Cheetah Chassis
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Omni Fab Cheetah site

Cheetah Photo Gallery

The Cheetah SR1 was designed and is built by Bruce Sunseri; owner and operator of Omni Fab - a precision sheet metal fabrication shop in San Jose, California.

With monocoque chassis being recognized as as a superior form of construction, it was natural for Sunseri to choose an aluminum monocoque as the basis for his design. "The design team determined that a light weight monocoque chassis, with a space frame engine compartment/rear suspension would offer the best combination of strength, safety, and versatility." All Cheetahs share the same structure from the roll hoop forward, whether they use a motorcycle or automotive engine. Sunseri chose to utilize a removable rear space-frame of steel alloy to easily facilitate different engine configuration. Cars have been design to use Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha motorcycle engines, as well as Mazda, Nissan, and Suzuki automotive engines.

The SR1 uses double wishbone suspension at the front, and twin parallel link lower control arms at the rear, with outboard coil over shocks and brakes at both ends.

"In designing the Cheetah, the design team also considered the issue of spares and supportability. After a careful "make or buy" analysis, it was determined that the uprights, wheel bearings, brakes, rotors, steering rack, and drive train components would all be "off the shelf" (common purchase) items."

Building a Cheetah
    
The aluminum monocoque tub
     The rear space frame - engine section (page to be added)
     Hanging the suspension (page may be added at some point)
     Installing an engine (page may be added at some point)
     Hanging the bodywork (page may be added at some point)

Cheetah Specifications
Layout
Mid engine, rear drive, front radiator.

Chassis
Aluminum monocoque driver's compartment/safety cell with a space frame rear engine compartment that incorporates the rear suspension.

Suspension
Front: Unequal length double A-arms. Coil over shock absorbers. Adjustable anti-roll bar.
Rear: Twin parallel link lower control arms with radius rod. Single upper camber link with radius rod. Coil over shock absorber. Adjustable anti-roll bar.

Powerplant
Will accept most 1000cc motorcycle engines or 1300cc automotive engines with Hewland style transaxle.

Steering
Rack and pinion. 1.5 turns lock to lock.

Instrumentation
Oil pressure, oil temperature, and water temperature gauges. Oil pressure and water temperature warning lights.

Dimensions:
Length
Width
Wheelbase
Track: Front
Track: Rear
Ground Clearance Front
Rear
Seat: Length
Seat: Width
Roll Bar Height
Wheels: Front
Wheels: Rear
Tires: Front
Tires: Rear
Brake Rotors
Weight

Weight distribution: Front
Rear
Roll Center: Front
Roll Center: Rear
Fuel Cell
  130" (approximate)
64.0"
90"
56.0"
54.0"
2.5"
3.0"
57" to pedals
18"
27" above seat bottom
13" x 8" (6" backset)
13" x 10" (4" backset)
20" x 7.5" x 13"
20" x 9" x 13"
9.0" front and rear (outboard)
740# dry (approximate
for Kawasaki ZX10)
42%
58%
+0.39" at ride height
+1.36" at ride height
8 gallons

Kit, Roller, Turnkey?
Cheetahs were originally offered as rollers (complete cars less engine), with a "basic kit" later offered at under half the price of the roller. The kit did not include all of the "off the shelf items" that customers could shop around and purchase on their own. Customers of the kit saved on the cost of labor but had to complete the assembly of the car themselves. Burdensome support for customers of kits later led Sunseri to drop the offering of the kit version of the car. Sunseri has been considering selling complete cars with engines installed, ready to race.

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