Cox Cheetah - new chassis

[VTECFOUR]

Got this vintage Cox Cheetah body sans chassis from a local hobby store's close-out sale awhile back. Just love the old wear and look of this body, so in the absence of the original magnesium chassis, I'm going to build one of my simple brass ones to get this on the track.



I'll use the Professor Motor motor bracket but again, I've found the machined grooves for chassis rails not matching and needing filing to attain. A bit irritating.

Don't usually have more than one project on the go, but still waiting for other builds's parts in the mail.

Here we go.

Dan

[VTECFOUR]

Went with a FF050 slim line motored chassis as there's interior tray interference with the PM motor bracket.



Mock fit the body.







It's going to work.

Dan

[Retro Racer 44]

Looks good Dan. How does the body compare to the Strombecker pop off resins?

I finally got some square brass tubing and cut out some rear and front brackets. The rear looks very much like what you are using, made with 3/4" tube. I also have some 1" tube that I still have to cut. I'll save some for you when you return.

Cheers,

Keith

[Lou E]

That is looking really good! I want a Cox Cheetah in the worst way but they usually end up going for silly money on eBay...

[gascarnut]

[TuscoTodd]

That is looking GREAT!!!

[VTECFOUR]

@ retro racer - Cox's interpretation as expected is nicely modeled with subtle flares and curves compared to the wider and flatter Strombecker version. The molding is crisp and the small detail parts add to the realism. Beautiful design work by the Cox designers and mold makers from so long ago. Looking forward to seeing your motor bracket handiwork.

@ Lou E - Just got lucky on getting this body. Local hobby shop was sadly closing down and clearing all inventory. The slot car pile had three vintage 1\32 jewels, a complete Monogram Ferrari 275, Monogram Ferrari 250 LM body and this Cheetah one. Had never ever seen one in person before and out of the blue it shows up in my own backyard. What a fluke!

Body's mounted, getting a decent stance with tire rubbing in mind.





Wheel inserts are Slot It Ford GT40 Halibrands, the rears filed down to fit Slot It F1 rims.

Dan

[VTECFOUR]

Aesthetics capped off with the Halibrand's three-prong knock offs.





Chassis's done with the added 1/4" .063 sidepans fitting nicely within the stock body.



Left the body's original mounting posts intact just in case I find an original chassis.

Dan

[VTECFOUR]

As mentioned in my Porsche 914/6 build, the BWA bracket has quite a short distance between the axle line and motor mounting surface leading to very tight fitting of gears. In the Cheetah's situation, I decided to mount the motor right against the bracket (no spacers) and SHORTEN the pinion gear and shaft.



Boy, that was almost a disaster! If this didn't fit, I'd have destroyed a motor with a drastically shortened shaft that was useless in most other applications. Fortunately, it worked out, but just. Gear mesh is a bit tight but loosening with more running.



Body's mounted now.







Runs pretty good but not as driveable as my other Cheetah builds with the Strombrecker and resin copy bodies.





Done!

Dan

[SuperSlab]

That looks great Dan! I think all of us 60's slotters probably have a major soft spot for the Cox GT40s and Cheetahs. In my part of the world they were game changers and just in a totally different league from anything else, both in appearance and technology/performance. The Cox model in your photographs looks a million times better than the Strombecker.

I actually have an almost mint running GT40: I should take it to Luf's for a run again.

Nice trip down memory lane...

[TuscoTodd]

That turned out GREAT!
Bravo sir!