Cheetah
Cheetah
Founded
1970s
Founders
Chuck Graemiger
Country
Switzerland
Headquarters
Switzerland
Cheetah
Founded
1970s
Founders
Chuck Graemiger
Country
Switzerland
Headquarters
Switzerland
About this brand
Discover the history
Cheetah Automobiles, founded by Swiss-American engineer Chuck Graemiger in the early 1970s, was a small but ambitious racing manufacturer based in Switzerland. The company emerged after Graemiger retired from competitive driving following his experiences in various racing cars, including a Lotus Elite and a Chevron B8. He started Cheetah Automobiles to build his own race cars, leveraging the knowledge he gained from his years in motorsport.
The first car developed by Cheetah was the G501, introduced in 1975. The company followed up with the G601 in 1976, which became one of its most notable models. Only two G601s were ever built, and they went on to participate in some of the most prestigious endurance races, including multiple entries in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite these efforts, Cheetah’s cars often struggled with reliability and frequently retired from races due to mechanical issues.
The company also built several other race cars, such as the G602, G603, and G604, with engines ranging from Cosworth DFV to Aston Martin V8 powerplants. These cars were developed for Group 6 and Group C racing, reflecting Graemiger’s ambition to compete at the highest levels of motorsport. However, despite their technical innovation, the cars achieved limited success on the track, and Cheetah Automobiles ultimately ceased operations in 1986 after producing fewer than ten vehicles.
Cheetah’s legacy is marked by its participation in iconic races like Le Mans, though the company never achieved sustained success in motorsport. Today, the remaining Cheetah cars are highly sought after by collectors and are occasionally seen in historic racing events, providing a glimpse into this niche chapter of Swiss motorsport history.
