Name Hummer became a household name, but it could have turned out very differently.
In 1979, the US Army ordered a multi-purpose wheeled vehicle – HMMWV, and several companies responded to the tender. The winner was AM General. But also the company Teledyne Continental with his Cheetah.
Design Cheetah was developed by the company Mobility Technology International – a subsidiary Chryslerwhich, by the way, developed Lamborghini Cheetah 1977.
Cheetah equipped with a 5.9 liter petrol engine v8 and a three-speed automatic transmission. But the military wanted a diesel powertrain. As result Cheetah equipped with a 6.9 liter diesel engine v8 out International harvester.
Then everything is like a fog. Teledyne Continental announced the creation of 11 prototypes, which apparently included soft-top versions, an ambulance and a combat vehicle with weapons.
The prototypes were delivered in 1982 for testing. However, the company failed to win the coveted state contract, and the model has been forgotten.
And thus Teledyne Continental Cheetah back in the spotlight – one of them will be auctioned in January. The machine has an aluminum body painted in olive green, which contrasts with the black fender arches.
Auctioned example with tubular front bumper, four-wheel drive (of course), black soft top, black running boards, short bed, five-spoke rims with tires good year quarrelsome GS—A.
There is no auction estimate, but the cost will be reasonable as the car is sure to interest military collectors.
Today on a rare 1981 Teledyne Continental, one of which is up for auction.
