SE with a $16,319 rebate]( [See All Featured Blog Posts]( FOLLOW US: [Get RSS Feeds of Hemmings Blog]( [Follow us on Twitter]( [Join us on Facebook]( [View our Flickr pool]( [View Newsletter Archives]( WEEK IN REVIEW Thursday, August 30, 2018 [Last of Littlefield tank collection arrives ahead of American Heritage Museum's opening]( [Last of Littlefield tank collection arrives ahead of American Heritage Museum's opening]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Nearly a decade after tank collector Jacques Littlefield left the entirety of his 200-plus tank collection to the Collings Foundation, the last of the 85 tanks the foundation decided to hold on to made their way across the country, just months ahead of the October grand opening of the American Heritage Museum, which the foundation built to house the collection. "The museum is unique... it's a tactile experience," said Hunter Chaney, director of marketing for the foundation. "It's one thing to go into a museum and...[Read More]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1978 Ford Mustang II]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1978 Ford Mustang II]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Preserved 1978 Ford Mustang II Cobra II for sale on Hemmings.com. From the seller's description: This car is a meticulously clean, well preserved and well maintained car that is driven regularly to car shows or even to get the groceries. There is no rust anywhere and everything works including the A/C and 8 track tape player. I have owned this car since 2011. So, if you are a Mustang II fan, I believe this car is for you. 1 of 11 according to its Marti Report, This 1978 Ford Mustang II Cobra II has the optional 302...[Read More]( [Projekt Gold: A new air-cooled Porsche to celebrate 70 years]( [Projekt Gold: A new air-cooled Porsche to celebrate 70 years]( Posted by David Conwill - Project Gold is a brand-new 1998 Porsche built 20 years after production ended. Photos courtesy Porsche. Two decades after Porsche ended production of its classic air-cooled 911, Porsche Classic--the company's vintage service-and-parts arm--has used its own spares to create one last 993-generation 911 Turbo. Starting with an original body shell, a special Golden Yellow Metallic coupe was constructed in a style calculated to evoke one of the company's newest products, the 2018 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series. It inco...[Read More]( [Reminiscing - A U.S. 1935 Plymouths Fight for Canadian Citizenship]( [Reminiscing - A U.S. 1935 Plymouths Fight for Canadian Citizenship]( Posted by Richard Lentinello - Being semi-retired and having a lifelong interest in all things mechanical, I thought getting an old car would be an excellent addition to my retirement project list. After a couple of years of casual searching, I located a 1935 Plymouth coupe in Oak Harbor, Washington. The owner, who had the car for 35 years, kept it in good order and original. It needed just the right amount of tinkering for my needs as a project. My offer was accepted, and with a sense of optimism I began what was to be a burea...[Read More]( [Detroit, 1965]( [Detroit, 1965]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Date: October 1965 Location: Lodge Expressway, Detroit, Michigan Source: Wayne State University Libraries Digital Collections What do you see here?...[Read More]( Wednesday, August 29, 2018 ["First of the last" leads flock of Edsels from the Shrine of the Holy Grille at auction]( ['First of the last' leads flock of Edsels from the Shrine of the Holy Grille at auction]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Not many enthusiasts did more to elevate the status of the Edsel from laughingstock to serious collector car than Jim Popp, whose Shrine of the Holy Grille became one of the preeminent collections of the short-lived brand thanks to the high-quality restorations he performed on the cars in the collection. With his death, some of those cars, including the first 1960 Edsel, have started to hit the auction block. As Popp related to numerous media outlets, he never set out to become an Edsel expert, and he took a rath...[Read More]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1950 Willys Jeepster]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1950 Willys Jeepster]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - From the seller's description: 1950 Willys Jeepster Very rare original 6 cyl (most were 4) w/overdrive (needs some linkage work to work properly). Willys' attempt to break into main stream auto production after WWII. Built a total of 3,000 in the years 1948-53.. only some of which were 6s. Ex++ cond in & out. Fewer than 200 miles since $8,000 complete engine overhaul included: new pistons, rings, crank, bearings, valves, clutch, rebuilt carb, etc. The car was running fine before the overhaul but the en...[Read More]( [Gooding and Company Pebble Beach sale shows interest in prewar cars isn't waning]( [Gooding and Company Pebble Beach sale shows interest in prewar cars isn't waning]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - In recent years, there's been considerable speculation on the future of the collector-car hobby, with many fearing that interest in prewar automobiles was on the decline. At the high end of the market, the recent Gooding & Company Pebble Beach sale would seem to indicate otherwise: Not only did a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ set the bar for a prewar automobile by selling for a fee-inclusive $22 million, but four other prewar models from both sides of the Atlantic topped the seven-figure mark during the two-day au...[Read More]( [Sole-surviving 1948 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Competizione Berlinetta tops Bonhams Quail Lodge sale]( [Sole-surviving 1948 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Competizione Berlinetta tops Bonhams Quail Lodge sale]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - Following its 1947 Mille Miglia victory, Alfa Romeo understood its aging 8C 2900 B Berlinetta would soon be outpaced by offerings from Ferrari and Cisitalia. Without the resource to design a new sports racing car from the ground up, it raided the corporate parts bin to create the 6C 2500 Competizione Berlinetta, a car designed to keep the brand competitive in Italian motorsports. Three were built in-period, but only one survives today, and on August 24 this 1948 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Competizione Berlinetta sold for a ...[Read More]( [Would Ford the automaker have survived without Ford the man?]( [Would Ford the automaker have survived without Ford the man?]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - The "what-if" game, as we all know, is awful fun to play with automotive history. Relying less on facts and more on imagination, we can come up with all sorts of literally fantastic scenarios, some more plausible than others. And hey, Henrik Fisker decided to play recently too, except his historical fiction was actually, well, fact. In an August 21 interview with Fox Business, Fisker, discussing calls to oust Elon Musk after the latter's recent bizarre behavior, pointed to Henry Ford as a parallel to Musk. "If He...[Read More]( [Philadelphia, 1979]( [Philadelphia, 1979]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Date: June 1979 Location: Market Street near 32nd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Source: William Owens, via Temple University Libraries Digital Collections What do you see here?...[Read More]( Tuesday, August 28, 2018 [If not for the Chicago World's Fair 125 years ago, the U.S. may not have become an autobuilding powerhouse]( [If not for the Chicago World's Fair 125 years ago, the U.S. may not have become an autobuilding powerhouse]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Electric lighting illuminated every corner of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. A couple of inventors promised the wonder of moving images. Technology of the future seemed to abound wherever fairgoers looked. And then, once they stepped through the gilded doorways of the Transportation Building, they encountered a hall dominated by old-fashioned means of locomotion: steam trains and horse-drawn wagons. Yet the Exposition's many exhibits still provided the seeds for the American innovators who would go on to ...[Read More]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Pinstriped 1948 Chevrolet Stylemaster sedan delivery for sale on Hemmings.com. From the seller's description: very rare and super-sharp 1948 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery Wagon with a factory Stylemaster options package. The vehicle is striking with a wonderful color combination plus professionally applied pinstripe, silver-leaf and airbrush artwork which are superb. Chrome and stainless are beautiful. An original sunvisor is mounted. The wagon is a real eye-catcher and a favorite at car shows. Power comes by a straight...[Read More]( [1962 Ferrari 250 GTO makes history at RM Sotheby's Monterey sale]( [1962 Ferrari 250 GTO makes history at RM Sotheby's Monterey sale]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - When the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Series II took the stage in Monterey, California, on Saturday, August 25, RM Sotheby's auctioneer Maarten ten Holder boldly opened bidding at $35 million, the final hammer price of the last Ferrari 250 GTO sold at a Pebble Beach auction. Ten minutes later, a trio of phone bidders hashed out the details of who would be the car's next owner, and when the gavel fell at $44 million ($48.405 million with fees), the Ferrari had earned the title of the most expensive car ever sold at auction. ..[Read More]( [Capital Region Cars and Caffeine monthly meet draws a diverse group of cars and trucks]( [Capital Region Cars and Caffeine monthly meet draws a diverse group of cars and trucks]( Posted by Jim O'Clair - As if we here at Hemmings Motor News don't attend or organize enough car shows, I spent a few hours on my day off attending the Capital Region Cars and Caffeine car show in late July, where I found restored cars, custom hot rods, late model muscle cars, and many tuner imports as well. The event is sponsored by 1945 Speed and Custom and encompasses about eight city blocks in downtown Troy, New York. The event has the full support of the city of Troy, and its police and public works department, who set up detours arou...[Read More]( [West Hollywood, California, 1973]( [West Hollywood, California, 1973]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Date: 1973 Location: Sunset Strip, West Hollywood, California Source: Robert Landau photo, via The Oldie But Goodie What do you see here?...[Read More]( Monday, August 27, 2018 [1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta wins Best of Show at Pebble Beach]( [1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta wins Best of Show at Pebble Beach]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - Sometimes, lightning does strike twice in the same spot. In 2001, an early production 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta won the Most Elegant Closed Car award at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. In 2018, the same car, now owned by David and Ginny Sydorick of Beverly Hills, California, and fresh from a recent restoration to its 1938 Berlin Motor Show appearance, won its class on the way to capturing the ultimate prize: Best of Show at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Introduced in 1937, the...[Read More]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1968 Buick LeSabre convertible]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1968 Buick LeSabre convertible]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - From the seller's description: I'm assisting an AACA Car Club Member in listing his '68 Buick LeSabre Convertible for sale. This car is an all-original survivor car with only 55k miles. It's been owned by 2 prior club Members over the years, purchased from an older Senior original owner at the time. OPTIONS: Power Steering, Power Brakes, Power Windows, (Updated) AC, Power Antenna, Power Top. EXTERIOR: All original white in color. Paint does exhibit minor signs of checking, but the car is so well-waxed and pre...[Read More]( [Down in Monterey - in the field with Hemmings at Car Week]( [Down in Monterey - in the field with Hemmings at Car Week]( Posted by Terry Shea - Another day in Monterey, another day filled with automotive activities. We started the day heading to BMW's worldwide unveiling of the new Z4 on the reviewing stand at the fairway on the 18th hole at Pebble Beach. But on the way there, we got caught in a bit of a traffic jam as the last few cars headed out on the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance, an amazing collection of cars from the concours that starts on the famed 17 mile drive, which is exactly where we caught up with it. The Tour, which finished i...[Read More]( [I went to shake Fonzie's hand, but Henry went in for the hug]( [I went to shake Fonzie's hand, but Henry went in for the hug]( Posted by William Hall - As a young boy growing up in 1970s Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I had two heroes, and both happened to ride motorcycles: Evel Knievel and Arthur Fonzarelli. Only one didn't really ride motorcycles -- he was just a great actor that convinced us all he could. In fact, it was painfully difficult for Henry Winkler to roar up on that Triumph in his iconic role as Fonzie in TV's Happy Days. "Riding a motorcycle -- I had to study for that role," the 72-year-old Winkler told me. He has dealt with dyslexia throughout his ...[Read More]( [Vancouver, 1974]( [Vancouver, 1974]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Date: May 1974 Location: 1000 Alberni Street, Vancouver, British Columbia Source: City of Vancouver Archives What do you see here?...[Read More]( Sunday, August 26, 2018 [A Bus ride to remember]( [A Bus ride to remember]( Posted by Jim Van Orden - Stuck in mud up to my 1965 VW Transporter's hubcaps and angry, I was ready to sue the Volkswagen Corporation for false advertising. After all, wasn't my VW supposed to walk on snowand mud, too? But I knew it was my own fault. Wanting to please my wife, Grace, and parents, I had pulled off a Texas highway on the way to Fredericksburg to look at Longhorn cattle, their horns extending four feet in each direction, munching grass in a field. Confident my vehiclea red-and-white, 11-window metal box n...[Read More]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1963 Lincoln Continental]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1963 Lincoln Continental]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Unrestored 1963 Lincoln Continental for sale on Hemmings.com. From the seller's description: Alrighty. I put it up for sale last year...took it down...drove the car some more. It's time to put it back up. Short version: Great old car. Most everything works. People will eye you jealously. Longer version with far too many words because I suck at editing: This car's awesome! (Because who begins their listing saying they have a piece of crap?) But seriously, I lucked out when I picked this up (it was a slightl...[Read More]( [Four-Links - diesel Dart, Bathurst museum, Land Cruiser Heritage Museum, Land Rover Series I]( [Four-Links - diesel Dart, Bathurst museum, Land Cruiser Heritage Museum, Land Rover Series I]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - TheDieselDartGuy showed up on the AACA forums recently to show off the Nissan six-cylinder diesel-powered 1974 Dart he bought new, one of a handful converted shortly after they left the factory to deal with rising gasoline costs. * At about the same time that reader Geoff Hiscock sent over the photo of one of the two Holdens claimed to have won Bathurst in 1984 - this one in the Australian National Motor Racing Museum - we also ran across Unique Cars' photo tour of the museum. * It took some searching,...[Read More]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1974 Dodge D100 Sno-Fiter]( [Hemmings Find of the Day - 1974 Dodge D100 Sno-Fiter]( Posted by Daniel Strohl - Restored 1974 Dodge D-100 Sno-Fiter for sale on Hemmings.com. From the seller's description: The 1974 Dodge D100 Sno Fiter truck is extremely rare as its the only fully Restored Sno-Fiter for sale in the USA currently. The truck has always been garaged and was originally bought to plow the entrance of a horse farm. The body has been restored to the sheet metal, with new front fenders, rear bumper, and a new drivers side door. The Engine is a 318 that has been rebuilt, with a new Hi-Low Performance CAM, two new push...[Read More]( LAST WEEK'S MOST READ [After years of searching, Craig Jackson unearths the 'Li'l Red' Shelby prototype]( [After years of searching, Craig Jackson unearths the 'Li'l Red' Shelby prototype]( Posted by Kurt Ernst - Shelby American built two notchback Mustang GT500 prototypes, but one -- a 1967 known as "Li'l Red" -- was reportedly sent to the crusher when its days as a test mule were over. For decades, this was generally accepted as fact, but not by everyone. In an announcement made at a Shelby American dinner during last week's Woodward Dream Cruise, auction magnate Craig Jackson stunned the room by announcing that Li'l Red had been found on a Texas ranch, and over the coming months the story of its history and rebirth will...[Read More]( LAST WEEK'S BEST DISCUSSION [From the My Hemmings Pages - A love-hate relationship with a Ford Y-block]( [From the My Hemmings Pages - A love-hate relationship with a Ford Y-block]( Posted by Hemmings contributor - I just bought the car of my dreams. Well, it was the car of my dreams when I was 15 years old. It is a '56 Ford Crown Victoria. I grew up in a rural community in the 50's. In that community, people who did buy new cars bought basic Fords and Chevys with blackwall tires, 6 cylinder engines and stick shifts. Seeing a Crown Vic was a rare experience, and I drooled over them when I saw one. Chevy did not have the exact comparable model. They had a 2 door hardtop, the Bel Air. I considered that the equivalent to ...[Read More]( Hemmings Motor News will not sell or share your e-mail address with other companies. For more information about this newsletter, email webmaster@hemmings.com or write to: Customer Service, Hemmings Motor News, 222 Main St., Bennington VT 05201. If you do not want to receive this newsletter from Hemmings Motor News, you can [change your email preferences here](.