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Hummer has develop into a family identify, however issues may have turned out very in a different way.
In 1979, the U.S. Military drafted specs for a Excessive Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Car (HMMWV) and a handful of firms answered the decision. Whereas AM Basic’s entry was the eventual winner, Teledyne Continental took an opportunity with the Cheetah.
In response to The On-line Tank Museum, the design of the Cheetah was created by Mobility Expertise Worldwide. The corporate was a Chrysler subsidiary, which additionally constructed the Lamborghini Cheetah that was launched in 1977.
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Whereas the Cheetah initially featured a 5.9-liter V8 petrol engine and a three-speed computerized transmission from Chrysler, the Military’s specs referred to as for a diesel powertrain. In consequence, the Cheetah adopted a 6.9-liter V8 diesel from Worldwide Harvester. The Chrysler gearbox was additionally dropped and changed by a three-speed computerized from Basic Motors.
The remainder of the story will get a little bit hazy as Teledyne Continental reportedly submitted a bid to construct 11 prototypes that apparently included soft-top, ambulance, and weapons provider variations. The prototypes have been finally delivered to the Military and subjected to testing in 1982. Nonetheless, the corporate did not safe a profitable authorities contract and the mannequin pale into historical past.
The Teledyne Continental Cheetah is now again within the highlight as certainly one of them shall be auctioned by Mecum in January. The itemizing is mild on specifics, however notes the mannequin has an aluminum physique in addition to an Olive Inexperienced paint job that contrasts with black fender flares.
This explicit variant additionally sports activities a tubular entrance bumper, a brush guard, four-wheel drive, and a black gentle prime with matching doorways. They’re joined by angular bodywork, black facet steps, a brief truck mattress, and five-spoke wheels wrapped in Goodyear Wrangler GS-A tires.
There’s no public sale estimate, however the Cheetah is being bought with out reserve and is certain to draw consideration from navy collectors.
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