This 1964 Bill Thomas Cheetah, chassis number BTC003, is reported to be one of the original Corvette-powered coupes built by Bill Thomas Race Cars in Anaheim, California, in February 1964 for Alan Green Chevrolet. According to multiple first-hand accounts, including Don Edmunds, who helped design and fabricate the earliest Cheetahs, as well as drivers Allen Grant and chief mechanic Larry Webb, BTC003 was delivered in March 1964, raced extensively in 1964 and 1965 under the Alan Green Chevrolet banner, and driven by Jerry Grant, Allen Grant, Don Jansen, and Gary Gove. Original documentation shows the car participated in California and Canadian racing events and was later sold to Jerry Copley, Barrie Grant, Rob Pinkham, and finally to Fred Yeakel in 1989. Today the car resides with stevensmith, a pivotal figure in modern sneaker design, renowned for shaping the visual identity of major brands including New Balance, adidas, Reebok, and Yeezy. The car underwent multiple restorations, including a street conversion and vintage racing livery, with an FIA Historic Technical Passport issued in 2009, making it eligible for international historic competition. It features a Chevrolet Corvette 327 dual air meter fuel-injected engine, Muncie M21 transmission, C2 Corvette rear differential, stock drum brakes, and a Jones Motorola tachometer, and has been featured in Corvette Quarterly, television, and vintage racing events across North America from 1990 through 2015. Bill Thomas’ vision and ingenuity produced the Cheetah, a bold rival to the Shelby Cobra that competed in dozens of races and captured multiple wins. Despite shifting racing trends and the end of GM support, Thomas’ legacy endures as one of America’s most innovative sports car pioneers.
How many made? It’s believed 11 Cheetahs were built in the first generation, with 19 chassis, 33 bodies, and serial numbers from 001 to 029.
Engine: 5.4L Chevrolet small-block V8
Debut: Riverside International Raceway on February 1, 1964
0-60mph: n/a
Top Speed: n/a
Photo Credit: stevensmith
Research: @rarecarsonly
1964 Bill Thomas Cheetah
06.01.2026
Bill Thomas