This Bill Thomas Cheetah is believed to be the last example constructed and was commissioned without a drivetrain in November 1965 by Eddie King, who accepted delivery in April 1966 at King’s Sales and Service Inc. in Ohio. King registered the car for street use and retained ownership through 1968, when its second steward acquired the vehicle in a trade for a fuel-injected Split-Window Corvette C2 and $4,500 in cash. It remained under the care of its second owner for nearly four decades, during which time the car was listed for sale in a 1980 issue of Autoweek magazine.
This car, Lot 237331, sold for $527,500, including buyer’s premium, on Bring a Trailer’s online auction on April 14, 2026.
William P. “Bill” Thomas was a self-educated engineer who began working in California’s aircraft-parts manufacturing industry in the early 1950s. Born and raised in Anaheim, Thomas soon became caught up in the racing world and started hopping up Chevrolet Corvettes, first for himself and later for customers. With financial backing from the C S Mead Motors Co., Thomas’ Corvettes quickly became a dominant force.
The eventual third owner of the car responded to that ad, and after 25 years of stalled negotiations, ultimately purchased it in 2007. The car was subsequently disassembled and refreshed for display at the 2008 iteration of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and it was later shown at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in 2009, and McCall’s Motorworks Revival in 2014.
The fiberglass bodywork is finished in red and features gullwing doors, driving lamps and a clamshell hood. Power is supplied by a front mid-mounted 377-ci Chevrolet V8, which is equipped with Rochester fuel injection and backed by a 4-speed manual transmission. The car rides on magnesium American Racing knockoff wheels and also features four-wheel drum brakes, front and rear independent suspension, and side-exit exhaust.
Inside, bucket seats are trimmed in red leather and accompanied by a wood-rimmed steering wheel, a Hurst shifter and a bolt-in roll cage. Acquired by the current owner three years ago, this Bill Thomas Cheetah is now offered on dealer consignment in Scottsdale, AZ, with historic documentation, spare wheels and a clean Ohio title.
(Introductory description courtesy of Bring a Trailer.)
